U.S. patent application number 12/545351 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-24 for transformable structure for a multi thread single line shuttle stitch line and method and machine for its realization.
Invention is credited to Askar Dzhamilevich Mingazhev, Bruce Alan Pelkey.
Application Number | 20110041745 12/545351 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43604259 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110041745 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mingazhev; Askar Dzhamilevich ;
et al. |
February 24, 2011 |
TRANSFORMABLE STRUCTURE FOR A MULTI THREAD SINGLE LINE SHUTTLE
STITCH LINE AND METHOD AND MACHINE FOR ITS REALIZATION
Abstract
A multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch line, consisting of at
least three threads, where each top thread is independently and
separately connected with each bottom thread in a pre-determinable
sequence of such connection through perforations in the material,
with all of said top and bottom threads passing through said
perforations, making one stitch line. The top threads can be
intertwined, as can the bottom threads. A process for producing a
multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch line, where at least three
threads are involved to form said stitch line, with a stitch of
said stitch line being formed by connecting a top thread with a
bottom thread by cooperation of a needle and a shuttle, and a
desired number of said needles with said top threads and a desired
number of said shuttles with said bottom threads being used, with
only one of said needles and one of said shuttles cooperating at a
time, forming a current couple; with any of said needles forming
said current couple with any of said shuttles in a desired
sequence. Thus, a high degree of variability in the sequence of
connecting the top and bottom threads allows for a flexible
transformation of the structure of the stitch line in the process
of its production. Needles are fixed to a revolver with needle bars
located along the periphery of said revolver and oriented along the
rotation axis of said revolver, and equipped with a device, which
provides for the enabling of said current couple; shuttles are
fixed to another revolver with said shuttles located along the
periphery of said revolver, and are equipped with a device, which
provides for the enabling said current couple.
Inventors: |
Mingazhev; Askar Dzhamilevich;
(Ufa, RU) ; Pelkey; Bruce Alan; (Bakersfield,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bruce A. Pelkey
Post Office Box 812
Bakersfield
CA
93302
US
|
Family ID: |
43604259 |
Appl. No.: |
12/545351 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/475.17 ;
112/461; 112/465; 112/466; 112/470.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05B 1/08 20130101; D05B
57/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/475.17 ;
112/470.05; 112/461; 112/465; 112/466 |
International
Class: |
D05B 1/08 20060101
D05B001/08; D05B 57/10 20060101 D05B057/10; D05B 57/38 20060101
D05B057/38; D05B 65/00 20060101 D05B065/00 |
Claims
1. A multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch line, consisting of at
least three threads, where each top thread is independently and
separately connected with each bottom thread in a pre-determinable
sequence through perforations in the material, with all of said top
and bottom threads passing through said perforations to make one
stitch line.
2. A multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch line, as claimed in
claim 1, where said top threads are intertwined.
3. A multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch line, as claimed in
claim 1, where said bottom threads are intertwined.
4. A multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch line, as claimed in
claim 1, where said top threads are intertwined and said bottom
threads are intertwined.
5. A process for production of a multi-thread single-line shuttle
stitch line, where at least three threads are involved to form said
stitch line, with a stitch of said stitch line being formed by
connecting a top thread with a bottom thread by cooperation of a
needle and a shuttle, and each top thread is loaded into its own
needle and each bottom thread is loaded into its own shuttle; and
the desired number of said needles with said top threads and the
desired number of said shuttles with said bottom threads are used
to form said stitch line, and only one of said needles and one of
said shuttles cooperate at a time, forming a current couple; and
any of said needles form said current couple with any of said
shuttles in a desired sequence.
6. A process for production of a multi-thread single-line shuttle
stitch line, as claimed in claim 5, where the desired sequence is
determined by the required structure of said stitch line, and said
stitch line is formed by a desired number of cycles, where each
cycle is the operation of said current couple, with each cycle
consisting of the following steps: (a) bringing said current couple
into operating position for said cycle; (b) passing of said top
thread through material to be sewn by said needle; (c) engaging
said top thread by said shuttle; (d) throwing off said top thread
onto said bottom thread; (e) extracting said needle out of said
material and forming said stitch by simultaneous tightening said
top thread and said bottom thread; and (f) disabling said current
couple and enabling a following predetermined current couple.
7. A process for production of a multi-thread single-line shuttle
stitch line, as claimed in claim 6, where the cooperation of said
needles and shuttles is provided by a needle unit and a shuttle
unit.
8. A process for production of a multi-thread single-line shuttle
stitch line, as claimed in claim 7, where said needle unit is
comprised of a needle revolver with needle bars located along the
periphery of said needle revolver and oriented along the rotation
axis of said needle revolver, and equipped with a device, which
provides for the enabling of said current couple; said shuttle unit
is comprised of a shuttle revolver with said shuttles located along
the periphery of the shuttle revolver and equipped with a device,
which provides for enabling said current couple.
9. A process for production of a multi-thread single-line shuttle
stitch line, as claimed in claim 8, where said needle revolver is
comprised of several needle modules.
10. A process for production of a multi-thread single-line shuttle
stitch line, as claimed in claim 9, where said needle module
consists of a housing, enclosing a needle bar, with a thread bobbin
and a thread feeder mechanism.
11. A sewing machine for manufacturing a multi-thread single-line
shuttle stitch line, wherein at least three threads are used; said
sewing machine basically comprising a means for cooperation of a
needle and a shuttle, a desired number of needles with top threads,
a desired number of shuttles with bottom threads, a feed mechanism
to feed material to be sewn, a drive means to drive said means for
cooperation of a needle and a shuttle, and the feed mechanism, and
further including a means for synchronization thereof; said sewing
machine providing for the conjoining of said threads at the
material perforation points in a pre-determinable sequence, which
sequence is variable along the stitch line, and which sequence is
obtained by utilizing a pre-determinable sequencing program for
conjoining the threads, with only one of said needles and one of
said shuttles cooperating at a time, forming a current couple; and
any of said needles forming said current couple with any of said
shuttles in a desired sequence.
12. A sewing machine for manufacturing a multi-thread single-line
shuttle stitch line, as claimed in claim 11, where said means for
cooperation of said needles and shuttles are a needle unit and a
shuttle unit.
13. A sewing machine for manufacturing a multi-thread single-line
shuttle stitch line, as claimed in claim 12, where said needle unit
is comprised of a needle revolver with needle bars located along
the periphery of said needle revolver and oriented along the
rotation axis of said needle revolver, and equipped with a device,
which provides for the enabling of said current couple; said
shuttle unit is comprised of a shuttle revolver with said shuttles
located along the periphery of the shuttle revolver and equipped
with a device, which provides for enabling said current couple.
14. A sewing machine for manufacturing a multi-thread single-line
shuttle stitch line, as claimed in claim 13, where said needle
revolver is comprised of needle modules.
15. A sewing machine for manufacturing a multi-thread single-line
shuttle stitch line, as claimed in claim 14, where said needle
module is comprised of a housing, enclosing a needle bar, with a
thread bobbin and a thread feeder mechanism.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to the manufacture of
equipment for sewing technologies and methods for the sewing
industry, the embroidered goods industry, the knitted goods
industry, the leather industry and the shoe industry. The present
invention comprises a technology for obtaining multi-thread
single-line shuttle stitches.
[0005] 2. Description of Prior Art and Existing Problems
[0006] At present only one type of machine for producing a
single-line shuttle stitch line and only one type of shuttle stitch
is known: a double-thread shuttle stitch making said stitch line
(U.S. Pat. No. 2,862,468: ornamental stitch sewing machines).
[0007] The availability of just one type of shuttle stitch strongly
hinders the potential for changes in the parameters of the stitch,
which are limited to changing the step of the stitch and the thread
tension. A shuttle stitch is rarely used in the sewing of knitted
goods due to its low elasticity. At the same time, the shuttle
stitch is sufficiently reliable and has a nice finished
appearance.
[0008] In addition, the contemporary chain stitch used in sewing
knitted goods has good elasticity but is not very reliable, and
tends to deform the seam, causing corrugation, which creates the
appearance of a defect in the finished product.
[0009] Hence, there is a demand for combining the benefits of these
two kinds of stitches in a new type of stitch.
[0010] Another problem in sewing technology is the optimization of
stitch line properties along the length of the line. The loads to
which the stitch is exposed are different in different areas of a
sewn article. In addition, the conditions of the stitch line
operation are different, whereas the stitch line remains uniform
along its length. For example, an article, such as a sleeve, is
subject to various deformations in different areas: stretching at
the elbow and corrugation at the bend. Also, the uniform stitch
line often joins several layers of material, while the materials
can be heterogeneous (woven fabric, knitted fabric, leather, etc.).
Thus, the average properties of the uniform stitch line are
intended to cover variable requirements, which ultimately limits
the technological possibilities of creating new goods without the
existing difficulties.
[0011] Further, the shuttle stitch structure assumes uneven
deformation under stretching, where alternating stretched and
squeezed areas are created (stretched areas occur around the
perforation in the material, i.e. in the point of conjunction of
the top and bottom threads, while the squeezed areas occur in the
interval between two perforations). Such uneven deformation of the
seam causes corrugation.
[0012] Thus, the main drawbacks of the contemporary single-line
shuttle stitch line, which limit its application and degrade its
operational properties and the appearance of the finished product,
are as follows: [0013] 1. Low ability to stretch (i.e., limited
elasticity); [0014] 2. Limitations in controlling the stitch
line/seam properties; [0015] 3. Poor functional properties, which
cannot be optimized along the stitch line length, especially under
conditions of complicated design and variable operating conditions;
and [0016] 4. Seam corrugation in the operation process.
[0017] The aim of the present invention is a further improvement in
the class of the shuttle stitch, due to the elimination of the
drawbacks described above, by using the following principles:
[0018] 1. Increased elasticity of the stitch line by replacing a
rigid bond in the interval between perforations with a flexible
one; [0019] 2. The elimination of corrugations due to overlapping
stretching zones; [0020] 3. The introduction of duplicating bonds,
thereby increasing the reliability of the stitch line; [0021] 4.
Variability of the stitch structure, by varying the sequence of
conjunction of the top and bottom threads, which allows for a
change in the structure of the stitch along the length of the
stitch line for the optimization of the operational properties of
the seam in its different areas; and [0022] 5. Improved reliability
of the stitch line due to intertwined top threads and/or
intertwined bottom threads.
[0023] These and other objects and advantages of this invention are
described in detail in the description of the invention contained
herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The present invention comprises variations in the
manufacturing of multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch lines,
consisting of a system of top threads and a system of bottom
threads, which threads are conjoined at the material perforation
points. The top threads are joined with the bottom ones in a
pre-determinable sequence, variable along the stitch line. This
effect is obtained due to the following: [0025] 1. By utilizing a
pre-determinable sequencing program for conjoining the top and the
bottom threads. The program is determined by the desired structure
of the stitch line. [0026] 2. By the fact that each top thread is
loaded into its own needle and each bottom thread into its own
shuttle. [0027] 3. By operation through a means for sequentially
engaging a required needle and of another means for sequentially
engaging a required shuttle at one moment, providing conjunction of
one of the top threads with one of the bottom threads. A revolver
can be used for such means in both cases. Such revolver has needle
bars located along its periphery and oriented along its rotation
axis, and the other revolver has shuttles located along its
periphery. Both revolvers are equipped with devices, providing for
enabling the desired needle-shuttle couple, which will hereafter be
called a "current couple." [0028] 4. By a means for intertwining
the top threads between each other and a means for intertwining the
bottom threads between each other (as referenced below). 5. By
operation of a means for providing a desired number of cycles,
where each cycle consists of the following steps: [0029] (a)
Bringing said current couple into the operating position for said
cycle; [0030] (b) Passing of said top thread through material to be
sewn by said needle; [0031] (c) Engaging said top thread by said
shuttle; [0032] (d) Throwing off said top thread onto said bottom
thread; [0033] (e) Extracting said needle out of said material and
forming said stitch by simultaneously tightening said top thread
and said bottom thread; [0034] (f) Disabling of said current couple
and enabling the subsequent pre-determined current couple.
[0035] The proposed stitch line structure consists of a system of
several top and several bottom threads joined through the
perforations in the material. Such structure provides for mutual
compensation of stretched and squeezed areas of the material and
eliminates corrugation of the seam. Another benefit is the
potential for changing or transforming the structure along the
length of the stitch line in the process of the production of the
stitch line. It permits the optimization of the properties of the
seam in terms of its appearance, elasticity, wear resistance,
etc.
[0036] The sequence of interaction of the top and the bottom
threads is determined by the required structure of the stitches.
The sequence of interaction can be controlled mechanically or
digitally. These methods of control and programming are well known
and widely used--e.g., in knitwear fabrics manufacturing (U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,467,737 and 4,359,953).
[0037] The loading of every upper thread into its needle and of
every bottom thread into its shuttle can be provided by various
methods used in conventional multi-thread sewing machines. (U.S.
Pat. Nos. 3,433,191 and 4,993,335).
[0038] A means for sequentially engaging a required needle and a
means for sequentially engaging a required shuttle at one moment,
providing for conjunction of one of the top threads with one of the
bottom threads, is not known from the prior art. These means could
be provided by various ways. One of the ways is taught in the
present invention. It comprises a needle unit (mechanism) and a
shuttle unit (mechanism).
[0039] The needle unit is comprised of a revolver (needle revolver)
with needle bars located along its periphery and oriented along its
rotation axis. The shuttle unit also is comprised of a revolver
(shuttle revolver), where the shuttles are similarly located along
its periphery. Both revolvers are equipped with a device which
provides for enabling the current couple. Both revolvers are
provided with a means for turning and fixation. A Geneva wheel can
be used for such purpose. (A Geneva wheel is a well-known mechanism
in sewing machines; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,183).
[0040] The utilization of both revolvers, due to the rotation of
the needles and the shuttles around the rotation axes of the
respective revolvers, can provide for the respective intertwining
of the top threads with each other and of the bottom threads with
each other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE
DRAWINGS
[0041] The present invention can be easily understood from the
detailed description of the preferred embodiment by reference to
the attached drawings.
[0042] FIG. 1: This represents a general view of the structure of a
multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch line (one of the possible
embodiments) in the formation process; the structure is obtained
due to the alternating connection of each top thread with each
bottom thread through perforations (2) in the material (1) with
intertwining (7) of the top threads (3a and 3b).
[0043] FIG. 2: For better understanding the main steps in the
formation of a multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch line, both
the top threads (3a and 3b) and both the bottom threads (4a and 4b)
are symbolically placed on different levels. (A--passing of top
thread through material (1) by a needle (5a); B--engaging top
thread (3a) by shuttle (6a); C--throwing off top thread (3a) onto
bottom thread (4a); D--extracting needle (5a) out of material (1)
and forming the stitch by simultaneously tightening top thread (3a)
and bottom thread (4a); E--preparation of another pre-determined
current couple (needle 5b and shuttle 6b) for the next cycle.)
[0044] FIG. 3: Variants of the structure of single-line shuttle
stitches: [0045] a) Three thread shuttle stitch line made up of two
top threads (3a and 3b) and one bottom thread (4a); [0046] b) Five
thread shuttle stitch line, where top threads (3a and 3b) are
intertwined (7) and bottom threads (4a, 4b and 4c) are also
intertwined (7).
[0047] FIG. 4: Sewing machine front view.
[0048] FIG. 5: Sewing machine axonometric view.
[0049] FIG. 6: Needle revolver.
[0050] FIG. 7: Needle revolver consisting of two needle modules
(16a and 16b) and module mounting device (modular needle revolver)
(22).
[0051] FIG. 8: Needle module.
[0052] FIGS. 1-8 disclose: 1--sewn material; 2--perforation;
3a--first top thread; 3b--second top thread; 4a--first bottom
thread; 4b--second bottom thread; 4c--third bottom thread;
5a--first top thread needle; 5b--second top thread needle;
6a--first bottom thread shuttle; 6b--second bottom thread shuttle;
6c--third bottom thread shuttle; 7--thread intertwining; 8--needle
unit (needle revolver); 9--shuttle unit (shuttle revolver);
10--mechanism of discrete rotation of the needle revolver (e.g.
Geneva wheel); 11--mechanism for discrete rotation of the shuttle
revolver (e.g. Geneva wheel); 12--needle bar (12a--first needle
bar; 12b--second needle bar); 13--needle bar engaging mechanism;
14--needle bar catching device; 15--needle bar shoulder (15a--first
needle bar shoulder; 15b--second needle bar shoulder); 16a--module
of needle and thread feeder mechanism of the first needle;
16b--module of needle and thread feeder mechanism of the second
needle; 17--bobbin holder with bobbin; 18--thread tension
regulator; 19--thread take-up; 20--thread take-up eye; 21--thread
take-up drive; 22--module mounting device; 23--shaft; 24--drum;
25--module housing; 26--needle unit housing; .omega.-angular speed
of revolver rotation; t--small stitch step; T--big stitch step.
[0053] The principal steps of the multi-thread single-line shuttle
stitch line formation cycle are as follows: [0054] 1. Needle (5a)
perforates the material (1) and the first top thread (3a) is passed
through material (1) and reaches the extreme lower point (FIG. 2,
position A); [0055] 2. The first top thread (3a) is engaged by the
first bottom thread shuttle (6a); then needle (5a) goes up and
forms a loop of the first top thread (3a), the shuttle (6a) throws
off the top thread (3a) onto the first bottom thread (4a); here,
needle (5a) and shuttle (6a) make a current couple (marked with
asterisks) (FIG. 2, position B); [0056] 3. Needle (5a) is extracted
from material (1) and thread (3a) and thread (4a) are tightened
simultaneously and a stitch is obtained (FIG. 2, positions C and
D); [0057] 4. Material (1) is shifted for small stitch (t)
(interval between two nearest and adjacent perforations); the
previous current couple (needle 5a and shuttle 6a) is disabled; the
following current couple (needle 5b and shuttle 6b) is enabled; and
the cycle is repeated (FIG. 2, position E).
[0058] The cycles can be performed by the following mechanisms and
devices. The mechanism for needle revolver discrete rotation (10)
turns needle revolver (11), bringing desired needle (e.g., 5a) into
operating position; the simultaneous mechanism of shuttle revolver
discrete rotation (12) brings desired shuttle (e.g., 6a) into
operating position; thus, the current couple of needle 5a and
shuttle 6a is enabled. With this, the catching device (14) of
mechanism (13) catches shoulder (15a), thus enabling needle bar
(12a). The current couple then works in the manner of conventional
sewing machines, i.e., as shown above in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of
the principal steps of a multi-thread single-line shuttle stitch
line formation cycle.
[0059] As described in paragraph 4 of the same, at the moment of
the shift of the material for a small stitch (t), the mechanisms
for the discrete rotation of needle revolver (10) and shuttle
revolver (11) turn needle revolver (8) and shuttle revolver (9)
respectively, bringing desired needle bar (any of the needle bars;
e.g., (12 b)) and desired shuttle (any of the shuttles; e.g., (6c))
into the operating position. (The remainder of the needle bars
(12a) and the shuttles (6a and 6b) are idle at this moment, as the
current couple (5b and 6c) only operates at the given moment.)
After this, a new stitch is formed.
[0060] The sewing machine can be designed with: [0061] solid needle
revolvers (FIG. 6); [0062] interchangeable revolvers having
different numbers of needles and shuttles; and with [0063] needle
revolvers (modular needle revolvers) consisting of a module
mounting device (22) and the desired number of needle modules (16)
(see FIG. 7 and FIG. 8).
[0064] The solid needle revolver (FIG. 6) is comprised of a
cylindrical drum (24), which is driven to make discrete rotations
by rotation mechanism (10) via shaft (23). Each needle (5) is
supplied with individual needle bars (12), bobbin holders (17),
thread tension regulators (18), and thread take-ups (19). The
motion of the thread take-up eye (20) is synchronized with needle
bar (12) via thread take-up drive (21).
[0065] The modular needle revolver (FIG. 7 and FIG. 8) can be
designed for various module mounting device capacities. Modules
(16) are mounted on the module mounting device (22), which is
connected with the mechanism of discrete rotation of needle
revolver (10). All operations are similar to the ones described
above for the solid needle revolver (FIG. 6).
[0066] The module (FIG. 8) is comprised of the casing (25)
enclosing needle bar (12) connected via thread take-up drive (21)
with thread take-up (19). The casing (25) has a bobbin holder with
bobbin (17) and thread tension regulator (18). The thread take-up
drive (21) may be designed, for example, as a kit of gears,
transforming the motion on cogs on the needle bar (12) and thread
take-up (19).
[0067] While this invention has been described in terms of a
specific embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not
limited thereto, but rather only to the extent set forth hereafter
in the claims, which follow.
* * * * *