# US 5,706,746 A · Needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,746 A - Document ID: US5706746A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/565,827 - Filed: 1995-12-01 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1994-12-14 - Assignees: Gateway (Textiles) Limited - Inventors: Hans Zeller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706746A ## CPC - D05B 11/00: Machines for sewing quilts or mattresses (control of workpiece-holding frames, or of sewing machines, in order to obtain particular seam configuration D05B21/00) - D05B 55/14: Needle-bar drives - D05C 15/20: Arrangements or devices, e.g. needles, for inserting loops; Driving mechanisms therefor - D05B: SEWING (appliances for the tailoring trade A41H; sewing tables A47B29/00; sewing in bookbinding B42B2/00; sewing machines modified for knitting D04B39/08) - D05C: EMBROIDERING; TUFTING (making non-woven fabrics D04H; sewing D05B) ## Abstract A needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine is provided, having a needle bar supporting needles, which is suspended on pairs of elbow joint levers. The elbow joint levers are engaged by a common push rod, which is movable back and forth by a drive. The needle bar is supported on vertical guides and is moved up and down by the pushing movements of the push rod. The needles of the stitching machine reach the lower point of reversal when the elbow joint levers are completely stretched, that is, when the elbow joint levers are disposed parallel with each other. In this manner, the lower point of reversal is clearly determined, and remains the same, irrespective of whether the lift of the push rod is increased or decreased in order to adjust the lifting of the needles from the sewing material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine, comprising: a needle bar; a plurality of needles mounted on said needle bar with said plurality of needles being drivable; vertical guides upon which said needle bar is supported; a drive; a push rod; a pair of elbow joint levers supporting said needle bar, with elbow joints of cooperating said elbow joint levers being connected with each other by said push rod, said push rod being movable back and forth transversely to a direction of needle lift by said drive; and, a driving pin of a swash plate drive, for a swash plate, mounted on a shaft, wherein said push rod is articulated with said driving pin. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 1, wherein said elbow joints on said elbow joint levers are coaxially pivotally connected with said push rod on a common axle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 1, wherein said elbow joints on said elbow joint levers are pivotally connected with said push rod on separate axles disposed adjacent to one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 1, wherein said drive includes means for adjusting an amount of deflection of said elbow joints. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 1, wherein said drive is a crank drive having a crankpin, with said push rod being articulated with a joint part on said crankpin of said crank drive. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 5, wherein said drive includes means for adjusting an amount of deflection of said elbow joints. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 6, wherein the amount of deflection of said elbow joints is adjustable by means of radial displacement of said crankpin with respect to an axis of rotation of said crank drive. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 1, wherein said drive includes means for adjusting an amount of deflection of said elbow joints. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 8, wherein the amount of deflection of said elbow joints is adjustable by means for adjusting an angle of inclination with respect to an axis of said shaft of said swash plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 1, wherein said swash plate drive comprises said swash plate and a race rotatably supported on said swash plate, so that said driving pin forming a connection with said push rod is fastened on said race. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 1, wherein two of said swash plate drives are arranged on said shaft, with each of said swash plate drives being connected with at least one of said push rods. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The needle drive for a multi-needle stitching machine according to claim 11, wherein said two of said swash plate drives are mounted on said shaft, disposed mirror-symmetrically relative to one another.