U.S. patent application number 11/721828 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-05 for quilting machines.
Invention is credited to John Watts.
Application Number | 20090272304 11/721828 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36587439 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090272304 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watts; John |
November 5, 2009 |
QUILTING MACHINES
Abstract
A quilting machine including a roller frame (5) to support at
least one pair of rollers (1,2,3), adapted to support quilting, the
rotation of the rollers (1,2,3) allowing the fabric to move towards
and away from the arm of a sewing machine, a sliding track (7,8)
adapted to support the sewing machine and allow its movement in the
plane of the roller axes, a pivoting element (14) to enable the
roller frame (5) to pivot about an axis parallel to the roller axes
so the fabric may be kept at a constant distance from the sewing
machine as the diameter of the rolled fabric changes.
Inventors: |
Watts; John; (Ipswich,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
209 Madison Street, Suite 500
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
36587439 |
Appl. No.: |
11/721828 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 26, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2005/001652 |
371 Date: |
August 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/118 ;
112/117 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05B 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/118 ;
112/117 |
International
Class: |
D05B 11/00 20060101
D05B011/00; D05B 27/14 20060101 D05B027/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 15, 2004 |
AU |
2004907124 |
Claims
1. A quilting machine comprising: a roller frame to support at
least one pair of elongated rollers, the rollers being spaced apart
and freely rotating and adapted to support quilting fabric disposed
between them and wound on the rollers the rotation of the rollers
allowing the fabric to move towards and away from the arm of a
sewing machine, a sliding track adapted to support the sewing
machine, wherein the sewing machine is moveable in the plane of the
roller axes, pivoting means to enable the roller frame to pivot
about an axis parallel to the roller axes so that the fabric can be
raised or lowered and is kept at the same distance from the sewing
machine as the diameter of the rolled fabric increases and
decreases on the rollers.
2. A quilting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein, there is quick
release braking means adapted to simultaneously brake the rotation
of the roller members, whereby the fabric is rolled toward or away
from the sewing machine to enable continuous stitching of
indefinite length to be sewn in the fabric without doubling back or
braking the stitch line.
3. A quilting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein, there is
adjustment means to vary the position of the pivoting means.
4. A quilting machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein, the adjustment
means comprises a lever with a transverse pin, in captive
engagement with an accurate slot in a side of the roller frame.
5. A quilting machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein, the adjustment
means has securing means to hold the pivoting means in a fixed
position.
6. A quilting machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein, the securing
means is a tooth and rack arrangement whereby a tooth on the lever
engages a rack forming part of the roller frame.
7. A quilting machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein, a pantograph
is incorporated into the quilting machine by attaching a guide arm
to the sewing machine which tracks a template held by a holder
mounted on the roller frame.
8. A quilting machine substantially as herein described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. A quilting machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein, there is
adjustment means to vary the position of the pivoting means.
10. A quilting machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein, a pantograph
is incorporated into the quilting machine by attaching a guide arm
to the sewing machine which tracks a template held by a holder
mounted on the roller frame.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to sewing apparatus in particular but
not exclusively to an improved quilting machine with a pivoting
roller frame which allows for maintaining the distance or planar
orientation between the fabric being quilted and a sewing machine
as the diameter of fabric rolled on opposed rollers is increased
and decreased accordingly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Prior art sewing and quilting machines are well known. They
invariably involve the use of electric sewing machines mounted or
supported on a frame to enable the stitching of large areas of
fabric, typically quilting material. The principle disadvantage or
limitation of the prior art is that the length of the stitch line
is usually restricted by the travel of the arm of the particular
sewing machine. Although there have been some arrangements that
allow for the scrolling or rolling of the quilt material as the
stitching reaches the maximum length of the sewing machine arm,
there has been no facility to provide easy positioning of the
material so that a continuous stitch line can be sewn in both a
forward and a reverse direction with respect to the sewing
machine.
[0003] In addition, prior art quilting machines do not easily
transfer fabric between feed and take up rollers while accurately
setting fabric tension. Prior art arrangements which include
ratchet and friction systems are cumbersome and often result in a
broken stitch line or a doubling back of the stitching when a
continuous line of stitching is required. Ratchet systems have
limited accuracy with fabric tensioning and with friction systems,
fabric transfer is difficult. Both these factors detract from the
evenness and uniformity of the stitching. This is particularly
important in the art of quilting where it detracts from the overall
quality of the finished quilt work as the stitch work is a crucial
factor.
[0004] In my earlier Australian Patent 2003100480 I disclose an
improved quilting machine which enables infinitely variable fabric
tensioning and unbroken and even lines of continuous stitching. It
also allows easy transfer of fabric in both a forward and a reverse
direction with respect to the position of the sewing machine
notwithstanding the limited travel of the arm of the sewing
machine.
[0005] However there are two remaining problems with the above.
First, as the fabric being quilted advances past the sewing
machine, the finished roll grows in diameter and the distance
between the machine and the fabric changes resulting in variations
in evenness and uniformity. Also the operator must guide the
machine to sew the required pattern by free hand or by following
markings on the fabric.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art by providing
improvements in quilting machines or to at least provide a useful
alternative.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In one aspect, the invention resides in a quilting machine
comprising:
[0008] a roller frame to support at least one pair of elongated
rollers,
[0009] the rollers being spaced apart and freely rotating and
adapted to support quilting fabric disposed between them and wound
on the rollers
[0010] the rotation of the rollers allowing the fabric to move
towards and away from the arm of a sewing machine,
[0011] a sliding track adapted to support the sewing machine,
wherein the sewing machine is moveable in the plane of the roller
axes,
[0012] pivoting means to enable the roller frame to pivot about an
axis parallel to the roller axes so that the fabric can be raised
or lowered and is kept at the same distance from the sewing machine
as the diameter of the rolled fabric increases and decreases on the
rollers.
[0013] Preferably there is quick release braking means adapted to
simultaneously brake the rotation of the roller members, whereby
the fabric is rolled toward or away from the sewing machine to
enable continuous stitching of indefinite length to be sewn in the
fabric without doubling back or braking the stitch line.
[0014] Preferably there is adjustment means to vary the position of
the pivoting means.
[0015] Preferably the adjustment means comprises a lever with a
transverse pin, in captive engagement with an arcuate slot in a
side of the roller frame.
[0016] Preferably the adjustment means has securing means to hold
the pivoting means in a fixed position.
[0017] Preferably the securing means is a tooth and rack
arrangement whereby a tooth on the lever engages a rack forming
part of the roller frame.
[0018] Preferably a pantograph is incorporated into the quilting
machine by attaching a guide arm to the sewing machine which tracks
a template held by a holder mounted on the roller frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In order that the invention be better understood and put
into practical effect, reference will now be made to the
accompanying drawings wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the invention and FIG. 2 is a detailed view looking from the right
of FIG. 1
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a preferred quilting
machine according to the invention. Rollers 1, 2, and 3 are
aluminium tubes which are supported longitudinally in box sectioned
aluminium frame assemblies 4 and 5, 5a. A sewing machine (not
shown) is mounted on platform 6 which runs on tracks 7 and 8 and is
positioned at right angles to rollers 1,2 and 3 so that the sewing
machine moves in the plane of the fabric wound on the rollers.
[0022] The fabric (not shown) is advanced towards or away from the
sewing machine by winding handles 10, 11 and 12. Platform 6
supporting the sewing machine is moved by handles 13, parallel to
the roller 1, 2, and 3 axes for stitching in that direction and
stitching of indefinite length perpendicular to that direction is
achieved by rotating rollers 1, 2, and 3.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows the detail of a preferred adjustment means
including a lever 14 and a tooth and rack securing system 14a which
is used to rotate frame 5 which pivots about frame 4 in order to
lower roller 12 as the diameter of the quilted fabric wound on it
increases. The lever 14 has a transverse pin 14b which engages an
arcuate slot 14c in the side 14d of the roller frame. As the lever
is pulled or pushed, the pin raises or lowers the side thereby
raising or lowering the rollers. Accordingly, the distance between
the sewing machine and the fabric can be kept constant and the
quality of the quilting uniformly maintained.
[0024] FIG. 1 also shows a pantograph incorporated into the
quilting machine. Guide arm 15 is attached to platform 6 and has
tracking pivot 16 located perpendicularly at its end. Tracking
pivot 16 engages template 17 held on holder 18 which is mounted on
roller frame 5. Accordingly the operator can execute a sewing
pattern on the fabric guided by template 17.
VARIATIONS
[0025] It will be realised that while the foregoing has been given
by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and
other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to
persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad
scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.
[0026] Throughout the description and claims this specification the
word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and
"comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives,
components, integers or steps.
* * * * *