Electronic control of needle thread in a sewing machine
AssigneeThe Singer Company
InventorsLeo Dobrjanskyj, Donald R. Simon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sewing machine is provided with an actuator controlled thread take-up lever. A microprocessor is programmed to provide signals for controlling the actuator to provide a system wherein the interaction of the needle, the needle thread take-up and needle thread tension are optimally controlled. A thread metering mechanism, also under microprocessor control, is included in the system.
Claims9
In combination with a sewing machine having a thread carrying needle adapted for endwise reciprocatory motion to penetrate a work fabric and cooperate with a looptaker in the formation of stitches, an arrangement for controlling the needle thread comprising:
- means for defining a thread path from a thread supply to said needle;
- a thread take-up lever positioned along said path and selectively movable in a defined range toward and away from said path, said thread take-up lever including means for slidably holding said thread;
- actuator means for moving said thread take-up lever within said defined range in accordance with take-up control signals applied thereto;
- thread clamping means interposed in said path between said supply and said take-up lever and responsive to clamp signals applied thereto for preventing movement of thread therethrough;
- and
- control means for generating said take-up control signals and said clamp signals in timed relation with the operation of said sewing machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.