Multi-needle chain stitch sewing machine with thread severing system

The multi-needle sewing machine for double chain stitch sewing an array of isolated chain stitch patterns on a fabric comprising:

• (a) a needle plate, a plurality of sets of respective needles and loopers, each needle is located above the needle plate and carries a needle thread, each looper is located below the needle plate;
• (b) a thread severing strip having at least two respective ends for cutting each needle thread, the thread severing strip is located below the needle plate in close proximity above the plurality of loopers and in close proximity to each needle thread, which is positioned around each looper, the thread severing strip located transversely across the loopers;
• and
• (c) at least one eccentric guide connected to respective ends of the thread severing strip for extending the thread severing strip toward the needle threads and in a side direction such that the thread severing strip contacts and cuts the threads in a sawing action, and for subsequently retracting the thread severing strip.

A multi-needle sewing machine for double chain stitch sewing an array of isolated chain stitch patterns on a fabric comprising:

• (a) a needle plate, a plurality of sets of respective needles and loopeers, each needle is located above the needle plate and carries a needle thread, each looper is located below the needle plate;
• (b) a wire for heating each needle thread so as to cut each needle thread, the wire is located below the needle plate in close proximity above the plurality of loopers and in close proximity to a plurality of needle threads, which are positioned around each looper, the wire extends transversely across the plurality of loopers;
• and
• (c) at least one parallel slidable guide for extending and for retracting the wire, the slidable guide connected to the wire by a spring and an insulating block, wherein the spring is disposed between the insulating block and the slidable guide and wherein a first end of the insulating block is engaged to an end of the wire and a second end of the insulating block is attached to the spring.

A multi-needle sewing machine for double chain stitch sewing and forming an array of isolated chain stitched patterns on a fabric comprising:

• (a) a needle plate, a plurality of sets of respective needles and loopers, each needle being located above the needle plate and carrying a needle thread, each looper being located below the needle plate and each looper of the plurality of loopers being positioned adjacent to a respective needle;
• (b) a heated wire for cutting each needle thread, the heated wire located below the needle plate in close proximity to and above each looper and in close proximity to each needle thread, which being positioned around each looper, the heated wire located transversely across the loopers;
• and
• (c) an actuating means connected to respective ends of the heated wire for extending the heated wire to contact and to cut each needle thread, and for subsequently retracting the heated wire so that the heated wire does not contact each needle thread during sewing of the fabric.

A method for sewing an array of isolated stitched patterns on a fabric comprising the steps of:

• (a) moving a plurality of needles provided with respective needle threads, a plurality of loopers and the fabric and forming a plurality of isolated double chain stitch patterns, the loopers being located below a needle plate, the fabric being located above the needle plate and each looper of the plurality of loopers being positioned adjacent to a respective needle;
• (b) stopping the needles and loopers after forming the isolated pattern and after the needle thread is positioned around each looper;
• (c) elliptically rotating a thread severing means toward the needle threads while the needles and loopers are stationary;
• the thread severing means located below the needle plate in close proximity and above the plurality of loopers and located transversely across the loopers;
• (d) sawing the thread until the thread is cut;
• (e) retracting the thread severing means so that the thread severing means is not contacting the needle thread during the formation of the chain stitch pattern;
• and
• (f) resuming the movement of the needles and loopers so as to resume the formation of the double chain stitch pattern and forming a second chain stitch pattern.

The multi-needle sewing machine for double chain stitch sewing an array of isolated chain stitch patterns on a fabric comprising:

• (a) a needle plate, a plurality of sets of respective needles and loopers, each needle is located above the needle plate and carries a needle thread, each looper is located below the needle plate;
• (b) a thread severing strip for cutting each needle thread, the thread severing strip is located below the needle plate in close proximity above the plurality of loopers and in close proximity to each needle thread, which is positioned around each looper, the thread severing strip located transversely across the loopers;
• (c) at least one guide for extending the thread severing strip toward the needle threads and in a side direction essentially simultaneously such that the thread severing strip contacts and cuts the threads in a sawing action, and for subsequently retracting the thread severing strip;
• and
• (d) at least one pneumatic actuator axially attached to the thread severing strip for extending the thread severing strip toward the needle thread and in a side direction essentially simultaneously.

A method for sewing an array of isolated stitched patterns on a fabric comprising the steps of:

• (a) moving a plurality of needles provided with needle threads in combination with a plurality of loopers and the fabric, the loopers being located below a needle plate and each looper being positioned adjacent to a respective needle;
• (b) stopping the loopers with needle thread positioned around each looper after forming the isolated patterns;
• (c) advancing the fabric a predetermined distance relative to the loopers and needles;
• (d) stopping the fabric advancement;
• (e) supplying heat to a wire, which is below the needle plate and in close proximity above the loopers;
• (f) positioning a wire, so that the wire contacts the needle thread of each looper;
• (g) applying a sufficient heat through the wire to the needle thread so as to cut the needle thread;
• (h) retracting the wire so as not to contact the needle thread during the stitch pattern forming operation;
• (i) advancing the fabric to a new starting position;
• and
• (j) resuming the double chain stitch pattern forming operation to form a second isolated chain stitch pattern.

A multi-needle sewing machine for double chain stitch sewing an array of isolated chain stitch patterns on a fabric comprising:

• (a) a needle plate, a plurality of sets of respective needles and loopers, each needle is located above the needle plate and carries a needle thread, each looper is located below the needle plate;
• (b) a wire for heating each needle thread so as to cut each needle thread, the wire is located below the needle plate in close proximity above the plurality of loopers and in close proximity to a plurality of needle threads, which are positioned around each looper, the wire extends transversely across the plurality of loopers;
• and
• (c) at least one parallel slidable guide for extending and for retracting the wire, the slidable guide connected to an end of the wire.