Combined needle guard/needle cooler for sewing machine

In combination with a sewing machine having a reciprocatory needle bar including a plurality of needle means carried thereon each of which are arranged to manipulate a needle thread, lower thread carrying stitch forming mechanism means arranged to manipulate the lower threads and to cooperate with said needle means in the formation of stitches and means operative for simultaneously guarding and cooling each of said needle means comprising:

• stationary guard means disposed in the reciprocatory path of said needle means and having a plurality of openings corresponding in number to the needle means, the periphery of each of said openings providing a circumferential guarding surface for respectfully engaging and directing the needle means in the event they are bent or flexed so as to insure proper cooperation of the needle means with the lower stitch forming mechanism means;
• and
• conduit means formed as an integral part of said guard means and adapted for communication with said openings for delivering a cooling medium and directing same against that portion of the needle means that passes through the openings.

In combination with a sewing machine having a frame, work support means, a reciprocatory needle movable through the work support means and adapted for cooperation with a lower stitch forming mechanism in the formation of a series of stitches in a workpiece, a means operative for simultaneously guarding and cooling said needle comprising:

• stationary tubular needle guard means disposed beneath the work support means in the reciprocatory path of said needle and adapted to receive same, the interior of said tubular needle guard means acting as a camming surface for engaging and repositioning the needle with respect to the lower stitch forming mechanism should it be deflected or bent out of its normal reciprocatory path while travelling beneath the work support means;
• and
• conduit means adapted to deliver a cooling medium through the interior of said tubular means and admit same to the interior of said tubular needle guard means whereby cooling said needle as it passes therethrough.

In a sewing machine having a frame, work support means, reciprocatory thread carrying needle means, complementary means cooperating with said needle means for producing a stitch in a workpiece and means operative for simultaneously guarding and cooling said needle comprising:

• member means disposed beneath said work support means in the reciprocatory path of said needle means and having an opening the diameter of which is effective to engage and reposition the needle in the event that it is bent or flexed so as to insure cooperation of said needle with said complementary means;
• and
• said member means being provided with channels that are in communication with said opening and adapted to transmit a cooling medium to that portion of the needle encompassed by said opening.