Stationary thread-cutting device for a sewing machine

A stationary thread-cutting device for a sewing machine, the sewing machine including a needle plate which has a needle-side region for feeding thereinto a fabric piece to be stitched, and a bobbin-side region that is opposite to the needle-side region in a longitudinal direction, that extends to terminate at a lateral edge distal from the needle-side region, and that has an access opening, a bobbin holder which is accessible to the access opening, and a bobbin which is disposed in the bobbin holder to reel out a bobbin thread that is to be interlaced with a needle thread for stitching the fabric piece, and that has a leading end led out of the access opening, said stationary thread-cutting device comprising:

• a guiding member adapted to span the access opening, and having a major wall which includes an outer marginal region that extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and that is disposed adjacent to the lateral edge, said major wall having upper and lower wall surfaces opposite to each other in an upright direction, said upper wall surface having proximate and distal regions relative to the needle-side region, and defining a thread guiding route including
• a lead-in area which has an entry slot extending through said lower wall surface so as to permit entry of the leading end into said lead-in area, and which is positioned leftwardly of the bobbin in said proximate region,
• a turn-around area which is disposed downstream of said lead-in area, and which is configured to guide the leading end to turn around so as to permit the leading end to be pulled in a rightward direction,
• a corner piece which is disposed at said turn-around area, and which is configured to be in frictional engagement with the bobbin thread so as to impart a tensing force to the leading end when the leading end is pulled in the rightward direction, and
• a cutting station which is disposed on said outer marginal region and downstream of said turn-around area, and which is disposed rightwardly of said corner piece so as to define with said corner piece a lead-out path that crosses said distal region;
• and
• a cutter which is disposed under said lower wall surface and adjacent to said cutting station, and which has a cutting blade configured to extend through said upper wall surface such that, subsequent to an advancement of the bobbin thread beyond said cutting station by virtue of pulling the leading end along the lead-out path manually, the bobbin thread is brought into contact with said cutting blade to be cut by said cutting blade.