US1985605A - Thread cutter device for sewing machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 25, 1934.

J. GOULDBOURN THREAD CUTTER DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 29, 1933 5 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 25, 1934. J, OULDBO'URN I 1,985,605

THREAD CUTTER DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 29, 1935 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 10 e .A o O as 8+ 20 90 v 6+ -62= s 7g 4 O o Z6 C. l (9 E I 7 ZMW Dec. 25, 1934. J, GOULDBOURN 1,985,605

THREAD CUTTER DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 29, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 a so milk/ M M M Dec. 25, 1934. J. GOULDBOURN 1,985,605

' THREAD CUTTER DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 29, 1933 5 Sheeis-Shet 5 \ixfi 117 11's 1 Mtrwss Patented Dec. 25, 1934- 1 NITED -E T messes PATENT OFFICE THREAD CUTTER DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES 1'9 Claims. (C1. lib-252 This invention relates to sewing machines-and is concerned particularly with thread cutting and thread holding devices for lockstitch outsole shoe sewing machines. From certain of its aspects, the invention may be consideredas being concerned with improvements in the invention set 'forth in U. S. Patent No. 1,683,689 granted to Alfred R. 'Morrill, dated September 11,1928; The object of the invention is to simplify and improve the construction 'andoperation of thread cutting and manipulating devices "heretofore employed for terminating a seam on a sewing machine of the type referred to.

One feature of the invention contemplates the provision in a lockstitch sewing machine of a cutter adapted to out both needle and shuttle threads above the surface of the work at the side engaged by the presser foot of the machine. Another feature of the invention comprises a needle thread end gripper located on the opposite side of'the work and adapted to hold the cut supply end of the needle thread, and means for pulling the cut end to a correct position after the'cutting operation.

Theabove and other features of the invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from the following description and drawings of an illustrative form of device according to the in-' vention. v

In the drawings Figure l is a view in fron't elevation of a portion of a machine illustrating the features of the invention; Figure 2 is a view in side elevation ofthe machine, looking from the right; Figure 3 is a view in front. elevation f certain parts of the machine; Figure 4 is a,

plan view illustrating the operation of the thread severing and measuring mechanism of the machine; Figure 5 is a partial sectional View in side elevation of the parts looking from the right of Figure 3 and illustrating'the thread severing operation; Figure 6 is a similar view on an en-- larged scale; Figure 7 is a plan View on an enlarged scale of a portion of the worksupport and the thread holding means arranged there-- on; Figure 8 is a view in elevation of the parts shown in Figure *7; Figure 9 is a plan viewon'a similar scale of the presser foot; Figure lll'lis a view looking from the right of the presser' foot; Figure 11 is a plan view of a work support embodying amodified form of the invention ap-- plicable to the present machine; and Figure 12 is a view in section, taken along the-line 12--12' of Figure 11, illustrating-the operation: clothe machinewith the modification indicated in Figure ll.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is a lockstitch outsole stitcher comprising a curved hook needle 2, acurved awl 4, a work support 6, a presser foot 8, a shuttle 1'0 and other devices for manipulating the threads in operating upon a shoe supported in the machine, similar to those of the machine described in the Morrill patent, above referred'to. The operating parts ofthe machine are driven by a belt 12 surrounding "a driving pulley, l4 rotatably mounted on a cam shaft '16. The driving pulley is connected and disconnectedfrom the cam shaft to drive the ma chineand permit it to come to, rest by the operation of a driving and stopping mechanism actuated by a treadle operated rod '18, a bell crank lever 20 connectedbetween the rod 18 and the hub of the pulley 14, and other controlling connections; The' driving and stopping mechanism is arranged to bring the machine to rest at a definite point in the cycle of operation withthe needle, awl, and 'presse'r "foot disengaged from the work. To permit the threads to be cut readi ly after the machine "is brought to rest, the needle loop'is pulled only partway down towards the work at the side engaged by the presser foot so that 'a'portion of the needle thread surrounding the shuttle thread extends above the work surface, as described in the U. S. patent to Ashworth No. 1,519,652, dated'Deceniber 16, 1924.

According to the present invention a single cutting blade, indicated at 22, is movably mounted on the machine for severing both threads above the surface of the Work engaged by the presser foot. To provide sufficient thread for the initial stitch one new seam, a shuttle thread pull-'oficomes into operation, cutting blade 22 severs the threads, to engage the thread extending between the shuttleand the work;

The thread cutter knife blade '22 is formed at the lower end of an inclined rod 24 slidin'gly mounted at its upper end in a bracket 26 pivoted on a horizontal shaft 28, the shaft being supported on the machine frame.

just before the The upper end of the rod '24 has a sloping cam face 30 at its front side I .Wh'ich bears against a 1131132 rotating on a shaft onthe frame of the machine. The rod 24 is maintained in engagement-with theroll 32 at all times by a spring plunger 34 bearing on the also has secured to it a pinion member 38 env gaged by a segment 40 secured to a horizontal rock shaft 42. The right end of the rock shaft 42 carries an arm 44 pivotally connected to a treadle operated rod 46, so that downward movement of the treadle rod causes the thread cutter 22 to move downwardly and rearwardly against the work beneath the raised presser foot. The treadle (not shown) connected to the treadle rod 46 may, for convenience, be placed close alongside the machine starting treadle which is connected to the rod 18, so that it may be operated by the same foot which the operator uses in con trolling the machine.

The shuttle thread pull off, indicated at 48, is best shown in Figures 5 and 6, and acts not only to measure thread from the shuttle, but also to deflect threads to one side of the seam where movement of the thread cutter knife 22 against the work will more effectively sever the threads, using the shoe sole as a cutting block. The shuttle thread pull off 48 is formed with a sleeve portion surrounding the lower end of the thread cutter rod 24 and sliding loosely thereon. A pin 49 on the rod extends through a slot formed on the sleeve to prevent rotation of the sleeve on the rod, and the lower end of the sleeve portion terminates in a foot member which engages the shuttle thread as the sleeve descends and moves rearwardly with the lower end of the cutter rod. The foot member of the pull or? 48 cooperates with the presser-foot while in raised position to pull off the required amount of thread from the bobbin. This amount may be variedby adjusting the position of the roll 32 in a vertical direction whereby the position to which the pull off moves rearwardly in descending after having engaged the thread may be changed.

In addition to measuring off and deflecting thread, the pull off device 48 also acts to urge the shuttle thread behind a spring catch 50 in the presser foot to insure that the shuttlethread will extend in a direction in which it will correctly be engaged by the loop of needle thread passed over it when a new seam is started. The shuttle thread pull 011, as indicated in Figure -9 by the dot and dash lines, has a finger portion 52 formed on its left side rear lower end which is arranged to engage the thread and urge it to the right into a position in which it will, as the foot portion of the pull off moves rearwardly, be forced into a slot 54 formed in the presser foot. The spring catch 50 is in the form of a sliding pin projecting at one end into the slot and acting to trap the thread behind it. To urge the catch pin towards the slot, a spring member 56 secured at one end to the presser foot yieldingly engages the pin at its other end.

When the cutter rod 24 moves downwardly and rearwardly as in cutting the thread, the required amount of shuttle thread is pulled off and urged into the slot in the presser foot. Thereafter, the pull off remains stationary while the rod 24 completes its stroke, the pull off sliding on the rod against the yielding pressure of a spring 58 contained within the sleeve portionof the pull off and compressed by; a shoulder on the rod 24. The cutter blade 22 is thus permitted to come into engagement with the needle loop and shuttle thread of the last formed stitch as close as possible to the work so that a com-- plete finished seam not requiring hand trimming results.

In severing the shuttle and needle threads close to the side of the work on which the shuttle is located, as with use of the machine described in the patent to Ashworth, above identified, the operator ordinarily in withdrawing the work from the machine leaves a length of needle thread corresponding to the thickness of the shoe sole projecting above the work table. This length of thread, on starting the machine on a new seam, becomes clamped between the work table and the work so that after the new seam is completed, a trimming operation is required. To obviate the necessity of trimming the needle thread at the leading end of the seam, in the present machine means is provided for retracting the needle thread before a new shoe is located on the work table and for holding the severed end of the thread remaining in the machine at a predetermined position in the work table where it may not be clamped byv the work.

The means for retracting the needle thread comprises a thread puller stud 60, extending horizontally from an arm 62 secured to a shaft 64, rotatably mounted in bearings on the machine frame. The stud when the shaft 64 is rotated, engages the needle thread, indicated at 66, and withdraws a length thereof by moving it between a pin 68 mounted concentrically at the end of the shaft 64 and a fixed pin 70. This operation occurs after the thread cutter severs the threads and the treadle actuated rod 46 is being released. When the treadle rod is released, a spring '72 surrounding the rod and acting between a collar on the rod and the frame of the machine raises the rod to retract the thread cutter rod 24 into an inactive position, shown in Fig. 1. In moving upwardly a shoulder 74 (Fig. 5) on the side of the rod engages a pawl 76 fixed to a pivot 78 rotatable in one end of a lever 80. As the rod 46 continues to rise, the lever 80 rotates about a fixed shaft 82causing a segment 84 formed on one arm of the lever to rock a segment 86 fixed to the shaft 64 which operates the thread retracting device. The retracting device is moved to its extreme position and again returned to normal position during the upward movement of the treadle rod 46 which continues until a lever 88 secured to the pawl shaft 78 strikes the lower end of a set screw 90 carried by the frame of the machine. When this occurs, the shaft '78 carrying the pawl 76 is rocked in a direction to release the pawl from the shoulder 74 on the rod 46, and a spring 92 connected to the lever 80 returns the lever to its initial position where it is brought to rest by contact with a second set screw 94. The amount of needle thread retracted from the work may be suitably regulated by adjusting the set screws 90 and 94 so that varied amounts of movement may be imparted to the thread retracting stud 60.

The needle thread end holder comprises a flat plate 96 mounted to reciprocate from front to rear of the machineacross one end of the needle slot in the work table. The plate 96 is connected by a pin and slot with one arm of a lever 98 mounted on a pivot 100 carried by the work table. The other arm of the lever 98 is pivotally connected to one end of a horizontally sliding rod 102 having at its other end a forked portion 104 surrounding the lower end of a vertically arranged rod 106. The upper end of the rod 106 is pivotally connected to an arm 108 fixed to the shaft 42 operated by the treadle rod 46.

The slot in the work table 6 through which the needle and awl operate is lengthened to the left, so that the needle thread end holder may occupy a part of the space in the slot without up into the work by the needle in forming the interfering with the needle and 'avvl' lilr-il'l'g sewing. After themachine has stopped, the thread cute i" 'treadle is partly depressed, and in so domg, the lower en'd -of-"the rod 166, having "an enlargement 1 1i), is moved downwardly against a pawl 1 12 pivo'te'd'b'etween the" sides r of the I forked portions 104 on the rod 102, the rod- 1116 being he'ld against lateral displacement by a "fixed 'bearing 1 14 in the machine. 'The rodl02 is then moved towards the left, rocking 'tlrie'lever 98 and moving the thread end holder-plate 9"6 rearwardly away-from the forward side of the slot in the work table. Ihe operator may then slide the s'hoealong' the work table, so that the needle thread is moved to the left in'front oft'he thread holde1"-plate.-' 'To again advance and clamp the needle thread'agai-nst the front wall oif-the slot in the work table, the rod 102 is "moved by the expansion (if a spring 1 15 surrounding rod 102 and arranged to force it towards the right.

While the rod 106*is" movi1ig downwardly, the pawl 112 is'held in the position shown, bya pin 116011 the forked end of the rod 102. When the treadle is fully depressed the pawl rides over a shoulder at the -end of the enlargement 1'10 and-permits the rod 102fto move to the right, clamping the thread. The timing of the mechanisms is such that the thread gripped by the thread holder plate immediately I after the thread cutter has acted, and the thread holder remains yieldingly in clamping position until the treadleisonce more depressed after sewing of the next shoe. 'U'p'on releasing the treadle, the end oi" the thread is drawn "by 'the pro-per amount past the gripper to guard against the cut end remaining in the machine and becoming held between the work table and the sole of the next shoe when sewing is begun again. As the treadle rod 46 moves upwardly, the rod 1 06 moves with it-and the shoulder on enlargement 110 engages the pair/1 11 2 which is yieldin'gly he'ldin'a horizontal position by aspiring-1'17. The p'awlis then-rocked to escape the shoulder on the rodand-the parts are brought back to their starting position. In.

starting a new=seam, the short end oiffitl-Ie thread held by the needle thread end holder is d-lawn initial stitch where it remains so that no trirm, ming of the'threads is necessary on the leading end of the seam. l f

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 11 and 1 2, in place o'feinploying aneedle threadend gripper and pulling now-n v the cut end of the needle thread to the level or the work table, a separate cutting device may be provided for severing the leading ond of the needle thread below the work as a new seam is started. This cutting device comprises a stationary knife 11 8 fixed in the work table approximately 1/64 of an inch below its upper surface, the cutting edge of the knife extending towards the right. A gap is le-ft'be'tween the forward end of the knife 118 and the front side of the slot in the work table through which the operator may'c'ause the needle thread to pass by moving the work to the left before actuating the thread cutter blade -22 at the-end of the seam. The gap between the knife and the lei-tend of the slot in the work table is just large enough to accommodate the needle thread when it has been moved around the knife so that after the work is removed, the excess of needle thread lies in the work table. With this arrangement, the needle thread p'uller is operated to pull 'a small amount of from the suppiyloe'fore the knife 22 :operates to sever b'oth thr eads, thus providing excess of needle thread which will lie on the work table when the shoe inoved to the left. excess 'of thread will be clamped against the table'by the next shoe inserted in the machine and during the first r'e'tracting stroke oftheneedlathe thread passes under and around the cutting edge of the knife. When the work is fed relatively to the work table, the thread is 'fercedagains't the outtingedge of the knife and will shear it dfi close to the under surface of the work. Upon completing the seam when-the thread cutter is actuated in the manner described, -the shoe will be completely released with the-iourthread ends of its seam-trimmed and neat so that it can be passed to the nextoperator for chamelclosing, levelling or other operations without any attention to the thread ends.

Theinature and-scope of the inventionhaving been indioated, and a specific embodiment of v the several features of the invention having been described, what is claimed is:

l. outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch formingdevices including a hook needle and ashu'ttle, a work ta'ble, a presser foot, anda thread cutter comprising a knife edged member operating on the machine at'the side of the worl; engaged by the press'er foot to sever "both threads outside the surface of the work.

2. An outsol'e shoe sewing machine having, "in combination, stitch forming devices indluding a hook needle and ashuttle, a'work table, a presser foot, means for raising the presser foot from ongagementwith the work when the machine is brought to rest, and a thread cutter comprising a "knife edged member operating on the machine at the side of the workengaged by the 'pres s'er foot to sever "both threadejwhen the 'p'resser foot is disengaged from the work.

3. An outsole shoe sewing mael'iine having, in combination, stitohiorming' devices including a ho'okineedle and "a shuttle, a work table, a pre'sser "footiengaging'the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the 'maohine to rest with a loop'of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, and a thread "cutter arraiiged on the machine to sever the shuttle thread and the final needle loop while the work "remains supported by the Work table.

4. Anoutsoleshoe sewing machine having, in combinationpstitch forming'devices including a hook needle and a shuttie, a work table, apre'sser ioo't'engagin'gtheshrittle side of the work, means forfbr'inging the machine 'torest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, and

means engaging the thread between the shuttle andthe presser foot to deflect the shuttle thread and the'iinal needle loop to one side of the seam and to sever both threads while held by the thread engaging means.

5. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, "stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a worktable, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work,means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final "stitch in a seam remaining abovethesurface' of the work, a thread engaging member acting to measure a supply of thread from the shuttle in an amount sufficient for the initial stitch of a new seam, an'da thread cutter arranged to sever the shuttle thread and the 'final needle loop when the measuring action or the'thread engaging member is completed.

6. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, a thread engaging member acting to deflect the shuttle thread and final needle loop to one side of the seam and simultaneously to measure a supply of thread from the shuttle in an amount suflicient for the initial stitch of a new seam, anda thread cutter arranged to sever the deflected portion of the shuttle thread and final needle loop after the measuring action of the thread engaging member is completed.

7. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch remaining above the surface of the work, a thread cutter comprising an elongated rod having a knife edged end movable lengthwise and laterally, and a member on the thread cutter rod for deflecting the threads towards the presser foot when the rod moves lengthwise and for measuring a supply of thread from the shuttle sufficient to form the initial stitch of a new seam when the rod move laterally,

8. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming thefinal stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, a thread cutter comprising an elongated rod having a knife edge at one end mounted on the machine to move towards and from the work, a member slidingly mounted on the rod for deflecting thethread into a position at one side of the seam where it may be severed by the cutter edge, and resilient means connecting the rod and the thread deflecting member to permit the deflecting member to yield as the cutter severe the thread.

9. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, a thread cutter acting against the surface of the work to sever the threads, and a thread deflecting member arranged to hold the needle loop and the shuttle thread at one side of the seam in the path of movement of the thread cutter.

10. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, a thread cutter comprising an elongated rod having a knife edged end movable lengthwise and laterally, a member on the thread cutter rod for deflecting the threads towards the presser foot when the rod moves lengthwise and for measuring a supply of thread from the shuttle suflicient to form the initial stitch of a new seam when the rod moves laterally, and means for adjusting the amount of lateral movement of the thread cutter rod before the thread is cut to regulate the length of thread measured from the shuttle.

11. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a-shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, a thread engaging member acting to deflect the shuttle thread and final needle loop against the pressor foot, a thread cutter arranged to sever the threads in deflected positions, and means on the presser foot for holding the severed end of the shuttle thread remaining in the machine to insure proper formation of the initial stitch of a new seam.

12. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser footengaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, a thread cutter for severing the needle loop close to said surface of the work, and means arranged to draw the severed end of the needle thread connected to the supply down to the level of the work table.

13. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle .side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, a thread cutter for severing the needle loop close to said surface of the work, a retracting device arranged to draw the severed end of the needle thread connected to the supply down to the level of the work table, and means on the work table for holding the end of the needle thread at a position to insure the formation of the initial stitch in a new seam with the end close to the work.

14. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, a thread cutter arranged to sever both threads close to said I surface of the work, means on the presser foot for holding the severed end of the shuttle thread, and a gripper on the work table for holding the end of the needle thread remaining in the machine at a position after the work is removed to insure proper formation of the initial stitch in a new seam.

15. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing the machine to rest with a loop of needle thread forming the final stitch in a seam remaining above the surface of the work, a thread cutter arranged to sever both threads close to said surface of the work, means on the presser foot for holding the severed end of the shuttle thread, a retracting device arranged to draw the severed end of the needle thread connected to the supply down to the level of the Work table, and means on the work table for holding the end of the needle thread remaining in the machine at a position after the work is removed to insure the formation of the initial stitch in a new seam with the end of the needle thread close to the work.

16. An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot engaging the shuttle side of the work, means for bringing'the machine to rest with a loop of needlethread forming the final stitch in a seam remainingabove the surface of the work, a thread cutter arranged to sever both threads close to said surface of the work, means on the presser foot for holding the severed end of the shuttle thread, and means on the work table for holding the end of the needle threadremaining in the machine at a position'after the work is removed to insure prop er formation of the initial stitch in a new seam member arranged to sever both threads close to the surface of the work engaged by the presser foot, a retracting device for drawing the severed.

end of the needle thread down to the level of the work table, and actuating means movable in one direction for operating the thread cutter to sever the thread, andin the other direction for causing the retracting device to withdraw thread.

18. An outsole shoe sewing machine having,

in combination, stitchforming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot, a thread cutter comprising a knife edged member arranged to sever both threads close to the surface of the work engaged by the presser foot, a retracting device for drawing the severed end of the needle thread'down to the level of the work table, a treadle actuated rod connected to the thread cutter and the retracting device for operating the thread cutter to sever the threads when moved in one direction and for causing the retracting device to withdraw and release thread when moved in the other direction.

19; An outsole shoe sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices including a hook needle and a shuttle, a work table, a presser foot, avthread cutter comprising a knife edged member arranged to sever both threads close to the surface of the work engaged by the presser foot, a retracting device for drawing the severed endof the needle thread down tothe level of the work table, a gripper on the work table for holding the end of the needle thread remaining in the machine to insure the proper formation of the initial stitch in a new seam, and means movable in one direction to cause the gripper to open and the cutter to sever the threads, and in v the other direction to cause the retracting device to withdraw thread.

JOSEPH GOULDBOURN.

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