US3298339A

US3298339A - Buttonholing device for sewing machines

Info

Publication number: US3298339A
Application number: US383125A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph E Johnson
Original assignee: Singer Co
Current assignee: Singer Co
Priority date: 1964-07-16
Filing date: 1964-07-16
Publication date: 1967-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-17
Also published as: SE300923B; CH455469A; DE1485364A1; GB1051798A

Description

R. E. JOHNSON BUTTONHOLING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Jan. 17, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 16, 1964 INVENTOR Ralph E. Johnson TTORNEY WITNESS Jan. 17, 1967 R. E. JOHNSON 3,298,339

BUTTONHOLING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 16, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 WI TN E58 INVENTOR.

Ralph E. Johnson ATTORNEY Jan. 6 R. E. JOHNSON 3,298,339

BUTTONHOLING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed July 16, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 RES 'IIIII)! I l/III! IIIl'IIIIIII/III INVENTOR.

Ralph E. Johnson WITNESS Jan. 17, 1967 R. E. JOHNSON 3,298,339

BUTTONHOLING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES i FIg. H I05 INVENTOR Ralph E. Johnson WITNESS ATTORNEY United States Patent '0 3,298,339 BUTTONHOLING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Ralph E. Johnson, Boonton, NJ., assignor to The Singer Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 16, 1964, Ser. No. 383,125 15 Claims. (Cl. 112-73) called into operation at will for automatic stitching of buttonholes.

Devices have long been known in the nature of attachmen'ts to sewing machines for shifting work fabrics in the production of buttonholes. One disadvantage of such attachments is the. difficulty in applying the device to the sewing machine since both the support for the device as well as the drive connection to the sewing machine mechanism must usually be established in the one act of applying the attachment to the sewing machine.

Certain known buttonhole attachments include provision for rendering the drive connection to the sewing machine mechanism inelfective to suspend work shifting so that normal sewing might be accomplished without completely removing the attachment from the sewing machine. Such normal sewing with a known buttonhole attachment in place on a sewing machine is, however, far from satisfactory since the work engaging attachment foot is specifically designed for work shifting and not for the free passage of work therebeneath. Moreover, the presence of the known attachment provides a serious obstacle to the passage and manipulation of fabrics in normal sewing.

It is an object of this invention to provide a work shifting mechanism for the production of buttonholes which with exception of the work engaging foot is permanently associated with a sewing machine, thus obviating any difficulty to the machine operator in removing, replacing, and storing the buttonholing mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and effective mechanism for imparting motion to a work engaging foot on a sewing machine which mechanism is particularly adapted to conform to the shape of a conventional sewing machine frame so as not to detract from the access or visibility of work fabrics at the stitching area of the sewing machine nor to provide obstruction to the passage and manipulation of fabrics during normal sewing operations.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel and effective means for at will rendering effective a drive connection of the buttonholing mechanism with the sewing machine mechanism whereby the sewing machine may be readied quickly and easily for either buttonholing or normal sewing.

With the above and additional objects and advantages in view as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 represents a front elevational view of a sewing machine having the buttonholing mechanism of this invention embodied in it,

FIG. 2 represents a head end elevational view of the sewing machine of FIG. 1 with the sewing head face plate swung into opened position,

FIG. 3 represents an elevational view of the sewing head face plate, viewed from the exterior of the sewing machine, and with portions of the face plate broken away to expose the buttonholing mechanism carried thereby,

"ice

FIG. 4 represents a top plan view of the sewing machine face plate,

FIG. 5 represents an elevational view of the sewing head face plate viewed from the interior of the sewing machine head and including a fragment of the lug on the needle bar for driving the buttonholing mechanism as well as a fragment of the sewing machine presser bar bracket for biasing the work engaging foot downwardly,

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the ratchet and pawl drive for the buttonholing mechanism taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along line 7--7 of FIG. 5 of the buttonholing mechanism and including fragments of the needle bar, presser bar, and the template constraining spring, and illustrating the relative positions of the parts when the work engaging foot is secured in place,

FIG. 8 represents an elevational view of a portion of the sewing head face plate viewed from the interior of the sewing machine head similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating the relative positions of the parts when the work engaging foot is removed from the buttonholing mechanism,

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of FIG. 8 and is similar to FIG. 7 but illustrates the relative positions of the parts when the work engaging foot is removed from the buttonholing mechanism,

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 10-10 of FIG. 8, and

FIG. 11 represents an elevational view of the shank portion of the work engaging foot.

The buttonholing mechanism of this invention is adapted for use with any conventional household sewing machine. In the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings this invention is illustrated as applied to a zigzag sewing machine of the type described in my United States Patent No. 2,862,468, dated December 2, 1958. Reference may be had to this patent for the details of construction of the sewing machine. The following, however, is a brief description of those parts of the known sewing machine which are necessary for an understanding of this invention.

The sewing machine frame includes a fiat work supporting bed 20 from which rises a standard 21 sustaining a bracket arm 22 terminating in a sewing head 23 overhanging the work supporting bed. A main shaft 24 journaled in the bracket arm carries a crank 25 connected by a drive link 26 to a stud 27 secured to a needle bar 28 which at its lower extremity carries a needle 29. The main shaft 24 thus imparts endwise reciprocation to the needle bar 28 which is journaled for endwise reciprocation in a swinging gate 30 fulcrumed in the sewing head. The swinging gate provides means for imparting lateral jogging motion to the needle in addition to the endwise reciprocation so that zigzag stitches may be produced.

The zigzag mechanism for jogging the needle in response to rotation of the main shaft 24 is not disclosed in the accompanying drawings, but may be of any conventional arrangement, for instance, that disclosed in the above referenced United States Patent No. 2,862,468. The

coaxial control dials

31 and 32 carried on the bracket arm provide for operator selection of zigzag stitch patterns as well as for selection of neutral position of needle vibration, and each dial is provided with a finger 31', 32', respectively, cooperating with indicia 33 on the bracket arm to indicate the position of adjustment. The finger grip 34 protruding through a notched slot 35 in the bracket arm provides for adjustment of the width of zigzag stitching, and indicia 36 associated with the notches of the slot 35 indicates the selected position of the zigzag stitch width control.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sewing machine includes a loop taker 44) carried in the work supporting bed for cooperation with the needle 29 in the formation of stitches. A work feeding mechanism indicated generally at 41 is also arranged in the work supporting bed and includes a fed dog 42. Both the loop taker and the work feeding mechanism are operated from the main shaft 24, however, the work feeding mechanism 41 of the sewing machine is not utilized during the formation of buttonholes using the device of this invention and the feed dog during buttonholing may be rendered ineffective by use of a feed cover plate 43. When the buttonholing device of this invention is not being used, the feed cover plate 43 is removed and any conventional presser foot (not shown) may be secured to a spring loaded presser bar 44 carried in the sewing head 23 so as to oppose the feed dog 42 for normal sewing operations. A collar 45 fast on the presser bar 44 overlies a presser lifting bell crank 46 fulcrumed in the sewing head by which the operator may raise and lower the presser bar.

Referring to FIG. 1, a buttonholing mechanism indicated generally as 50 is carried, in accordance with this invention, in a face plate 51 which is secured as an end closure of the sewing head 23 of the machine frame. The buttonholing mechanism 50, as will be described in detail hereinbelow, embodies a unique kinematic construction which provides for a compact arrangement within the face plate 51 so that the face plate need not be appreciably larger than conventional face plates and therefore, the buttonholing mecahnism which is permanently associated with the sewing machine does not provide an abnormal obstruction to the operators visibility of the stitching point nor does the buttonholing mechanism impede the passage and manipulation of work fabrics being stitched.

The buttonholing mechanism 50 includes a work engaging foot indicated generally at 52 of the type adapted to maintain a fixed relation to the work fabric during the sewing of an entire buttonhole. The work engaging foot as will be described in detail hereinbelow may be snapped in place and removed quickly without the use of separate fastening elements. Moreover, the act of securing the work engaging foot in place establishes a driving relationship of parts of the sewing machine and the buttonholing mechanism and thus readies the sewing machine for the production of buttonholes. Conversely removal of the work engaging foot 52 positions the parts of the buttonholing mechanism out of cooperative relation with the sewing machine and readies the sewing machine for normal sewing.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the face plate 51 includes spaced

pintles

55 and 56 adapted to be accommodated in

sockets

57 and 58, respectively, in the sewing head 23. A top cover 59 secured on the bracket arm 22 overlies the pintle 55 on the face plate to prevent accidental separation of the face plate from the sewing machine and thus sustaining the buttonholing mechanism in permanent association with the sewing machine. The faceplate 51 may be swung on the

pintles

55 and 56 into an opened position as illustrated in FIG. 2 or into a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 1, in which closed pos tion the face plate is sustained by a leaf spring 60 secured to the face plate by screws 61 and formed with an arched free extremity 62 adapted to accommodate a raised detent 63 formed within the sewing head 23.

Secured across the top of the face plate 51 is a transverse web 79 which as illustrated in FIGS. 4, 7, and 9 is formed with an aperture 71 adapted snugly to accommodate an exchangeable buttonhole pattern template 72. Each template 72 is formed with a skirt portion 73 accommodated within the aperture 71 and with a flange 74 adapted to overlie the face plate aperture to sustain the template in place. In its underside the template is formed with an endless rack 75 which is preferably in the form or shape which the buttonhole will take. Within the endless rack the template is formed with an endless 4 groove 76. When the face plate 51 is swung on the

pintles

55, 56 away from the sewing head as illustrated in FIG. 2, the web 70 and the template 72 therein is exposed for removal and replacement. When the face plate 51 with a selected template 72 positioned in the aperture 71 is swung into closed position against the sewing head, a spring finger 77 secured as by fastening screws 78 beneath the top cover 59 of the sewing machine is positioned upon the template and urges the template firmly into seated position in the web aperture 71.

Near the bottom of the face plate a vertical slot is formed defining the parallel

vertical sidewalls

80 and 81 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8. slot 82 which is formed in the face plate 51 and opens onto the sidewall 80 accommodates a pivot pin 83 which extends transversely across between the vertical slot sidewalls 80, 81 and may be secured in selected position along the slot 82 by means of a thumb nut 84 which serves to clamp the pivot pin 83 against a slotted escutcheon plate 85 secured by screws 86 on the face plate.

A feed member for the buttonholin evice is indicated generally at 90 in the accompanying drawings and comprises a cylindrical upper portion 91 and an enlarged 'lower portion 92 which is formed with a transverse slot 93 which slot'is closed by a covering plate 94 secured to the lower portion 92 of the feed member by screws 95. The closed slot 93, thus provided, embraces the pivot pin 83 and provides for swinging motion of the feed member 90 about the axis of the pivot pin 83. The

pendicular axes defined by the pivot pin 83 and the cylindrical outer periphery 96 of the covering plate 94 both of which axes are disposed substantially parallel to the work supporting bed 20 or the feed cover plate 43 on the sewing machine when the face plate 51 is secured in closed position. The pivotal axis defined by the pin 83 may be adjusted lengthwise of the feed member 90 as provided by the thumb nut 84 and an indicating element 97 embracing the pivot pin 83 may be provided with a tang 98 extending through a slot 99 in the escutcheon plate 85 to provide for an indication of the position of the adjustment of the pivot pin 83 as by the provision of indicia 100 along the slot 99 in cooperation with the tang 98.

The uppermost of the fastening screws 95 securing the covering plate 94 to the feed member may be formed with an elongate extremity 101 abutting a shoulder 102 formed inside the face plate 51 to limit downward movement of the feed member 90.

The covering plate 94 also serves as a seating element for accommodating the work engaging foot 52 of the but tonholing device and to this end the covering plate 94 is provided with a depending finger 105 formed with a clearance aperture 106 adapted to accommodate a shouldered pin 107 carried on a bracket 198 secured by a screw 109 and inturned side flanges 110 to a shank 111 of the work engaging foot 52. The bracket 108 of the work engaging foot is also formed with an upwardly open notch 112 above the shouldered pin 197 which embraces the lower extremity of the feed member portion 92 to stabilize the work engaging foot. The covering plate 94 is formed with a vertically elongate aperture 113 and is also provided with a guide pin 114 for the purpose of supporting a latch member 115 for vertical sliding movement thereon. The latch member 115 is formed with an offset and upwardly extending finger 116 which extends through the elongate aperture 113 in the covering plate 94 and the latch memher 115 is also formed with a keyhole shaped aperture 117 A vertically elongate I embracing the guide pin 114, thus to sustain the latch member for vertical sliding motion relatively to the covering plate 94. A wire spring 118 anchored by a fastening screw 119 on the face plate 51 extends across the latch member 115 and engages beneath a wire clip 120 secured on the latch member. The wire spring 118 thus serves a dual purpose of biasing the latch member upwardly relatively to the covering plate 94 and biasing the latch member into a position against the covering plate 94.

Serrations 121 on opposite sides of the latch member 115 facilitate operator depression of the latch member against the action of the wire spring 118 into a position in which an enlarged portion 122 of the keyhole shaped aperture 117 is in registry with the clearance aperture 106 in the covering plate finger 105. In this registering position the shouldered pin 107 of the work engaging foot may be inserted through both

apertures

106 and 122 following which a slight upward motion of the latch member 115 will shift the aperture 117 into engagement with a necked portion 123 of the pin 107 as illustrated in FIG 5, thereby locking the work engaging foot in place on the feed member 90. A lug 45' which is formed on the presser bar collar 45 extends in a position overlying the covering plate 94 when the presser foot is lowered by the lever 46 as best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 and in this manner the force of the spring pressure exerted on the sewing machine presser bar is transmitted as well to the work engaging foot 52 of the buttonholing device.

Because of the generally vertical position of the feed member 90, the work engaging foot 52 of the buttonholing device preferably comprises a substantially horizontal lever 124 fulcrumed on a pin 125 extending laterally from the shank 111. A pair of forwardly extending fingers 126 on the lever 124 are outturned as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5, and 7 and enter apertures 127 formed on the side flanges 128 of a work engaging foot 129. The foot 129 may be of a type conventional in buttonhole attachments in that as shown in FIG. 2, it is provided with a roughened work engaging under surface 130 and formed with an apertured 131 larger than the largest buttonhole to be sewn, within which aperture the buttonhole is formed. Rearwardly of the pin 125, the lever 124 carries a depending stud 132 adapted to bear against the work supporting bed 20 of the sewing machine in order to distribute the downward force of the sewing machine presser bar spring uniformly on the work engaging foot 129.

For imparting movement to the feed member 90 and thus to the work engaging foot 52 in a buttonhole shaped path, a sleeve 133 is freely journaled on the upper cylindrical portion 91 of the feed member. The sleeve 133, which is free to turn and also to shift axially relatively to the feed member 90, carries at its lower extremity a ratchet wheel 134, the periphery of which may protrude through a slot 135 which is, formed in the face plate 51. At the upper extremity of the sleeve 133 is formed a pinion 136 with an axial pin 137 protruding therefrom and adapted to engage the endless rack 75 of the template 72. As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 7, and 9, the teeth of the pinion 136 are maintained in mesh with the endless rack 75 by the pin 137 which is constrained in the groove 76 of the template. Beneath the pinion 136 the sleeve 133 is formed with an annular flange 138 which overlies and rides upon a guide bracket 139 which is pivoted on the pin 140 in the face plate and is biased upwardly by means of a spring 141 which bears upon a tang 142 extending from the guide bracket 139. The transverse web 70 in which the template is located is formed with depending guide flanges 143 which complement the guide bracket 139 and sustain the annular flange 138 of the sleeve 133 in such position as to maintain the pinion 136 in mesh with the template throughout the entire range of possible motion of the feed member 90.

Beneath the sleeve 133 on the cylindrical upper portion 91 of the feed member 90, a second sleeve 145 is slidably constrained for motion axially along the cylindri- 6. cal upper portion 91 of the feedmem'ber by means of a guide pin 146 threaded into the feed member and constrained in a vertical slot 147 in the sleeve 145. A light coil spring 148 interposed between the ratchet wheel 134 and the sleeve 145 serves to bias the sleeve 145 downwardly. A lug 150 protruding from the needle bar drive stud 27 is disposed when the face plate 51 is closed to un derlie a-lateral extension 151 formed on the sleeve 145, thus to drive the sleeve 145 upwardly during each up stroke of the sewing machine needle. The sleeve 145 has journaled upon it on an axis substantially parallel to the cylindrical upper portion 91 of the'feed member a pin 152 to which is secured a lateral arm 153. Extending upwardly from the lateral arm 153 and offset from the pin 152 as illustrated in FIG. 6 is a pawl 154 which cooperates with the ratchet wheel 134 to impart step-by-step turning movement to the pinion, one step during each reciprocation of the sewing machine needle. The pawl 154 is formed with an inclined ratchet tooth engaging surface 155. A spring 156 biases the ratchet tooth engaging surface 154 of the pawl toward the ratchet teeth and upon the upward motion of the sleeve 145 the inclined ratchet tooth engaging surface will drive the ratchet wheel in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. Upon a downward motion of the sleeve 145 the spring 156 will yield permitting. the pawl to swing about the pin 152 so that a retrograde motion will not be imparted to the pinion 136.

Referring to FIG. 8 which illustrates the position of parts when the work engaging foot has been removed from the buttonholing device, it will beapparent that the upstanding finger 116 on the latch member will contact and elevate the sleeve when the latch member 115 is released thus to shift and hold the sleeve 145 into a position out of the range of motion of the drive lug for the buttonholingdevice on the needle bar. For this purpose the wire spring 118 which elevates the latch member 115 is preferably of sufficient strength to overcome the coil spring 148 which assists in returning the sleeve 145.

In operation the buttonholing mechanism as described above may be readied for buttonholing operations by securing the work engaging foot thereto, placing a template having an endless rack of the desired length positioned in the transverse web .70, securing the face plate in closed position on the sewing head, and depressing the presser lifting lever 46 to apply the spring pressure of the sewing machine presser mechanism to the work engaging foot of the buttoning device thus to clamp a work fabric against the feed cover plate 43. The buttonholing mechanism during endwise reciprocation of the sewing machine needle 29 will impart to the work enengaging foot of the buttonholing device thus to clamp a relatively to the path of endwise reciprocation of the needle. The length of the closed buttonhole shaped path will depend upon the length of the endless rack in the template 72 and the width of the buttonhole shaped path will depend in part upon the width of the rack in the template 72 and in part upon the selected position of the pivot pin 83 which can modify the width of the resulting buttonhole to a limited degree. The form of the buttonholing device disclosed hereinabove provides only for work shifting motion in the buttonhole shaped path, the stitch 'by stitch zigzag motion necessary to provide a covering stitch along each side of the buttonhole will be provided by the zigzag mechanism of the sewing machine and to this end the control dials 31 and 32 as well as the finger grip 34 must be set in positions which will provide for an appropriate bight and pattern of zigzag needle motion of the sewing machine. The length of the buttonhole produced can be readily changed simply by swinging out the cover plate 51 and exchanging the template 72 for one which has an endless rack of the appropriate length. The width of the resulting buttonhole may be varied by an adjustment of the thumb nut 84 and also to a degree by adjustment of the sewing machine bight 7 setting with the use of the finger grip 34. The bight setting of the sewing machine zigzag motion also provides. a means for adjusting the cutting space, i.e., the space between the rows of zigzag stitches at each side of the buttonhole.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the buttonholing mechanism of this invention is contained substantially within the confines of the conventional sewing machine frame and thus while buttonholing with this mechanism, the visibility and access to the stitching point of the sewing machine is not impeded. When the work engaging foot 52 of the buttonholing mechanism is removed from the machine, only a small portion of the lower extremity 92 of the feed member 90, a small portion of the covering plate 94, and a small portion of the latch member 115 protrude beneath the face plate 51 of the sewing machine. Thus when the buttonholing mechanism is not in use, although the devices remain as a permanent part of the sewing machine and ready for immediate use, this presence does not detract in any appreciable way from the normal operation of the sewing machine nor does this presence impede visibility of access to the stitching area of the sewing machine.

Having set forth the nature of this invention what I claim herein is: p

1. A work shifting mechanism for a sewing machine having a frame formed with a fiat work supporting bed, and stitch forming instrumentalities and actuating mechanism therefor carried in said frame, said work shifting mechanism comprising, an' elongate member disposed substantially perpendicular to said fl'atwork supporting bed, means carried on said sewing machine frame and providing pivotal support for said member on mutually perpendicular axes parallel to said work supporting bed, drive means operated by said sewing'machine actuating mechanism for imparting swinging movement to said member about said mutually perpendicular axes, and a Work engaging foot secured to said member and adapted to overlie said working supporting bed.

2. A work shifting mechanism for a'sewing machine having a frame formed with a fiat'work supporting bed and a bracket arm overhanging said bed, stitch forming instrumentalities and actuating mechanism therefor carried in said frame, said work shifting'mechanism comprising an elongate member disposed substantially perpendicular to said flat work supporting bed, means carried on' said bracket arm and providing pivotal support for said member on mutually perpendicular axes parallel to said work supporting bed, said pivotal support means including a pivot pin defining one of said mutually perpendicular axes and means for positioning said pivot pin in said bracket arm in selected position toward and away from said work supporting bed, drive means operated by said sewing machine actuating mechanism for imparting orbital motion in a predetermined path to that extremity of said elongate member remote from said work supporting bed, and a work engaging foot secured to that extremity of said elongate member contiguous to said work supporting bed.

3. A work shifting mechanism for a sewing machine having a frame formed with a flat work supporting bed, and stitch forming instrumentalities and actuating mechanism therefor carried in said frame, said work shifting mechanism comprising, an elongate member disposed substantially perpendicular to said flat work supporting bed, said elongate member including at least two elements lengthwise slidably interconnected, means carried on said sewing machine frame and providing pivotal support for said member on mutually perpendicular axes parallel to said work supporting bed, drive means operated by said sewing machine actuating mechanism for imparting swinging movement to said elements of said member about said mutually perpendicular axes, a work engaging foot secured to the other of said two elements of said member and adapted to overlie said work supporting bed,

8 and means for biasing said work engaging foot against said work supporting bed.

4. A buttonholing mechanism for a sewing machine having a frame formed-with a fiat work supporting bed, and stitch forming instrumentalities and actuating mechanism therefor carried in said frame, said buttonholing mechanism comprising, an elongate feed member disposed lengthwise substantially perpendicular to said fiat work supporting bed, means carried in said sewing machine frame for constraining said feed member lengthwise slidably in said sewing machine frame and for providing pivotal support for said feed member on mutually perpendicular axes parallel to said work supporting bed, a pinion journaled relatively to said feed member on an axis disposed lengthwise of said feed member and substantially perpendicular to said fiat work supporting bed, an endless rack carried by said sewing machine in mesh with said pinion, means sustaining said pinion in mesh with said endless rack, drive means operated by said sewing machine actuating mechanism for imparting stepbystep rotary motion to said pinion in-one direction of rotation, a work engaging foot secured to said feed member and adapted to overlie said work supporting bed, and means carried by said sewing machine frame for biasing said feed member lengthwise to urge said work engaging foot toward said work supporting bed.

5. A buttonholing mechanism as set forth in claim 4 in which said drive means comprises a ratchet wheel secured for turning movement with said pinion, a sleeve slidably supported for movement lengthwise along said feed member toward and away from said ratchet wheel, a pawl pivotally supported on said sleeve and biased into engagement with said ratchet wheel, and a drive element associated with said sewing machine actuating element adapted to reciprocate said sleeve lengthwise along said feed member during operation of said sewing machine.

6. A buttonholing mechanism as set forth in claim 4 in which said means for providing pivotal support'for said feed member on mutually perpendicular axes parallel to said work supporting bed includes a pivot pin defining one of said mutually perpendicular axes and means for positioning said pivot pin in said sewing machine frame in selected position toward and away from said sewing machine work supporting bed.

7. A buttonholing mechanism asset forth in claim 4 including a latch member carried on said feed member for movement into and out of a position effective to secure said work engaging foot on said feed member, and an element carried by said latch member and disposed in the ineffective position of said latch member to interrupt said drive means operated by said sewing machine actuating mechanism for imparting step-by-step rotary motion to said pinion.

8. A buttonholing mechanism for a sewing machine having a frame formed with a flat work supporting bed, stitch forming instrumentalities including a needle supported for endwise reciprocating and lateral jogging movements in the formation of zigzag stitches, and actuating mechanism in said frame for said stitch forming instrumentalities, said buttonholing device comprising an elongate member disposed substantially perpendicular to said flat work supporting bed, means carried on said sewing machine frame and providing pivotal support for said elongate member on mutually perpendicular axes parallel to said work supporting bed, drive means operated by said actuating mechanism for said sewing machine stitch forming instrumentalities for imparting orbital movement in a predetermined path to said elongate member about said mutually perpendicular axes, and a work engaging foot secured to said elongate member and adaptedto overlie said work supporting bed.

9. A buttonholing mechanism for a sewing machine having a frame including a work support and a bracket arm overhanging said work support, stitch forming instrumentalities including an endwise reciprocatoryneedle carried on said bracket arm and actuating mechanism in said frame for said stitch forming instrumentalities, said buttonholing mechanism comprising a pinion rotatable on a substantially vertical axis in said sewing machine bracket arm, means operated by the actuating mechanism for said sewing machine stitch forming instrumentalities for imparting step-by-step rotation in one direction to said pinion, an exchangeable template with an endless rack, means for accommodating insertion of said template from the top of said bracket arm downwardly into meshing relation of said pinion with said endless rack, means for constraining said template against rotation relatively to said bracket arm so as to provide for relative orbital motion between said template and said pinion upon turning movement of said pinion, a motion transmitting member responsive to said relative orbital motion between said template and said pinion, means pivotally supporting said motion transmitting member in said bracket arm beneath the level of said pinion, and a work engaging foot carried by said motion transmitting member beneath the level of said pivotal supporting means.

10. A buttonholing mechanism for a sewing machine having a frame including a work support and a bracket arm overhanging said work support, stitch forming instrumentalities including an endwise reciprocatory needle carried on said bracket arm, actuating mechanism in said frame for said stitch forming instrumentalities, and presser mechanism carried in said bracket arm for biasing work downwardly against said Work support, said buttonholing mechanism comprising a pinion rotatable atop a stud carried on a substantially vertical axis in said sewing machine bracket arm, means operated by the actuating mechanism for said sewing machine and stitch forming instrumentalities for imparting step-by-step rotation in one direction to said pinion, an exchangeable template formed at one side with an endless rack, means for accommodating insertion of said template downwardly into said bracket arm with the endless rack in the underside of said template disposed in meshing relation with said pinion, means for constraining said template against rotation relatively to said bracket arm so as to provide for relative orbital motion between said template and said pinion upon turning movement of said pinion, a motion transmitting member responsive to said relative orbital motion between said template and said pinion, means shiftably supporting said motion transmitting member in said bracket arm beneath the level of said pinion, a work engaging foot detachably secured to said motion transmitting member beneath the level of said shiftable supporting means, and means for applying the downward bias of said sewing machine presser mechanism on said work engaging foot.

11. A buttonholing mechanism for a sewing machine having a frame formed with a fiat work supporting bed, stitch forming instrumentalities and actuating mechanism therefor carried in said frame, said buttonholing device comprising an elongate member disposed substantially perpendicular to said flat work supporting bed, means carried on said sewing machine frame and providing pivoted support for said elongate member on mutually perpendicular axes parallel to said work supporting bed, drive means Operated by said sewing machine actuating mechanism for imparting orbital movement in a predetermined path to said elongate member about said mutually perpendicular axes, a lever fulcrumed between its ends on said elongate member, said lever arranged substantially parallel to said work supporting bed, a work engaging foot overlying said work supporting .bed and pivotally connected beneath said lever at one side of said fulcrum, and a bearing stud overlying said work supporting bed and depending from said lever at that side of said fulcrum opposite said work engaging foot.

12. In a sewing machine having a frame including a work supporting bed and a bracket arm overhanging said work supporting bed providing a clear space therebetween for manipulation of work fabrics, a needle bar and a presser bar projecting from said bracket arm into said clear space, and actuating mechanism within said frame for reciprocating said needle bar, the improvement which comprises a buttonhole producing mechanism including, a work feeding member carried on said backet arm and disposed substantialy completely out of said clear space, means providing pivoted support for said work feeding member on said bracket arm on mutually perpendicular axes parallel to said work supporting bed, interengaging means on said work feeding member and on said bracket arm for imparting a predetermined program of orbital movement to said work feeding member about said mutually perpendicular axes, a drive connection with said sewing machine actuating means for operating said interengaging means, a work engaging foot adapted to overlie said work supporting bed beneath said needle bar, and means detachably connecting said work engaging foot to said work feeding member.

13. A buttonhole producing mechanism as set forth in claim 12 including means responsive to detachment of said work engaging foot from said work feed member for rendering ineffective said drive connection with said sewing machine actuating means.

14. In a sewing machine having a frame including a work supporting bed, a hollow bracket arm overhanging said work supporting bed providing a clear space therebetween, an end cover plate enclosing the free extremity of said hollow bracket arm, a needle bar and a presser bar projecting from said bracket arm into said clear space, and actuating mechanism carried in said hollow bracket arm for reciprocating said needle bar, the improvement which comprises a buttonhole producing mechanism including, an elongate Work feeding member arranged substantially vertically in said end cover plate and having an upper extremity disposed within the enclosure between said end cover plate and said hollow bracket arm and a lower extremity projecting beneath said end cover plate and into said clear space, means for pivotally and slidably supporting said work feeding member between the upper and lower extremities thereof on said end cover plate, interengaging means on the upper extremity of said work feeding member and on said end cover plate for imparting a predetermined program of pivotal and sliding movement to said work feeding member, a drive connection with said sewing machine actuating means for operating said interengaging means, a work engaging foot adapted to overlie said work supporting bed beneath said needle bar, and means detachably securing said work engaging foot on the lower evtremity of said work feeding member.

15. In a sewing machine having a frame including a work supporting bed, a hollow bracket arm overhanging said work supporting bed providing a clear space therebetween, an end cover plate enclosing the free extremity of said hollow bracket arm, a needle bar and a presser bar projecting from said bracket arm into said clear space, and actuating mechanism carried in said hollow bracket arm for reciprocating said needle bar, the improvement which comprises a buttonhole producing mechanism including, an elongate work feeding member arranged substantially vertically in said end cover plate and having an upper extremity disposed within the enclosure between said end cover plate and said hollow bracket arm and a lower extremity projecting beneath said end cover plate and into said clear space, means for pivotally and slidably supporting said work feeding member between the upper and lower extremities thereof on said end cover plate, a pinion journaled on the upper extremity of said feed member, a replaceable template carried in said end cover plate and formed with an endless rack disposed in mesh with said pinion, a drive connection with said sewing machine actuating mechanism for imparting step-by-step turning movement to said pinion, a work engaging foot adapted to overlie said work supporting bed beneath said needle 1 1 12 bar, and means detachably securing said work engaging 3,117,542 1/1964 Schenkengel 11277 foot on the lower extremity of said Work feeding member. 3 1 7 35 4 19 4 Taketomi 112 73 X References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,370 11/1878 Tait 11272 552,941 1/1896 Weiss.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

H. H. HUNTER, Assistant. Examiner.

Claims

1. A WORK SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR A SEWING MACHINE HAVING A FRAME FORMED WITH A FLAT WORK SUPPORTING BED, AND STITCH FORMING INSTRUMENTALITIES AND ACTUATING MECHANISM THEREFOR CARRIED IN SAID FRAME, SAID WORK SHIFTING MECHANISM COMPRISING, AN ELONGATE MEMBER DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FLAT WORK SUPPORTING BED, MEANS CARRIED ON SAID SEWING MACHINE FRAME AND PROVIDING PIVOTAL SUPPORT FOR SAID MEMBER ON MUTUALLY PERPENDICULAR AXES PARALLEL TO SAID WORK SUPPORTING BED, DRIVE MEANS OPERATED BY SAID SEWING MACHINE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR IMPARTING SWINGING MOVEMENT TO SAID MEMBER ABOUT SAID MUTUALLY PERPENDICULAR AXES, AND A WORK ENGAGING FOOT SECURED TO SAID MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID WORKING SUPPORTING BED.