05/055131

04/03/1973

07/15/1970

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Penn Novelty Co. (Philadelphia, PA)

112/221

D05C11/16; D05C11/00; D05B55/16

112/221,79,83

Hunter, Hampton H.

I claim

1. A color control mechanism for an embroidering machine comprising a frame, inoperative and operative positions defined by spaced locations on said frame, a plurality of needle mechanisms supported by said frame for movement between said operative position and said inoperative position, said needle mechanisms being disposed in spaced linear array, a needle driving member supported on said frame for reciprocating movement axially of said needle mechanisms, means for selectively moving at least some of said needle mechanisms between said inoperative and said operative positions so that they can be drivingly engaged by said needle driving member, and said means for selectively moving said needle mechanisms comprises actuable means engagable with said needle mechanisms for bodily moving them transversely of their longitudinal axes between said inoperative and operative positions.

2. A color control mechanism for an embroidering machine comprising a frame, inoperative and operative positions defined by spaced locations on said frame, a plurality of needle mechanisms supported by said frame for movement between said operative position and said inoperative position, said needle mechanisms being disposed in spaced linear array, a needle driving member supported on said frame for reciprocating movement axially of said needle mechanisms, means for selectively moving at least some of said needle mechanisms between said inoperative and said operative positions so that they can be drivingly engaged by said needle driving member, and said means for selectively moving said needle mechanisms includes an elongated actuator support member having a plurality of spaced cylinders in side-by-side relation, each of said cylinders including at least two diametrically opposed slots, an actuator movable axially in each of said cylinders, each of said actuators supporting one of said needle mechanisms for movement between the opposite ends of said diametrically opposed slots, means for constraining said needle mechanisms in said inoperative position, said needle mechanisms constraining means and said needle drive member being aligned with said actuator support so that when each of said needle mechanisms is at one end of each of said slots they are in engagement with said needle mechanism constraining means and when they are at the other end of said slots they are in engagement with said drive member.

3. A mechanism as defined in claim 2 including means for locking each of said actuators when said needle mechanisms are at the ends of said slots, said locking means including energizable members movable into engagement with said actuators to constrain them against movement.

4. A mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said actuators are solenoids.

5. A color control mechanism for an embroidering machine comprising a frame, inoperative and operative positions defined by spaced locations on said frame, a plurality of needle mechanisms supported by said frame for movement between said operative position and said inoperative position, said needle mechanisms being disposed in spaced linear array, a needle driving member supported on said frame for reciprocating movement axially of said needle mechanisms, means for selectively moving at least some of said needle mechanisms between said inoperative and said operative positions so that they can be drivingly engaged by said needle driving member, and said needle mechanism inoperative position is defined by a member which comprises a first elongated bar fixed to said frame, said bar including a first plurality of regularly spaced recesses, said needle driving member comprises a second elongated bar mounted on said frame for reciprocating movement axially of said needle mechanisms, said second elongated bar including a second plurality of regularly spaced recesses, said first and second pluralities of recesses being aligned so that at least some of said needle mechanisms can be moved therebetween by said selective moving means.

6. A mechanism as defined in claim 5 including elongated slide bar means supported by said frame, bearing means supported by said slide bar means for axial sliding movement therealong, driving means having one end fixed to said frame and another end fixed to said bearing means for reciprocating said bearing means along said slide bar means, and said second elongated bar is carried by said bearing means.

7. A mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for selectively moving said needle mechanisms includes an elongated actuator support member having a plurality of spaced cylinders in side-by-side relation, each of said cylinders including at least two diametrically opposed slots, an actuator movable axially in each of said cylinders, each of said actuators supporting one of said needle mechanisms for movement between the opposite ends of said diametrically opposed slots, and said first and second elongated bars are aligned with said actuator support so that when each of said needle mechanisms is at one end of said slot it is in engagement with one of said elongated bar members and when it is at the other end of said slot it is in engagement with the other elongated bar member.

8. A mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said first and second elongated bars include substantially parallel spaced front and rear walls and mutually facing walls between said front and rear walls, said recesses being formed in said mutually facing surfaces and extending between said front and rear walls, each of said needle mechanisms including a body, and two radially directed flanges at one end of said body, said flanges being spaced sufficiently to bear against said front and rear walls when said needle mechanisms are in said mutually facing recesses, the other end of said body being adapted to receive a needle.

9. A color control mechanism for an embroidering machine comprising a frame, inoperative and operative positions defined at spaced locations on said frame, said frame including a plurality of spring clip members at said inoperative position, a plurality of needle mechanisms disposed in spaced linear array, a needle driving member, said needle driving member comprising an elongated bar, said elongated bar having needle latching means and being mounted on said frame for reciprocating movement along the axis of said needle mechanisms, means for selectively moving at least some of said needle mechanisms between said inoperative and said operative positions so that they can be drivingly engaged by said needle driving member, and said means for selectively moving said needle mechanisms includes an elongated actuator support member having a plurality of spaced cylinders in side-by-side relation, each of said cylinders including at least two diametrically opposed slots, an actuator movable axially in each of said cylinders, each of said actuators supporting one of said needle mechanisms for movement between the opposite ends of said diametrically opposed slots, and said spring clip members and said elongated bar are aligned with said actuator support so that when each of said needle mechanisms is at one end of said slot it is in engagement with said elongated bar and when it is at the other end of said slot it is in engagement with one of said spring clips.

10. A mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said spring clip members are directed downwardly to terminate intermediate the ends of said diametrically opposed slots for engagement with said needle mechanisms when they are in said storage position, and each of said needle mechanisms has a notch formed therein for engagement with said spring clip member and an oppositely facing locking member for engaging said elongated bar.

This invention relates to a color change mechanism for an embroidering machine, and more particularly to a color change mechanism having means for selectively moving embroidery needles between operative and inoperative positions.

Embroidery machines utilize a plurality of needles disposed in a linear array that are reciprocated along their longitudinal axes into and out of contact with the material that is to be embroidered. A separate unreeling and reeling apparatus causes the material to advance as the needles are reciprocated. When embroidering a plurality of colors, adjacent needles are threaded with different color threads with the color pattern repeating at regular intervals. For example, when embroidering with red, yellow and orange threads, every third needle is threaded with red, yellow or orange thread in a regular repeating pattern.

When using the red thread, those needles holding yellow and orange thread are in their inoperative position. When the color of the embroidery is to be changed from red to yellow, then the needle with the red thread is moved to its inoperative position and the needle with the yellow thread is moved to an operative position. Automatic mechanisms, well known in this art, are employed to shift the material which is to be embroidered laterally to compensate for the distance between adjacent needles so that the pattern stitched by the second needle will be aligned with the pattern stitched by the first needle. The same technique would be used if the needle holding the yellow thread were moved to its inoperative position and the needle holding the orange thread were moved to its operative position. The number of different colored threads which can be utilized depends upon the distance which the material can be shifted.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and unobvious color change mechanism for an embroidering machine.

It is another object of this invention to provide a color change mechanism for an embroidering machine that is reliable and which uses a minimum of parts.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a color change mechanism for an embroidering machine which uses a plurality of needles that are selectively moved between inoperative and operative positions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide new and unobvious embroidery needle mechanisms.

Generally, this invention relates to a color change mechanism for an embroidering machine comprising a frame, needle, operative and inoperative positions defined by said frame, a plurality of needle mechanisms supported by said frame in regular spaced linear array, a needle mechanism driving member supported on said frame for movement axially of said needle mechanisms and means for selectively moving at least some of said needle mechanisms between said operative position and said inoperative position.

The needle mechanism includes a needle holder for use in an embroidering machine that comprises an elongated body to receive a needle which is supported at one end thereof and having means at the other end of the body for engaging the driving or retaining means of a color control mechanism.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals indicate like elements, color change mechanism 10 is seen to comprise a frame 12 which supports a plurality of embroidery needle mechanisms 13 arranged in linear array in close proximity to material 14 which is to be embroidered.

The material 14 is supported by a backing plate 16 having a plurality of apertures 17 arranged in linear array. The apertures are positioned to enable the embroidery needles 109 to penetrate the material 14 sufficiently to form a stitch. A plurality of finger guides 18 disposed transversely of the material 14 along its lower portion to prevent it from moving away from the backing plate when the needles 109 are withdrawn. The finger guides 18 are supported by a guide support 20 that extends transversely of the material.

A machine base 24 which forms a part of the frame extends parallel to material 14. It includes an angled support 26. A plurality of spaced cylinder housings 32 are supported by the vertically extending member 30 which is carried by the angled support 26. A spaced pair of bars 28 which may be square in cross section are provided to interconnect the spaced cylinder housings 32. The lowermost bar 28, as seen in FIG. 1, is supported by the angled support 26. The bars 28 may be connected to the cylinder housings 32 by threaded connectors. This will permit removal of a single cylinder housing 32 should the components thereof malfunction. Each cylinder housing 32 has an extending portion 30 to which the bars 28 may be connected.

Each cylinder housing 32 includes an opening 36 having a vertical axis. The opening 36 may be of any suitable cross section. A preferred cross section is shown to be round since this permits the process for manufacturing the openings 36 to be relatively inexpensive.

Each opening 36 supports a piston 38 for reciprocating axially slidable movement therein. Each piston has an elongated diametrically positioned opening 40 extending transversely of its longitudinal axis which is aligned with two diametrically opposed slots 44 and 45 in the walls of the housing 32. Slot 44 is in the forward wall portion and slot 46 is in the rearward wall portion. The pistons are constrained against removal through the upper opening in the cylinder housing by locking ring 48 which is suitably shaped so as to be received in a recess adjacent the top wall of the cylinder housing.

Each piston 38 includes a piston shaft 50 which extends downwardly through an opening 51 in the bottom of the cylinder housing. Each piston shaft 50 is in turn connected to the extensible portion 52 of the solenoid 54. The solenoid is constrained in aperature 56 and thus against movement with respect to the cylinder housing by the lock nut 59.

A helical compression spring 62 is positioned between each piston 38 and the bottom wall of the cylinder housing 32. The helical compression spring tends to urge the piston upwardly away from the solenoid 54. However, energization of the solenoid 54 produces a sufficient force to overcome the force in spring 62 and to thereby lower the piston to the bottom of the cylinder housing.

A locking actuator 65 is provided for each of the solenoids 54. The actuators which may also comprise solenoids include extensible members 67 which are biased by compression springs 69 into axially spaced recesses 71 along each of the piston shafts 52. The upper recesses 71 are engaged when the pistons are in their lower position and the lower recesses 71 are engaged when the pistons are in their upper positions. Each of the solenoids is supported by vertically extending portion 30.

Normally, extensible members 67 are driven forwardly into engagement into their respective solenoid shafts. However, when they are energized, the extensible members are withdrawn, thus permitting the pistons to be moved in the cylinder housing.

Extending rearwardly from base 24 are at least two slide bars 78 (one not being shown). Each slide bar slidingly supports a crosshead bearing 80 for the reciprocating movement. Each crosshead bearing has an upwardly extending leg 82 which is connected to a crosshead arm 84. The crosshead arm 84 extends transversely of the machine and is substantially parallel to the material to be embroidered. A pusher bar 86 is fixed to the back of the crosshead arm and is connected to a reciprocating driving means 88 for moving the crosshead arm in the directions indicated by the arrows. While the reciprocating means is shown to be an ordinary crank, it is obvious that many other types of reciprocating mechanisms are available and it is the intention to include all of those arrangements in addition to that being shown here.

In one form of the invention the pusher bar 86 supports a reciprocating needle bar 90 which is operative to drive the needle mechanisms 13 into and out of engagement with the material 14. When the needles 109 are withdrawn from the material (FIG. 1) the reciprocating needle bar 90 is in vertical spaced alignment with a fixed needle bar 92 which retains the needles in their inoperative position. Both of the needle bars include spaced substantially parallel front and rear walls 94 and 95 with mutually facing surfaces 96 and 97.

As best seen in FIG. 3, each of the needle bars includes aligned recesses 99 and 100 which are spaced at regular intervals along both bars. Support rods 101 are fixed at one end to one of the housings 32 and support the fixed needle bar 92.

Each of the needle mechanisms 13 includes a needle body 103 which has two spaced radially extending flanges 105 and 107 at one end and has a needle 109 at its other end. The needle body 103 extends through slots 44 and 46 in the cylinder housing and is supported therein in aperture 40 in piston 38. The flanges 105 and 107 at the opposite end of the needle body are spaced apart a distance which is slightly greater than the distance between front and rear walls 94 and 95. As is apparent from an inspection of FIG. 3, the needle bodies 103 are movable vertically between recesses 99 and 100 so that the flanges on each of the needle bodies engage either the upper stationary bar 92 or a lower reciprocating bar 90.

Initially, all of the needle mechanisms are in the upper inoperative position with their flanges in engagement with fixed bar 92. This is achieved by momentarily energizing locking solenoids 65 and deenergizing solenoids 54. Extensible members 67 will be withdrawn as pistons 38 under the force of helical compression springs 62 rise to the top of cylinders 36, thus causing the needle mechanisms 13 to be moved to the top of slots 44 and 46. The flanges 105 and 107 at the end of each needle body will engage the fixed bar 92. Extensible member 67 will be moved into locking position against piston shaft 50 due to the force of spring 69. When crank 88 is energized to reciprocate crosshead arm 84; none of the needle mechanisms being in engagement with reciprocating bar 90, there will be no embroidery accomplished.

The junction of the locking solenoids 65 and the relation between flanges 105 and 107 and the fixed bar 92 should be noted. It is apparent that a periodic vibration of the embroidery machine is created by the reciprocation of the crosshead arm 84 and needle mechanisms. Thus when the flanges on the needle mechanisms are engaged to fixed bar 92, the opportunity for those needles to move into the material is eliminated. Similarly, in order to prevent a needle mechanism from being inadvertently moved between inoperative and operative positions the locking solenoids are normally biased toward their respective piston shafts. Thus, if any of the solenoids 54 or springs 62 should fail, the needle mechanism supported thereby will not shift position.

In order to embroider, those solenoids 54 which correspond to needles having the desired color thread are energized. Additionally, locking solenoids 65 are momentarily energized to unlock piston shafts 50. Energization of solenoids 54 causes pistons 38 and the needle mechanisms supported thereby to move out of engagement with fixed bar 92 and into engagement with reciprocating bar 90. Thus, when crank 88 is energized to drive the cross-head arm 84 toward the material 14, those needle mechanisms which are in engagement with reciprocating bar 90 will be moved therewith.

A second embodiment of the needle driving and retaining mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Referring to FIG. 4, a crosshead arm 110, which is similar to aforementioned crosshead arm 84, supports an elongated pusher bar 112. Preferably the pusher bar is an elongated rectangular member having a bearing surface 113 for engagement with the needle bodies in a manner which will be explained.

A reciprocating needle bar 114 is secured to the crosshead arm 84 for movement therewith. The reciprocating needle bar 114 is provided with an upwardly projecting leg 115 which extends substantially along its entire length. Upwardly projecting leg 115 defines a notch 117 between the leg and bearing surface 113 of pusher bar 112.

A suitable retaining means 116 is supported by the needle bar 28 for constraining the needle mechanisms against axial movement when they are in their inoperative position. The retaining means may take the form of a flat spring 118 which is supported at one end by the top of the cylinder housing 32A. The free end of the spring may be downwardly directed for engagement with a needle body. To this extent it may terminate intermediate the ends of slots 44 and 45 that define the vertical path through which each needle moves. As indicated in the drawing, a separate end member 120 may be mounted at the end of the flat springs 118.

As before, the needle mechanism 13 comprises a needle body 122 which is slidingly received in the slot 44 and 45 in each of the cylinders in the cylinder housing 32A. It is supported by a suitable opening in each piston 38. Each of the needle bodies 122 comprises a notch 124 in its upper surface which is adapted to cooperate with the aforementioned end member 120 for constraining the needle against axial movement as noted above. Additionally, each of the needle bodies includes a hook like member 126 at its end which is mutually interlocking with notch 117 defined by the reciprocating needle bar. Hook like member 126 includes a notch 128 which is defined by downwardly depending leg 130.

When these needle mechanisms are used in the color change mechanism the pistons 54 carried in the cylinder housing 32A operate in a manner identical to that which has been explained before. However, when the needle mechanisms are in their inoperative position each of the notches 124 engages one of the retaining means 116 so that it cannot be inadvertently moved axially. Similarly when the pistons lower the needle mechanisms to their operative position, notch 128 on each of the needle bodies engage with notch 117 defined by the reciprocating needle bar so that positive engagement between the forward wall of the pusher and the needle body is obtained so that each of the needles can be reciprocated along its' longitudinal axis.

In order to change the color which is being embroidered it is merely necessary to momentarily energize locking solenoids 65 and then energize or deenergize the correct solenoid 54 to raise or lower the respective needle mechanisms carrying out the correct colors. If three color embroidery is being performed, then only one needle out of every group of three will be in the lower position. It is to be understood, however, that when each of the color changes is made by virtue of shifting the needles, the material to be embroidered is shifted by a distance which is equivalent to that which is between the two needles in order to assure that the consecutive color changes are aligned.

It is to be understood that many different types of actuating means could be utilized in lieu of the solenoids described herein. In particular, hydraulic actuators could be used. Furthermore, while a particular control mechanism is not described herein, it is apparent that many different types of suitable control mechanisms could be utilized. For example, a system could be provided whereby the locking solenoids 65 are automatically energized when the solenoids 54 are energized. Additionally, where the color control mechanism is used for a three color system an arrangement can be provided whereby two of the solenoids in every group of three are deenergized when one is eneergized.

While the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is apparent that many other forms and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing disclosure. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the detailed foregoing description, but rather only be the scope of the claims appended hereto.