Embroidering machine

In an embroidering machine of the type in which the fabric, while advancing through the machine, is also shifted laterally in accordance with an embroidery control pattern, and in which several identical embroidery designs are produced simultaneously in a number of embroidering stations which are spaced across the machine, as one out of a group of needles arranged in each embroidering station is being driven to execute a stitching motion while the other needles in the group remain retracted, holding threads of varying color or texture, for the selective embroidering with different threads, through switchover of the needle driving means of the machine from one needle to another in each needle group;

• in such a machine, a needle drive control mechanism comprising in combination:
• in each embroidering station, a group of needle rods arranged in a row, each needle rod carrying a needle which protrudes from its forward end;
• a needle bar which holds and guides the row of needle rods for longitudinal displacement between an advanced position in which stitch formation takes place and a retracted position, including means for shifting the needle bar in a direction transverse to the needle rod axes, so as to align any selected needle rod of the group with a fixed working plane of the embroidering station;
• a stationary retaining bar arranged rearwardly of and parallel to the needle bar and having a gap in alignment with said working plane, the retaining bar cooperating with all the needle rods of the group, with the exception of the one which is aligned with said working plane and retaining bar gap, and which thus serves as a working needle rod, the needle bar retaining, by said cooperation, the other, non-working needle rods in their retracted position, while allowing for a transverse displacement of the retained needle rods along the retaining bar, when the needle bar executes its transverse shifting movement;
• needle rod retaining means defined between the stationary retaining bar and the needle rods, for retaining said non-working needle rods in the manner aforementioned, said retaining means including a retaining protrusion on each needle rod.
• selectively releasable means for holding the working needle rod in its retracted position, in substantial alignment with the non-working needle rods, so as to allow for a shift of the working needle rod into the range of the retaining bar, thereby rendering it non-working, and to also allow for a simultaneous shift of a previously non-working needle rod into the working plane, when the needle bar executes said transverse shifting movement;
• a needle rod drive member arranged in cooperational proximity of at least the working needle rod in the working plane of each group, said drive member executing a reciprocating motion which, if transmitted to a working needle rod, moves the latter between its advanced and retracted positions in a stitching action;
• and
• means for releasably connecting the working needle rod with said drive member, each needle rod including, as part of said connecting means, a movable connecting member which is engageable by the drive member;
• and wherein:
• said working needle rod holding means and said working needle rod connecting means are operatively interconnected in such a way that the holding means, when holding the needle rod in its retracted position, deflects the connecting member of the working needle rod into a position in which it cannot be engaged by the reciprocating drive member.