US3693562A

US3693562A - Off-the-arm sewing machine and cutting assembly

Info

Publication number: US3693562A
Application number: US83482A
Authority: US
Inventors: Billy L Speer
Original assignee: SPEER SYSTEMS Inc
Current assignee: SPEER SYSTEMS Inc
Priority date: 1970-10-23
Filing date: 1970-10-23
Publication date: 1972-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-26

Abstract

Off-the-arm sewing machine and cutting assembly comprises machine having longitudinally oriented machine arm and cutting assembly including mounting plate secured to sewing machine. Blade mounting arm is integral with mounting plate, and movable cutter blade is pivotally connected at its mid-portion to blade mounting arm for movement in plane substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis of sewing machine arm. Motivating structure connected between movable cutter blade and mounting plate moves cutter blade toward and away from sewing machine arm. Stationary cutter blade is secured to free end portion of sewing machine arm. Cutter blades cooperate with each other to cut material positioned in path of motion of movable cutter blade when motivating structure is actuated.

Description

United States Patent [4 1 Sept. 26, 1972 Speer OFF -THE-ARM SEWING MACHINE AND CUTTING ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Billy L. Speer, Campbellsville,

Ky. 42718 g [73] Assignee: Speer Systems, Inc., Campbellsville,

[22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 83,482

[52] U.S. Cl. ..ll2/l30 [51] Int. Cl. ..D05b 37/04 [58] Field of Search ...1 12/129, 130, 122, 219 B, 252

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,536,020 10/1970 Boser ..l12/130 2,149,239 2/1939 Cochran ..112/130 3,541,982 11/1970 Marforio ..1 12/219 B 3,381,639 5/1968 Miller ..1 12/130 3,163,136 12/1964 Pickett ..1l2/130 3,425,373 2/1969 Miller et a1. ..112/130 3,329,113 7/1967 Lewis et al ..ll2/l30 3,245,369 4/1966 Myska ..l12/219 B Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Attorney-Connolly and Hutz [57] ABSTRACT Off-the-arm sewing machine and cutting assembly comprises machine having longitudinally oriented machine arm and cutting assembly including mounting plate secured to sewing machine. Blade mounting arm is integral with mounting plate, and movable cutter blade is pivotally connected at its mid-portion to blade 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDsms m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 lliililllll ple but highly efficient manner.

OFF-THE-ARM SEWING MACHINE AND CUTTING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND THE INVENTION procedures the cutting operation is not always performed at the desired time.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a unique sewing machine and cutting assemblythat cooperates with the machine for cutting material being worked upon by the machine, the cutting operation being carried out in a relatively sim- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention an off-thearm type sewing machine and cutting assembly comprises a machine having a longitudinally oriented machine arm and a cutting assembly that includes a mounting plate secured to the sewing machine. A blade mounting arm is integral'with the mounting plate, and the movable cutter blade is pivotally connected at its mid-portion to the blade-mounting arm for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sewing machine arm. Motivating structure is connected between the movable cutter blade and the mounting plate for moving the movable cutter blade toward and away from the sewing machine arm. A stationary cutter blade is secured to the free end portion of the sewing machine arm, and the cutter blades cooperate with each other to cut material positioned in the path of motion of the-movable cutter blade when the motivating means is activated. Such activation causes the movable cutter bladeto sweep across the stationary cutter blade on the sewing machine arm.

The motivating structure according to the present invention may comprise an air actuated cylinder connected to the movable cutter blade at one side of the pivotal connection for urging the movable cutter blade toward the sewing machine arm. Additionally, a return spring may be connected to the movable cutter blade at the other side of the pivotal connection for urging the movable cutter blade away from the sewing machine arm after the cutting operation.

The cutting assembly also includes an air line connected to the cylinder and an operator valve in the line for delivering air to the cylinder when the operator valve is actuated. Moreover, a second valve may be provided in the air line for venting the line so that actuation of the operator valve when the line is vented prevents air from being supplied to the cylinder. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Novel features and advantages of the present invention in addition to those mentioned above will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a sewing machine and cutting assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the sewing machine and cutting assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sewing machine and cutting assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

' FIG. 4 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the position of the movable cutting blade just after the cutting operation; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrating various air lines and valving associated with the sewing machine and cutting assembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention an off-thearrn type sewing machine 10 comprises the usual machine head 12 and longitudinally oriented machine arm 14. A cutting assembly 16 is associated with the sewing machine 10 for cutting threads, tape, binding or other material 17 being worked upon by the sewing machine.

The cutting assembly includes a mounting plate 18 secured to the sewing machine 10 by fasteners 20. A blade mounting arm 22 is integrally connected to the mounting plate 18 at 24. The blade mounting arm 22 is oriented with respect to the mounting plate 18 so that it is positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the machine arm 14. A movable cutter blade 26 having a cutting edge 28 is pivotally connected at its mid-portion to the blade mounting arm 22 for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sewing machine arm 14. The pivotal connection between the movable cutter blade 26 and the blade mounting arm 22 is identifed by reference numeral 30.

Motivating structure in the form of an air cylinder unit 32 is connected between the movable cutter blade 26 at one end thereof and the mounting plate 18. As described more fully below, the air cylinder unit 32 operates to move the movable cutter blade 26 toward and away from the sewing machine arm 14. The air cylinder unit includes a cylinder portion 34 connected to a tab 36 on the mounting plate 18 by a fastener 38. The air cylinder unit also includes a piston (not shown) inside the cylinder 34 and a piston rod 40 connected to the piston and the movable cutter blade 26 by fastener 42. An air line 44 is connected to the cylinder 34 for driving the piston into the cylinder when air is delivered to the line.

The top cutting edge 28 of the movable cutter blade cooperates with the bottom cutting edge 46 of a stationary cutter blade 48 during the cutting operation, as explained more fully below. The stationary cutter blade is adjustably secured to the end of the machine arm 14 so that the cutting edge 28 of the blade 26 sweeps across the cutting edge 46 in scissor-like fashion when the air cylinder unit 32 is actuated.

The structure for imparting the desired motion to the movable cutter blade 26 also includes a return spring 50 connected between the cutter blade 26 at 52 and the mounting plate 18. A lug S4 is provided on the mounting plate 18 for securing the return spring 50 to the mounting plate.

Referring to FIG. 5, the sewing machine includes a presser foot assembly 56 which may be raised and lowered by an air cylinder unit 58. FIG. 5 also illussembly 56. With the knob 62 so positioned line 68 associated with the valve unit 60 is vented to the atmosphere by line 70. As explained more fully below, when line 68 is so vented it is impossible to actuate the air cylinder unit 32 of the cutting assembly 16. After the operator adjusts the material 17 under the presser foot assembly 56, knob 62 is urged to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5. Such movement connects the air input 64 to line 68 and vents line 66 to the atmosphere via line 70. A return spring (not shown) in the air cylinder unit 58 then urges the presser foot assembly 66 to its down or in-use position. When the knob 62 is positioned inwardly relative to the valve unit 60'air under pressure is supplied to the air cylinder unit 32 of the cutting assembly 16 when the activator 72 of an operator valve 74 is moved to the right, as viewed in FIG. 5. Such movement interconnects line 68 with line 44 and air under pressure is delivered to the air cylinder unit 32. When the air is delivered to the air cylinder unit 32 the movable cutter blade 26 is urged toward the stationary cutter blade and the blade edges sweep across one another in scissor-like fashion to cut the material 17 (FIG. 4). Release of the activator 72 connects line 44 to line 76 to vent line 44 to the atmosphere. A return spring (not shown) in the air cylinder unit 32 and the return spring 50 function to return the movable cutter blade 26 to the position illustrated best in FIG. 1.

As described above control knob 62 is utilized for raising and lowering the presser foot assembly 56. Also, the air cylinder unit 32 can only be actuated when the presser foot assembly 56 is in its down or in-use position. This interaction substantially eliminates the possibility of accidents caused by inadvertent actuation of the cutting assembly 16 when the presser foot assembly is up and the sewing machine attendants hands are in the vicinity of the cutter blades. When the presser foot assembly is down the cutting assembly 16 is easily operated by manipulating activator 72, as described above.

What is claimed is:

1. An off-the-arm type sewing machine and a cutting assembly, the sewing machine having a longitudinally oriented machine arm and the cutting assembly including a mounting plate secured to the sewing machine, a blade mounting arm integral with the mounting plate, a

movable cutter blade pivotally connected at its midportion to the blade mounting arm for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sewing machine arm, motivating means connected between the movable cutter blade and the mounting plate for moving the mom le cutter blade toward an away from the sewing mac me arm, and a stationary cutter blade secured to the free end portion of the sewing machine arm, the cutter blades cooperating with each other whereby when the motivating means is actuated the movable cutter blade sweeps across the stationary cutter blade on the sewing machine arm to cut material positioned in the path of motion of the movable cutter blade.

2. An off-the-arm type sewing machine and a cutting assembly as in claim 1 wherein the motivating means comprises an air actuated cylinder connected to the movable cutter blade at one side of the pivotal connection for urging the movable cutter blade toward 'the sewing machine arm, a return spring connected to the movable cutter blade at the other side of the pivotal connection for urging the movable cutter blade away from the sewing machine arm after the cutting operation, an air line connected to the cylinder, an operator valve in the line for delivering air to the cylinder when the operator valve is actuated, and a second valve in the air line for venting the line whereby actuation of the operator valve when the line is vented prevents air from I being supplied to the cylinder.

Claims

1. An off-the-arm type sewing machine and a cutting assembly, the sewing machine having a longitudinally oriented machine arm and the cutting assembly including a mounting plate secured to the sewing machine, a blade mounting arm integral with the mounting plate, a movable cutter blade pivotally connected at its mid-portion to the blade mounting arm for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sewing machine arm, motivating means connected between the movable cutter blade and the mounting plate for moving the movable cutter blade toward and away from the sewing machine arm, and a stationary cutter blade secured to the free end portion of the sewing machine arm, the cutter blades cooperating with each other whereby when the motivating means is actuated the movable cutter blade sweeps across the stationary cutter blade on the sewing machine arm to cut material positioned in the path of motion of the movable cutter blade.

2. An off-the-arm type sewing machine and a cutting assembly as in claim 1 wherein the motivating means comprises an air actuated cylinder connected to the movable cutter blade at one side of the pivotal connection for urging the movable cutter blade toward the sewing machine arm, a return spring connected to the movable cutter blade at the other side of the pivotal connection for urging the movable cutter blade away from the sewing machine arm After the cutting operation, an air line connected to the cylinder, an operator valve in the line for delivering air to the cylinder when the operator valve is actuated, and a second valve in the air line for venting the line whereby actuation of the operator valve when the line is vented prevents air from being supplied to the cylinder.