Method and apparatus for automatically steering and adjusting the height of a needle in a chenille type embroidery machine

An apparatus for automatically adjusting a height of a needle in an embroidery machine, comprising:

• a needle height adjuster assembly comprising a needle bar clamp for fixedly receiving a needle bar and the needle, an internal needle height adjuster for threadably receiving said needle bar clamp, and a height adjuster locking block for rotatably receiving said internal adjuster;
• means for rotating said needle assembly;
• and
• means for disengaging said needle assembly from the needle, said means for disengaging comprising:
• a spring biased locking clip slidably received by said locking block for locking said locking block to said internal adjuster;
• and
• an actuator for sliding said clip against said spring bias, wherein said locking block is unlocked from said internal adjuster and the needle is threaded into or out of said internal adjuster as said internal adjuster rotates to adjust the height of the needle.

An apparatus for steering and for adjusting a height of a needle in an embroidery machine, comprising:

• drive means;
• shaft means interconnecting said drive means and the needle for imparting rotational motion to steer the needle about a longitudinal axis thereof;
• and
• means operably connected to the needle for converting said rotational motion into a substantially vertical motion of the needle along said longitudinal axis, said means for converting comprising:
• an actuator responsive to an electronic signal;
• a needle bar clamp for receiving a needle bar and the needle;
• an internal height adjuster for threadably receiving said needle bar clamps;
• `a height adjuster locking block for rotatably receiving said internal adjuster;
• and
• spring means comprising at least one spring and a locking clip for rotationally locking and unlocking said locking block relative to said internal adjuster responsive to said actuator, wherein said spring means normally locks said locking block for said rotational motion with said internal adjuster and unlocks said locking block relative to said internal adjuster for said axial motion.

A method for automatically adjusting a height of a needle on an embroidery machine, comprising the steps of:

• rotating a needle height adjuster assembly comprising a first portion rotatably inserted into a second portion, wherein the needle is adjustably received by said first portion;
• disengaging said second portion from said first portion of said assembly including the needle;
• and
• continuing to rotate said first portion while said second portion is disengaged therefrom, wherein the height of the needle is adjusted.

A method for steering and for adjusting a height of a needle in an embroidery machine, comprising the steps of:

• threading a needle bar clamp containing a needle bar and the needle into an internal needle height adjuster;
• rotating said internal adjuster;
• locking a height adjuster locking block and said clamp to said internal adjuster, wherein said clamp rotates with said internal adjuster to steer the needle;
• unlocking said locking block and said clamp from said internal adjuster;
• and
• holding said locking block from rotation while said internal adjuster continues to rotate, wherein said needle bar clamp is threaded into or out of said internal adjuster for height adjustment of the needle.

A method for forming a needle steering and height adjustment apparatus for an embroidery machine, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a needle bar into which the needle is threadably received into a needle bar clamp;
• threading said clamp into an internal needle height adjuster;
• rotatably inserting said internal adjuster into a height adjuster locking block;
• positioning an actuator having an extendable shaft opposite said locking block;
• and
• slidably inserting a spring biased locking clip into said locking block, wherein said clip is biased to lock said locking block to said internal adjuster for steering the needle and said clip is moved against said bias by said extendable shaft to unlock said locking block from said internal adjuster for height adjustment of the needle.