U.S. patent application number 10/385572 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-18 for apparatus for driving shuttle of embroidery machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sunstar Precision Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kong, Byoung Min.
Application Number | 20030172860 10/385572 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28036046 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030172860 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kong, Byoung Min |
September 18, 2003 |
Apparatus for driving shuttle of embroidery machine
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery
machine. The apparatus comprises: a rotation shaft of the shuttle;
a lower shaft which transfers a driving power to the rotation
shaft, so as to rotate the shuttle; a first magnet provided at the
rotation shaft; and a second magnet provided at the lower shaft and
corresponding to the first magnet. The first magnet has a hollow
cylindrical shape so that the rotation shaft can be inserted
through the first magnet while firmly holding the first magnet. The
second magnet has a hollow cylindrical shape so that the lower
shaft can be inserted through the second magnet while firmly
holding the second magnet.
Inventors: |
Kong, Byoung Min; (Inchon
City, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Sunstar Precision Co., Ltd.
Inchon City
KR
|
Family ID: |
28036046 |
Appl. No.: |
10/385572 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02K 51/00 20130101;
D05D 2207/06 20130101; F16H 49/005 20130101; D05C 11/18 20130101;
D05B 57/38 20130101; F16H 1/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/220 |
International
Class: |
D05B 069/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 12, 2002 |
KR |
10-2002-0013313 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine, the
apparatus comprising: a rotation shaft of the shuttle; a lower
shaft which transfers a driving power to the rotation shaft, so as
to rotate the shuttle; a first magnet provided at the rotation
shaft; and a second magnet provided at the lower shaft and
corresponding to the first magnet.
2. An apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnet has a hollow
cylindrical shape so that the rotation shaft can be inserted
through the first magnet while firmly holding the first magnet, and
the second magnet has a hollow cylindrical shape so that the lower
shaft can be inserted through the second magnet while firmly
holding the second magnet.
3. An apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet
are disposed in directions intersecting each other, and each of the
first magnet and the second magnet has a plurality of polar
sections, each of which has an individual polarity.
4. An apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine as
claimed in claim 3, wherein the polar sections are disposed in such
a manner that polarities of the polar sections alternate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for driving a
shuttle of an embroidery machine, and more particularly, to an
apparatus for driving a shuttle, in which power for driving the
shuttle is transferred in a non-contact manner using a magnetic
force, so that the apparatus can be used permanently and generates
reduced noise.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] As generally known in the art, an embroidery machine
comprises a needle bar which moves up and down and a shuttle which
makes stitches in cooperation with the needle bar. Hereinafter, a
general apparatus for driving a shuttle, which is employed in a
conventional embroidery machine, will be described.
[0005] FIG. 1 is an external view of a conventional embroidery
machine. The conventional embroidery machine includes a rectangular
table (not shown) and an embroidery frame (not shown) placed on the
table to hold a workpiece fabric to be embroidered. A plurality of
heads 1, each of which has a plurality of sewing needles, are
mounted on the embroidery frame and a plurality of shuttle
assemblies 2 are mounted below the table. Each of the shuttle
assemblies 2 includes a shuttle 2a (see FIG. 2), which is opposed
to the heads 1 and supplies a shuttle thread.
[0006] Further, the embroidery machine includes an upper shaft 3
extending through the heads 1 aligned in a row, a lower shaft 4
extending through the shuttle assemblies 2 aligned in a row, and a
rotational force transfer mechanism 5 connected to the upper shaft
3 and the lower shaft 4 so as to transfer the rotational force of a
spindle drive motor 6 to the upper shaft 3 and the lower shaft
4.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a view showing an interior of a shuttle driving
apparatus employed in the conventional embroidery machine, and FIG.
3 is a perspective view of the shuttle driving apparatus employed
in the conventional embroidery machine. As shown, the conventional
apparatus for driving a shuttle includes a following bevel gear 2c
and a driving bevel gear 4a. The following bevel gear 2c is fixed
to a rear end of a rotation shaft 2b of the shuttle 2a. The driving
bevel gear 4a is fixed to the lower shaft 4 and engaged with the
following bevel gear 2c.
[0008] Hereinafter, the operation of the conventional embroidery
machine having the above-mentioned construction will be
described.
[0009] First, when a user inputs operation data to an operating
unit (not shown) in order to embroider a workpiece fabric with
various patterns, a control unit (not shown) issues commands to X-
and Y-axis driving motors and the spindle drive motor 6.
[0010] Then, according to the commands issued from the control
unit, the X- and Y-axis driving motors move the embroidery frame in
X- and Y-axis directions, and the spindle drive motor 6 moves the
upper shaft 3 and the lower shaft 4 by means of the rotational
force transfer mechanism 5.
[0011] Then, the upper shaft 3 operates the heads 1 and the lower
shaft 4 rotates the shuttle 2a of the shuttle assembly 2, so as to
form stitches by the cooperation of the head 1 and the shuttle
assembly 2.
[0012] In this case, a construction for rotating the shuttle 2a of
the shuttle assembly 2 can be understood by FIGS. 2 and 3. As
shown, when the lower shaft 4 rotates, the driving bevel gear 4a
provided at the lower shaft 4 rotates together with the following
bevel gear 2c engaged with the driving bevel gear 4a. This rotation
of the following bevel gear 2c causes the shuttle 2a to rotate.
[0013] However, since the conventional apparatus for driving a
shuttle has a gear construction as described above, it is
indispensable to periodically inject grease (mineral oil containing
lithium) into a gap between the driving bevel gear 4a of the lower
shaft 4 and the following bevel gear 2c of the shuttle 2a, which
causes inconvenience.
[0014] Further, the gear-type power transmission as described above
causes the driving bevel gear 4a and the following bevel gear 2c to
be worn, thereby shortening their lifespan.
[0015] Moreover, since the rotation shaft 2b of the shuttle 2a is
engaged with the lower shaft 4 in a geared manner, when an overload
is applied to the shuttle 2a from the lower shaft 4, the shuttle 2a
may be forcedly rotated, and even, may be broken.
[0016] In addition, the gear engagement between the members
generates mechanical noise during their rotation, which
deteriorates the working environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve
the above-mentioned problems occurred in the prior art, and an
object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for
driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine, which can rotate the
shuttle in a non-contact manner using a magnetic force, thereby
eliminating the inconvenience of periodically injecting grease into
a gap between gears in the conventional embroidery machine.
[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine, which
generates no mechanical abrasion, so that the apparatus can be used
permanently.
[0019] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery
machine, in which rotational force is transferred in a non-contact
manner, so as to prevent mechanical vibration and noise from being
generated.
[0020] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine, in which
the shuttle is driven by a magnetic force, so that a rotation shaft
of the shuttle can rotates without contacting a lower shaft of the
embroidery machine, thereby preventing the shuttle from being
broken even when a load above a proper level is applied to the
shuttle.
[0021] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine, which can
be easily maintained and can remarkably prolong a cycle of managing
the shuttle.
[0022] To achieve the above and other objects of the present
invention, there is provided an apparatus for driving a shuttle of
an embroidery machine, the apparatus comprising: a rotation shaft
of the shuttle; a lower shaft which transfers a driving power to
the rotation shaft, so as to rotate the shuttle; a first magnet
provided at the rotation shaft; and a second magnet provided at the
lower shaft and corresponding to the first magnet.
[0023] It is preferred that the first magnet has a hollow
cylindrical shape so that the rotation shaft can be inserted
through the first magnet while firmly holding the first magnet and
the second magnet has a hollow cylindrical shape so that the lower
shaft can be inserted through the second magnet while firmly
holding the second magnet.
[0024] It is also preferred that the first magnet and the second
magnet are disposed in directions intersecting each other and each
of the first magnet and the second magnet has a plurality of polar
sections, each of which has an individual polarity. More
preferably, the polar sections may be disposed in such a manner
that polarities of the polar sections alternate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0026] FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional embroidery
machine;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a front view showing an interior of a shuttle
driving apparatus employed in the conventional embroidery
machine;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shuttle driving
apparatus employed in the conventional embroidery machine;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a front view of an apparatus for driving a shuttle
of an embroidery machine according to the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an apparatus for driving a
shuttle of an embroidery machine according to the present
invention, in which the first magnet and the second magnet
intersect each other at a right angle; and
[0031] FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which a magnetic force
is exerted between polar sections of the first and second magnets
shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a front view of an apparatus for driving a shuttle
of an embroidery machine according to the present invention. The
apparatus includes a rotation shaft 22 for a shuttle 21 and a lower
shaft 40 which transfers a driving power to the rotation shaft 22
in order to rotate the shuttle 21. A first magnet 23 is provided at
the rotation shaft 22, and a second magnet 41 corresponding to the
first magnet 23 is provided at the lower shaft 40. That is, the
lower shaft 40 and the rotation shaft 22 extend in directions
intersecting each other, the second magnet 41 is located at a
portion of the lower shaft 40, which overlaps the rotation shaft 22
of the shuttle 21, and the first magnet 23 is located at a portion
of the rotation shaft 22, which overlaps and is adjacent to the
second magnet 41.
[0034] The first magnet 23 has a hollow cylindrical shape so that
the rotation shaft 22 can be inserted through the first magnet 23
while firmly holding the first magnet 23, and the second magnet 41
has a hollow cylindrical shape so that the lower shaft 40 can be
inserted through the second magnet 41 while firmly holding the
second magnet 41.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an apparatus for driving a
shuttle of an embroidery machine according to the present
invention, in which the first magnet 23 and the second magnet 41
intersect each other at a right angle.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, each of the first magnet 23 and the
second magnet 41 includes a plurality of polar sections 23a and
41a. Each of the polar sections 23a and 41a has a spiral shape and
an individual polarity. The polar sections 23a and 41a are arranged
in such a manner that adjacent polar sections have polarities
different from each other, for example, the polarities of the polar
sections 23a and 41a may alternate in such a way as N-S-N.
[0037] Further, since the polar sections 23a of the first magnet 23
are spaced a predetermined gap apart from the polar sections 41a of
the second magnet 41 while they intersect each other, a magnetic
force is always exerted between the first magnet 23 and the second
magnet 41.
[0038] Hereinafter, the operation of the shuttle driving apparatus
according to the present invention, as constructed above, will be
described.
[0039] First, when the lower shaft 40 provided at the shuttle
assembly 20 rotates, the second magnet 41 provided at the lower
shaft 40 also rotates. In this case, since the polar sections 23a
of the first magnet 23 and the polar sections 41a of the lower
shaft 40 have an alternating polarity construction in which N poles
and S poles are alternately disposed, the first magnet 23 and the
second magnet 41 repulse each other when polar sections having the
same poles are opposed to each other and attract each other when
polar sections having different poles are opposed to each
other.
[0040] Therefore, the rotation shaft 22 of the shuttle 21 rotates
following the rotation of the lower shaft 40 due to the magnetic
property of the polar sections 23a and 41a in which repulsion
exerts between the polar sections having the same polarities and
attraction exerts between the polar sections having different
polarities.
[0041] In other words, the magnetic force between the first magnet
23 and the second magnet 41 transfers the rotational force of the
lower shaft 40 to the shuttle 21, thereby rotating the shuttle
21.
[0042] As described above, the shuttle 21 is not in contact with
the lower shaft 40 and is rotated by the magnetic force
transferring the rotational force of the lower shaft 40. Therefore,
even when overload or excessive force is applied from the lower
shaft 40, not all of but only a certain degree of the excessive
force is transferred to the rotation shaft 22, thereby preventing
the shuttle 21 from being broken.
[0043] AS described above, the present invention provides an
apparatus for driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine, which can
rotate the shuttle in a non-contact manner using a magnetic force,
thereby eliminating the inconvenience of periodically injecting
grease into a gap between gears in the conventional embroidery
machine.
[0044] Further, the present invention provides an apparatus for
driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine, which generates no
mechanical abrasion, so that the apparatus has an extended
lifespan, and even, can be used nearly permanently.
[0045] Moreover, in the apparatus, the rotational force is
transferred in a non-contact manner, so as to prevent mechanical
vibration and noise from being generated.
[0046] Furthermore, since the shuttle is driven by a magnetic
force, the rotation shaft of the shuttle can rotates without
contacting the lower shaft of the embroidery machine, thereby
preventing the shuttle from being broken even when a load above a
proper level is applied to the shuttle.
[0047] In addition, the present invention provides an apparatus for
driving a shuttle of an embroidery machine, which can be easily
maintained and can remarkably prolong a cycle of managing the
shuttle.
[0048] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *