US3795210A

US3795210A - Cam selection module

Info

Publication number: US3795210A
Application number: US00354409A
Authority: US
Inventors: K Adams; R Bradus; J Winar
Original assignee: Singer Co
Current assignee: SSMC Inc
Priority date: 1973-04-26
Filing date: 1973-04-26
Publication date: 1974-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-05
Also published as: GB1453898A; CH576028A5; DE2417090A1; FR2227371A1; JPS506450A; FR2227371B3; IT1008344B

Abstract

A cam selection module for the positioning of five cam followers, used for controlling needle position, needle field and feed motion, which effects the positioning of the followers over four distinct modes of sewing machine operation by manipulation of a first control means. The first control means operates directly on a first cam follower for tracking pattern cams to determine needle position over a first portion of its operating range. Over a second portion of its operating range, the first control means actuates a second control means which positions a second cam follower for tracking feed cams to determine feed motion while also positioning the first cam follower, resulting in cam controlled feed patterns. Over a third portion of its operating range, the first control means actuates a third control means for positioning a third cam follower to track a pattern cam surface of a replaceable cam, or a fifth cam follower ganged with the third cam follower to track a needle position cam of a closed pattern unit mounted adjacent the replacement cam. Concurrently, the first control means actuates a fourth control means for positioning a fourth cam follower to track a feed cam surface of either the closed pattern unit or the replaceable cam. Provision is made to place the cam followers in ineffective positions when not in use.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Adams et al.

[ 1 Mar. 5, 1974 I 41 CAM SELECTION MODULE [75] Inventors: Kenneth D. Adams, Madison,

Robert Bradus, Linden; Joseph J. Wi nar, Roselle, all of NJ.

[73] Assignec: The Singer Company, New York,-

221 Filed: Apr. 26, 1973 [21 1 Appl. No.: 354,409

[52] U.S. C1 112/158 D [51 l Int. Cl D05b 3/02 [58] 7 Field of Search.. 112/65, 158 R, 158 A, 158 B,

[56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,054,368 9/1962 Bono 112/158 R X 3,081,724 3/1963 Bono 112/158 A 3,091,200 5/1963 Fukunaga 112/158 A 3,177,835 4/1965 Tanaka et al. 112/158A 3,696,768 10/1972 Torii 1l2/l58R Primary Examiner-Werner H. Schroeder Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarshall J. Breen; Chester- A. Williams, Jr.; Robert E. Smith [57] ABSTRACT A cam selection modulefor the positioning of five cam followers, used for controlling needle position, needle field and feed motion, which effects the positioning of the followers over four distinct modes of sewing machine operation by manipulation of a first control means. The first control means operates directly on a first cam follower for tracking pattern cams to determine needle position over a first portion of its operating range. Over a second portion of its operating range, the first control means actuates a second control means which positions a second cam follower for tracking feed cams to determine feed motion while also positioning the first cam-follower, resulting in cam controlled feed patterns. Over a third portion of its operating range, the first control means actuates a third control means for positioning a third cam follower to track a pattern cam surface of a replaceable cam, or a fifth cam follower ganged with the third cam .follower to track a needle position cam of a closed pattern unit mounted adjacent the replacement cam. Concurrently, the first control means actuates a fourth control means for positioning a fourth cam follower to track a feed cam surface of either the closedpattern unit or the replaceable cam. Provision is made to place the cam followers in ineffective positions when not in use.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU W 51974 SHEEI 2 0F 3 i "-"ll 1 CAM SELECT-ION MODULE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION machine having capability for automatic control of both lateral needle vibration and feed motion,

Heretofore sewing machine selector systems have been devised which control the position of a cam follower for traversing astack of pattern cams; or the position of two cam followers, one for traversing a stack of feed cams and the other for traversing astack of pat-v tern cams, resulting in cam controlled feed patterns such as turkish hemstitch or stars. In the latter arrangement it is usual to have a special selector cam which positions both cam followers simultaneously to produce the desired pattern. Selector systems have also been devised wherein each cam has its own cam follower and selection is made through the agency of a separate stack of selector cams, which manipulate the appropriate cam followers into operative position according to. the pattern selected, These last mentioned systems require a large multiplicity'of parts and a selector cam stack resulting in a bulky systemof relatively high cost Other systems for manipulating as many as three folquired vin producing a buttonhole, while simultalowers have been devised, using either a second dial for manipulating the third follower or by other means increasing the bulk required for the selection system. What is required is a selection system which is simple. both in principle of operation and: in construction for manufacturing purposes to elminate the expense and redundacy in the'above notedselection systems, and, which may be manipulated by a single controlldeally, such-a selection system should not be limited: to the placing of the sewing machine in one or-two modes of operation, but should be capable-of placing the, machine into as many modes of operation as it is capable of.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide such a system which is not limited to the control of-two or even three cam followers.

The above objects are obtained in a'sewing machine having cams for pattern control, simultaneous feed and pattern control, production of a closed pattern such as a buttonhole, and, a replaceable unitof either pattern control or simultaneous feedor pattern control to expand the capabilities of the machine beyond that of the built in cams. By the manipulation ofa single first control means, the sewing machine cam followers are positioned to place the sewing machine into any of the four above mentioned modes of operation, as desired, through the positioningof five cam followers The first control means is directly connected to a first cam follower which traverses a first stack of pattern cams forpattern control of the sewing machine, and, a second neously, the first control means positions a third and fourth control means. The third control means is connected to a ganged third pattern cam follower and needle field follower. The third follower is placed in an inactive position in a blank cam space while the needle field follower abuts a cam which determines the neutral position of zigzag motion in order to fashion the sides and ends of buttonhole. The fourth control means is connected to a fourth follower which abuts a feed cam producing forward feed for one side of the buttonhole, rearward feed for the other side of the buttonhole and finer feeds for the bartack ends of the buttonhole.

When the first control means is moved to the replaceable cam position, the third and fourth control means are positioned by the first control means to place the third and fourth cam followers. into a position from which they will abut the pattern cam and the feed cam, respectively, of a replaceable cam. Inthe event that a replaceable pattern cam is used, the fourth cam follower will be in a blank cam space and will be ineffective to control feed. The needle field follower, in either event, will also be located in a blank, ineffective position as will the first cam follower connected to the first control means. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For abetter understanding of the'inventionand the objectives achieved thereby reference may be had to the attached specification and accompanying drawings moduleshown in FIG. 1 in the simultaneous feed-and pattern control position;

FIG; 4-is a crosssectional view of the arrangement of the follower positioning pin taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and showing the typical construction of thethird and fourth follower positioning pins;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment-of a cam selection module also shown in the si- I multaneous feed and pattern control position;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the cam selection module. shown in FIG. 5 shifted to the closed pattern control position; and,

FIG. 7' is a front elevational view of the cam selection module shown in FIG. 4 shifted to he replaceable cam control position. i

-In FIG. 1 is shown in disassembled perspective a cam selection module 10 which cooperates with a selection and information transfer system 14 to select a cam or cams from a cam stack 20. Referring to FIG. 2 the cam stack 20 consists of pattern cams 2lespecially designed to be used alone, feed cams 22, pattern cams 23 especially designed to be used with the feed cams 22,

a closed pattern unit 24 and a replaceable cam package ,25. A zigzag cam26 is used in conjunction with the closed pattern unit 24 to provide basic zigzag motion of the sewing machine needle bar for the production of, for example, buttonholes. Thus, the cam stack provides pattern capability for simple patterns, cam control feed patterns, a closed pattern such as a buttonhole and a replaceable cam package to expand the capability of the sewing machine beyond that of the built in cams. The closed pattern unit 24, used for the production of buttonholes, contains a needle feed cam 31 to determine neutral positioh of zigzag vibration for making side and end stitching, and a feed cam 32 to establish the forward and reverse feed required in the production of the buttonhole. A blank cam 33 is also provided for purposes to be described below.

The replaceable cam package 25 depicted'in FIG. 24 comprises two pairs of feed cams and

pattern cams surfaces

38 and 41 are undercut to make them ineffective for determining feed, in other words blank cams, the replaceable cam package becomes effective for pattern control only.

Referring to HO. 1, the selection and information transfer system 14 includes a feed cam follower support post 47 and a pattern cam follower support post 48 designed to be affixed in the frame of a sewing machine. Freely pivoted on feed cam follower support post 47 is a feed transfer bar 50 and an upper feed cam follower 51 and lower feed cam follower 52, Both followers are affixed to hubs 53 which contain slots 54 and are engageable with the cam selectionmodule as will be explained below. The rear portion'of both cam followers 51 and 52-are bifurcated 56 to fit closely about slabbed portions 57 of the feed transfer bar 50. The upper feed cam follower 51 may be made adjustable relative to the lower feed cam follower 52 to compensate for dimensional discrepancies by the expedient of separating a follower portion 59 from the bifurcated portion 56, the

follower portion 59 rotating about hub 53 and joined with a screw 60 to the bifurcated portion 56 affixed to hub 53, to hold the adjusted position. The feed transfer bar 50 may be connected with the feed regulating system in any of many well known manner.

The pattern cam follower support post 48 pivotably supports a needle position adjusting bracket 63, an upper pattern cam follower 64 and a lower pattern cam follower 65. The upper and lower pattern cam followers, 64 and 65, are affixed to hubs 66 which contains slots 67 also engageable with the cam selection module 10 as will be explained below. A needle position cam follower 69 is ganged with the upper pattern cam follower 64 by ears 70 above andbelow the upper pattern cam follower to slide up and down the cam follower support post 48 with the upper'pattern cam follower 64, but these parts are capable of relative rotational movement about the support post 48. The needle position cam follower 69, slides in any up and down motion imparted to it during selection within a resilient member 72 affixed to a rod 73-held by snap rings (not shown) to ears 74 on the end of the needle position adjusting bracket 63 opposite tothat supported on the pattern cam follower support post 48. The rod is also attached by linkage (not shown) to instrumentalities (not shown) which control and maintain the position of the needle position adjusting bracket 63 in order to obtain left, center or right needle position. Also, pivotably supported by the rod 73 on its own ears 77 straddling those ears 74 of the needle position adjusting bracket 63 is a pattern transfer plate 78. The upper 64 and lower 65 pattern cam followers are interposed between the cam stack 20 and the pattern transfer plate 78 which, while pivoting about the rod 73 transmit the information retrieved from the cam stack by the followers to a driving arm 79 having an end (not shown) attached to aneedle bar gateof the sewing machine for.

causing lateral vibration of a needle bar in ornamental stitching. Contact of the driving arm 79 with the pattern transfer plate 78 is arranged by means of a displaced portion 81 of the pattern transfer plate to coincide with the axis of the rod 73 at one extremity of its many possible positions. The driving arm 79 may be positioned by a mechanism (not shown) from this extremity for the control of bight or width of zigzag stitching produced. When the point of contact of the driving arm 79 coincides with the axis of the rod 73, the pattern transfer plate 78 merely vibrates about the rod 73 without transferring any motion to the driving arm 79. As the driving arm 79 is positioned further away from the axis of the rod a greater percentage of the vibration imparted through the follower 64 or '65 from the cam stack 20 is transferred to the driving arm.

Note that the upper 64 and lower 65 pattern cam fol lowers are held by springs 83, of which only one is shown, into intimate contact with the pattern transfer plate 78. The driving arm 79 is also urged by a tension ,spring (not shown) into contact with the pattern transfer plate 78 thereby urging the plate and the upper or j lower pattern cam follower into contact with the cam stack 20'. I

Also pivoted on the pattern cam follower support post 48 is a bracket 85 having an upper leg 86 and lower leg 87. On the extremity of its upper leg 86 the bracket 85 carries a cam roller 88. The cam roller 88 abuts a cam track 89 on a follower unloading dial 90.

lower- 52 feed cam followers by virtue of the bifucation 56 in a counterclockwise direction out of contact with the cam stack 20. A lug- 94 adjustably secured by a screw 95 to the upper leg86'of the bracket 85 simultaneously contacts and rotates a lever 97 pivoted on a post 98 supportedrelatively to the sewing machine frame. A link 99 mounted on a pin 100 on the lever 94 and projecting through a hole 101 in the pattern transfer plate 78 is moved by the lever 94 and pulls the pattern transfer plate, and,

pattern cam followers

64 and 65, by virtue of the springs 83, out of contact with the cam stack 20. A selector dial 1(l3connected with the cam selection module 10 by a gear train 104 may then be rotated to reposition the respective followers as is t be manipulated laterally to theextent of the

elongated slots

113 and 115 by the gear train 104. An indicator 117 affixed to the rack by screws 118 may be utilized in conjunction with a sewing machine frame mounted plate 119 (partially indicated), having indicia 120 thereon to give a visual indication of the pattern selected. The indicia 120 shown are representative of the replaceable cam and buttonhole produced by the closed pattern unit.

The rack 'member'111 in addition to the

elongated slots

113 and 117 has a downwardly open vertical slot extending from a bottom edge. A T lever 126 having a leg 124 rotated on a post 127 affixed to the support bracket 110, and held thereto by a snap ring 128,

tion 148 of the plate. Since, as will be explained below, the slide plate 136 is moved to select any mode of machine operation, the plate 147 will contain serrations for all possible variations in any mode of operation. The follower positioning pins for the other cam followers are individually adjustable as will be explained below to compensate for any dimensional discrepanhas a pin 129 affixed to an arm 130 extending through I the open vertical slot 125. A snapring 131 retains the pin 129 in the slot 125. Thus as the rack member 111 moves laterally, the T lever 126 is pivoted about the post 127.

A second arm 133 of theT lever 126 supports a pin 134 which projects through a horizontal slot' 135 in a slide plate 136. The slide plate 136 has a pair of grooved pins 137 affixed to it which space the-slide plate from the support bracket 110, the grooves in the pins 137 running in parallel vertical slots'138 and-139 in the support bracket. Thus the slide plate 136 is capable of stabilized vertical motion on the support plate 110. This stable vertical .motion istransferred to the slide plate 136 by the rotation of the T lever 126 through the agency of the pin 134 on the second arm 133 of the T lever operating in the horizjontal slot 135 in the slide plate 136.

Attached to the lower left corner of the slide plate 136 by a snap ring 142 is a pin 143 which projects through a third vertical slot 144 in the support bracket 110. The pin 143 has a collar 145 affixed thereto located on the side of the support bracket 110 opposite the slide plate 136 which prevent the pin from passing through the third vertical slot 144 and provides stability. The pin 143 projects into the slot 67in the hub 66 of the lower pattern cam follower 65 and positions the lower pattern cam follower as the slide plate 136 is moved up and down. 4 1

To insure that the lower pattern cam follower 65 will be properly located a plate 147 having a series of serr'ations l48oon one edge is supported on the support bracket 110 between the slide plate 136 and the support bracket. An upper vertical slot 149 in the plate 147 is guided on a shouldered rivet 150 affixed to the support bracket 110, and a lower vertical slot 151 in the plate 147 admits a screw 152 threaded into the sup.- port bracket. Thus the vertical position of the plate 147- may be adjusted by loosening the screw and moving the plate up or down to the proper position and retightening the screw 152. A pawl 154 is mounted on the follower positioning pin 143 and a pawl tooth 156 is urged by a torsion spring (see F'IG 3.) to engage the serrations 148 of the plate 147. Thereby the position of the follower positioning pin 143 may be centered on a particular cam by adjusting the position of the plate 147 until the pawl tooth 1561s firmly seated in a serracies in the individual components of the cam stack 20.

' The slide plate 136 is formed on its upper left hand corner with a left abutme'nt edge 158. On its upper right hand corner a similar right abutment edge 159 is located vertically spaced slightly above the left abutment edge 158. The left abutment edge 158 presses against a left upper pattern follower positioning pin assembly 160 to position the same within a left vertical slot 161 in the support bracket 110. The right abutment edge 159 presses against a right upper feed follower positioning pin assembly 162 to position the same within 167 projecting through the

slots

161 and 163 to do so.

An abutment member 171 having an elongate hole 172 fits over the pin 166 adjacent to plastic member and presents an abutting face 173 to the abutment edges 158 and 159 of the slide plate 136. A nut 174 draws and holds the

assemblies

160 and 162 together,

leaving clearance to the support bracket 110 between the collar 167 and the plastic member 170 to obviate 7 binding. The position of the abutment member 171 may be adjusted within the confines of theelongate hole 172, and the nut may be tightened to hold this position in order to locate the follower controlled centrally on the cam. I

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 a torsion spring 178 is coiled about a shouldered rivet 179 affixed to the support member110 and has its left end 180 seated on the plastic member 1700f the left upper pattern follower positioning pin assembly 160 and its right end 181 seated on the plastic collar 170 of the right upper feed follower positioning pin assembly l62.'Thereby the left assembly 160 and the right assembly 162 are biased downwardly to the bottom of the

slots

161 and 163, respectively, when these assemblies are not positioned by the abutment edges 158 and 159 of the slide'plate 136. The bottom of the slots 16] and 163 is located in a position where the followers controlled by the assemblys 160 and 162 are ineffective. i I

Thus as the slide plate 136 is moved to its upper extremity by motion 'of the rack member 110-to the left (see FIG. 1), the abutment edges 158 and 159 of the slide plate urged the right upper feed follower positionin'g pin assembly 162 and theleft upper feed follower positioning pin assembly 160, upwardly also. The follower positioning pin 166 of the right upper feed follower positioning pin assembly 162 extends into the slot 54in the hub 53 of the upper feed cam follower 51, land, will position this follower when the follower unloading dial 90 has been rotated to remove all followers from contact with thecam stack 20. Likewise, the follower positioning pin 166 of the left upper pattern follower pinassembly 160' extends into the slot 6'7 in the hub 66 of the upper pattern cam follower 64, and, will simultaneously position this follower when all followers are out of contact with cam stack 20. In FIG. 1 pawl tooth 156 of the pawl 154 is shown engaged with the uppermost serration 185 (see FIG. 3) of the serrations 148 in the plate 147. Therefore, the upper feed cam follower 51 is aligned with the feed cam 38 of the replaceable cam package 25. Also, the upper pattern cam follower 64 is aligned with the pattern cam 37 of the replaceable cam package 25. When the upper cam fol lowers are thus aligned with the replaceable cam package 25, the needle position cam follower 69 is located in the undercut blank cam 33 of the closed pattern unit 24 at which position it is ineffective to control needle position, and, the lower pattern cam follower 65 is located in the space in the-cam stack 20 above the zigzag cam 26 at which position it also is ineffective. Therefore, the only information transferred to the needle bar and to the feed system of the sewing machine comes from the replaceable cam package 25. As noted above the earns 40 and 41 of the replaceable cam package 25 may become effective to control pattern and feed, respectively, if the replaceable cam package is removed from the machine, inverted and reinserted. Also, as noted above, if the feed cam surfaces 38 and 41 of the replaceable cam package 25 are undercut the upper feed cam follower 51 will become ineffective to control the feed of the sewing machine and pattern cam' control only will result.

If the'pawl tooth 156 of the pawl 154 were located in the serration 186 (see FIG. 3) of the serrations 148 in the plate 147 immediately adjacent to that shown in FIG. 1, i.e., the slide plate 136 is moved down one serration, the indicator ll7 will point indicia 120 indicative of the buttonhole and the followers will be aligned with the cams for the operationof the -closed pattern unit 24. Thus, the upper feed cam follower 51 is aligned with the feed cam 32 of the closed pattern unit,.and, the needle position cam follower 69 is aligned with the needle field cam 31 of the closed pattern unit to determine the right and left side and the ends of the buttonhole. The lower pattern cam follower 65 is aligned with a zigzag cam 26 which is used to produce the basic zigzag motion required to produce the buttonhole sides and ends. The upper cam follower 64 is located in the undercut blank cam 33 of the closed pattern unit 24 in which position it is ineffective.

If the slide plate 136 is moved to and below two serrations fromthe position shown in FIG. 1 to the position where the. pawl tooth 156 is in engagement with the serration 187 (see FIG. 3) the abutment edges 1 58 and 159 will not be effective to position the leftupper pattern cam follower positioning pin assembly 160 and the right upper feed follower position pin assembly 161, respectively, because these assemblies will be locatcd at the bottom of the

slots

161 and 163, respectively, as urged by. the torsion spring 178. The upper pattern cam follower 64 will be located in the undercut blank cam 33 of the closed pattern unit 24 and the needle'position cam follower 69 will be located in an ineffective position beneath the closed pattern unit 24. The upper feed cam follower 51 will also be located in the undercut blank section 33 of the closed patternunit 24 in which position it will be ineffective to control feed. The lower pattern cam follower 65 will be aligned with a pattern cam from the group of pattern cams 21, or'as shown in FIG. 3 with the pattern cam from the group of pattern earns 23 associated with a feed cam from the group of feed cams 22 depending on how far down the support bracket 110 the slide plate 136 is moved.

In the embodiment shown the group of pattern earns 21 for pattern control of the needle bar without feed control consists of six cams. More or less cams may be used requiring only slight modification to the cam selection module 10 to accommodate change in the quantity of pattern cams 21. The group of pattern cams 23 associated with the group of feed cam 22 for cam control feed patterns contains four cams, as does the group of feed earns 22. Again, more of less cams for cam control feed pattern may be accommodated by slight modification to the cam selection module 10. In making the transition from the group of pattern cams 21 to the group of pattern earns 23 associated with the feed earns 22, means are required to position the lower feed cam follower 52 from an ineffective position below the cam stack 20 to an effective position aligned with a cam from the group of feed earns 22. This is accomplished as shown in FIG. 3 by including a lower abutment edge on the slide plate 136 which during the transition from the lowermost cam 191 in the group of pattern cams 21 to the uppermost cam '192 in the group of pattern earns 23 strikes an ear 193 of a lever 194 pivoted on a 2 boss 195 affixed to the support bracket 110 (see FIG. 1). The end of the lever 194 opposite the ear 193 supports a pin 198 which engagesa slot 199 in a member 200 adjustably affixed to a lower feed cam follower positioning pin assembly 201. The lower feed cam follower positioning pin assembly 201 is constructed similar to the assemblies depicted in FIG. 4. The positioning assembly 201' is slidably supported in a vertical slot 197 in the support bracket 110. From the position of the lever 194 shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 3 which represents the lowermost position of the slide plate 136 on the support bracket 110, it .will be obvious that the cam 192 in the pattern cam group 23 is designed to operate with the lowermost cam 205 from the group of feed cams 22.'Similarly, the lowermost cam 206 in the pattern cam group 23 is designed to operate with the'uppermost cam 208 from the group of feed cams. 22. In other words, the group of feed cams 22 is traversed from the bottom cam 205 to the top cam 208 of the groupu22 as the group of patterns cams 23 designed for use with these feed cams is traversed from the top cam 192 to the bottom cam206of the group 23. This arrangement obvi' ates the necessity for blank undercut cam between the

groups

22 and 23 and allows the lower feed cam follower 52 to be stored in an. ineffective position below the cam stack 20. An extension spring 202 having one end hooked in a hole 204 in the lever 194 and the other end captured in a notch 203 in the support bracket 110, urges this lever to theposition shown in FIG. 1 where the follower 52 will be ineffective.

The above description has disclosed a preferred embodiment ofa cam selection module used to control the position of live followers in the selection of four modes of sewing machine operation. By manipulation ofa single control, a sewing machine operator may position the five followers to select pattern stitching, cam control feed stitching, a closed pattern such as a buttonhole, or a replaceable c'am package. In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 is shown a second embodiment of a cam selection module 210 which accomplishes the same objectives achieved by the preferred embodiment.

7 Referring to FIG. 5, a support bracket 215 is arranged to support a selector member 216 by means of a post 217, affixed to the support bracket, protruding through a slot 218 in the selector member which is retained to the post by a snap ring 219; and, a second post 220 affixed to the selector member which protrudes through a slot 221 in the support bracket also retained by a snap ring (not shown). The selector member 216 is thereby capable of transverse movement by'manipulation of, for example, a finger grip 225' having a pointer 226 thereon for indicating indicia of pattern selected on a frame mounted. plate similar to that shown in FIG. 1 for the preferred embodiment. I

Pivoted on a boss 228, affixed to the support bracket 215, and heldon the boss by a snap ring 229 is a bell crank 230. The bell crank 230 has affixed to the extremity of one arm 231 a pin 232 which pin projects through a upwardly open vertical slot 233 in the selector member 216. The transverse motion of the selector member 216 pivots the bell crank 230 about the boss 228 causing the second arm 234 of the bell crank to move in a vertically disposedarc. Referring to FIG. 6 and 7 it will be seen that the secondjarm 234 of the bell crank has pivotably attached thereto a link 236.

The end'of link 236 opposite that pivotably attached to the second arm 234 of the bell crank 230 carries a lower pattern cam follower positioning pin 237 attached to the link by a'snap ring 238. The lower pattern cam follower positioning. pin 237 projects through a vertical slot 239 in the support bracket 215. The lower pattern cam follower positioning pin 237 carries between the link 236'and the support bracket215 a pawl 240 which is biased by a torsion spring 241 against serrations 242 on a plate 243 adjustably secured to the support bracket 215 by a shouldered rivet 244 and a port bracket 215. The positioning pin 264 is retainedin position by a snap ring 265 adjacent the crooked lever 249 and an integral collar (not shown) adjacent the opposite side of support bracket 215. The lower feed follower positioning pin 264 is designed to project into the slot 54 in the hub 53 of the lower feed cam follower 52.

It should be noted that for this embodiment of the cam selection module 210, the cam stack 20 must be constructed somewhat differently than that described for the preferred embodiment shown above. In the preferred embodiment the cam stack contained a group of pattern earns 23 located directly above a group of feed earns 22 with which they were associated in this embodiment each pattern cam is located adjacent a feed cam with which it is associated, therefore, referring to FIG; 5 the pawl 240 is located in serration 267 when the lowermost cam 191 of the groupof pattern earns 21 determines the zigzag motion of the needle bar of the sewing machine. A blank cam must be provided immediately beneath the cam 191 for a stored'position of the lower feed follower 52. The serrations below the serraof feed earns 22, by virtue of the accurate locations of the serrations 242 on the plate 243 relative to each other with'regard to the cam'spacings.

Referring .to FIG. 5 it will be noted that the second arm 234 of the bell crank 230 has a grooved rivet 248 affixed approximately midway down its length. A crooked lever-249, pivoted on a pin 250 affixed to the support bracket 215 and held'thereon by a snap ring 251 rotatably supports an arm 252 on .a shoulder screw 253 at the cr0ok,'the' arm and lever 249 being biased togetherby atorsion spring 254 mounted on the screw 253. The arm 252, however, is restrained by thegroove in the groove rivet 248 affixed to the second arm 234 of the bell crank 230 with the result that the crooked lever 249 is pivoted upwardly with upward motion of the second arm 234 due to the force exerted by the torsion spring 254 on the crooked lever. A-stop 255, adjustably attached by screw 256 to the crooked lever, and having a bent over edge 257 guided in a slot 258 in the crooked lever, has an abutment face 259 impinging on the groove rivet 248. Therefore, when the bell. crank 230 is rotating clockwise from a position indicated in FIG. 5 the crooked lever 249- will.rotate upwardly about its pivot 250 under the influence of the torsion spring 254. When the bell crank 230 is rotated tion 267 are spaced at twice the distance of the serrations above serration 267' because the lower; pattern cam follower 65 must skip the blank space provided for storage of the lower cam feed follower 52 in order to position the lower pattern cam follower. 65 adjacentto a pattern cam associated with a feed camfor cam con trol feed patterns. This therefore occurs'when pawl 240 is seated in serration 268. For each succeeding seleetion the pattern cam follower 65 must again traverse two cams in order to bypass an adjacent feed cam before'aligning with a pattern cam. Thus, doublev spacing is provided between

serration

268 and 269 and be}

tween

269 and 270 and between 270 and 271 in order that the lowerpattern cam follower 65 ma'y'bypass the feed cams individually associated with patterncams for the production of cam control feed patterns. It should be noted that while position of the lower pattern cam follower 65 may be adjusted by positioning the plate 243 on support bracket 215, the position of the lower feed follower 52 is provided for by adjusting the stop 255 until the follower is aligned with the proper feed cam. This embodiment of the c am selection module module 210 of this second embodiment may be manipulated to choose a pattern cam from a group of pattern cams 21 or a pattern and a feed cam for'the production of cam control feed patterns. Referring to FIG. 6 it will be noted, as explained above, that the crooked lever 249 carrying the lower feed follower positioning pin 264 and the lower feed cam follower 52 is stored in a blank position in a cam stack above the combined pattern and feed cams utilized for the production of cam control feed patterns. In FIG. 6 the selector member 216 is shown in a position where it has rotated the bell crank 230 and the lower pattern cam follower 65 above the group of pattern cams 21 and into a position where the closed pattern unit 24 is called into operation. The second arm 234 of the bell crank 230 has a extension 275 thereto, which extension abuts a lever 276 pivoted by a shoulder screw 277 threaded into the selector member 216. A torsion spring 278 biases the lever 276 to a rest position as secured by an car 279 on lever 276 I (see FIG. 5) As the bell crank 230 is rotated on the boss 228 by the transverse motion of the selector member 216 beyond that required to traverse the pattern earns 21 the extension 275 to the second arm 234 of the bell crank abuts the lever 276'and raises it to an operating position. A three-arm .lever 281, rotatably sup and retained on this pin by a snap ring 283, has a pin 286 onan upperarm 285 of the three-arm lever. The pin 286 extends through a slot 287 in the lever 276. The left edge 288 of the slot 287 extends further upward than the right edge 289 of the slot. Thus, as the selector member 216 is moved to the right from the position'shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6 the left edge 288 of the slot 287 impinges on the pin 286 in the upper arm 285 of the three-arm lever 281. Concurrently 'the extension 275 to the second arm 234 of the bell crank 230 rotates the lever 276 into an operating position andithe pin 286 on the upper arm 285 of the three-arm lever 281 is captured within the left edge 295 in the support bracket 215. The upper cam follower positioning pin 293 is formed with a collar (not shown) on the opposite side of the support bracket 215 and is designed as explained above in the preferred embodiment to position the upper pattern cam follower 64 and the needle positioning cam follower 69 ganged with theupper pattern cam follower. The lower arm 297 of the'three-arm lever 281 is rotatably connected to a second link 298 which is rotatably connected at'its other end to a first arm 299 of a bell crank 300 pivoted on a pin 301 attached tothe support bracket 215, and held thereon by a snap ring 302. The second arm 303 of the bell crank 300 is rotatably connected to a third link 304 which is itself rotatably connected at its other end to 21 upper feed cam follower positioning pin 305 projecting through a vertical slot 307 in the support bracket 215. The upper feed cam follower positioning pin 305 contains an integral collar (not shown) adjacent the outer side of the support bracket 215 and is held to the third link 304 by a snap ring 309 adjacent the outer side of the third link. A'torsion spring 310, mounted on the pin 301, and biased between the support bracket 215 and the bell carnk 300 tends to rotate the bell crank in a counter-clockwise direction to maintain the upper feed cam follower 51 and the upper pattern cam follower 64 as positioned by the respective positioning pins 305 and 293 in ineffective positions in the blank cam 33 of the closed pattern unit 24 when the extension 275 to the bell crank 230 is not engaged with the lower surface of the lever 276.

Referring to FIG. 2, as was explained in the description of the preferred embodiment, when the sewing machine is arranged for pattern stitching or for cam controlled feed pattern sewing, the upper pattern cam follower 64 is aligned with the undercut blank cam 33 of the closed pattern unit 24 while the needle position cam follower 69, ganged with the upper pattern cam follower 64, is aligned below the needle field cam 31 of the closed pattern unit. The upper feed cam follower is also aligned with the blank cam33 of the closed pattern unit 24. Thus, all three upper followers are located in ineffective positions. 7

FIG. 6 indicates the position of the various linkage positioning the various followers for operation of the closed pattern unit 24. The lever 276 is shown in a position whereby the slot 287 in the lever has both the left edge 288 and the right edge 289 engaged with the pin 286 affixed to the upper arm 285 of the three-arm lever 281. If the selector member 216 were to be moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 6 the right edge 289 of the slot 287 in the lever-276 would rotate the three-arm lever 281 to locate the upper'feed cam follower 51 and the upper pattern cam follower 64 in the ineffective position. Concurrently, as the selector member 216 is moved to the left the bell crank 230 will rotate and remove the extension 275 from contact with the lever 276. The lever 276 under the influence of the torsion spring 278 would rotate downwardly until this ear 279 on the lever 276 contacts the upper edge of the selector member 216 whereupon the pin 286 will be disengaged from the slot-287 in'the lever and the position of the upper feed cam follower 51 and the upper pattern cam follower 64 will be maintained in the ineffective position by the torsion spring 310. As in the preferred embodiment when the closed pattern unit 24 is selected the lower pattern cam follower 65 will be positioned adjacent the cam 26 in the cam stack and the needle position cam follower 69 and the upper feed cam follower 51 will be in engagement with the earns 31 and 32, respectively, of the closed pattern. unit 24.

Referring to FIG. 7 when the upper pattern and feed

cam followers

64 and 51 are placed in a position to engage with the earns 37 and 38, respectively, of the re placeable cam package 25, the lower pattern cam follower 65 is located above the cam 26 in the cam stack where it will be ineffective to control the position of the needle bar of the sewing machine. In both FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 the lower feed cam follower 52, as explained above, will be stored in an ineffective position above the combined pattern and feed cams for cam control feed and'justbelow the group of pattern cams 21 man undercut blank cam where the follower will be ineffective to control feed motion. The motion of the selector member 216 to the right, from a position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shownin FIG. 7, will also move the lever 276 to the right. By theconncction of the lever 276 to the three-armed lever 281 through the pin 286 connected tothe three-armed lever, the three-armed lever will be rotated clockwise, elevating both

upper cam followers

51 and 64 through the connecting linkages.

Having thus setforth what I claimed is:

1. A pattern cam selector mechanism for a sewing machine having a camshaft with a plurality of pattern -the nature of the invention,

cams carried thereon, a plurality of cam follower's shiftably supported for movement along said cam stack for tracking selected ones of said pattern cams in said cam stack, each follower operatively associated with a dif- .ferent instrumentality of said sewing machine, a single operator influenced selector member carried in said sewing machine for influencing the pattern cam tracking relationship of each of said plurality of pattern cam followers, a single control member shiftably supported in said sewing machine continuously over a predetermined range, means influenced by said operator influenced selector member for directly regulating the position of said control member within said entire range, means for interconnecting one of said cam followers to said control member for movement therewith over the entire range of shifting movement of said control member, means for shiftably supporting the others of said .plurality of cam followers independently of said control member, and means effective over only portions of said entire range of shifting movement of said control memher for interconnecting said control member to shift" said other of said plurality of cam followers.

2. A pattern cam selector mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which said means effective over only portions of said entire range of shifting movement of said control member for interconnecting said control memher to shift said other of said plurality of cam followers includes a separate operative interconnection between said control member and each of said others of said plurality of camfollowers, respectively, each of said operative interconnections being effective over a different portion of saidentire range of shifting movement of said control member. I i

3. A pattern camselecting mechanism asset forth in claim 1 wherein said means for shiftably-supporting said other ofsaid plurality of pattern'camfollowers i ncludes an independent carrier means for each ,of said other pattern cam followers, a support bracket shiftably supporting said independent carrier means, said support bracket including-stop means limiting motion of each of said independent carrier means to a range less than said entire range of shifting movement of said control member.

4. A pattern cam selection mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said control member includes abutment surfaces and said independent carrier means includes abutment surfaces, said abutment surfaces interengaging over portions of said entire range of shifting movement of said control member to shift said independent carrier means and said pattern cam followers thereby supported into selective tracking engagement with pattern cams of said pattern cam stack.

5. ln azigzag sewing machine having a frame, a gate supported in said frame for lateral oscillation, aneedle bar supported in said gate for-endwise reciprocation, driving means to drive said needle bar in endwise reciprocation, first operating-means to cause said gate and said needle bar to undergo lateral oscillation, said first operating means including a set of individually selectable first cams and a first cam follower therefor, a feed mechanism, second operating means for controlling said feed mechanism, said second operating means including individually selectable second cams and a second cam follower therefor, a closed pattern unit, a replaceable cam, said replaceable cam including capability for actuating both said first operating means and said second operating means, a third cam follower for said replaceable cam and associated with said first operating means, a fourth cam follower for said closed pattern and said replaceable cam and associated with said second operating means and a fifth cam follower for said closed pattern unit moveable with said third cam follower and associated with said first operating means for determining needle field operation, wherein the improvement comprises:

a. first control means having an operating range, said first control means connected with said first cam follower to control the position thereof; 7

b. second control means connected with said. second cam follower, said second control means posi-,

d. fourth control means. connected with said fourth cam follower to control the position thereof, said fourth control'means positioned to be actuated by said first control means during said second portion of said operating range of said first control means.

6. In a zigzag sewing machine having a frame, a gate supporte in said frame for lateral oscillation, a needle bar supported in said gate for endwise reciprocation, driving means to drive said needle bar in endwise reciprocation, first operating means to cause said gate and said needle bar to undergo lateral oscillation, said first operating means including a set of individually selectable first cams and a first cam follower therefor, a feed mechanism, second operating means for controlling said feed mechanism, said second operating means including individually selectable second cams in coaxial alignment with said first cams and a second cam follower therefor, a closed pattern unit in coaxial alignment with said first and second cams, a replaceable cam in coaxial alignment with said closed pattern unit and said first and said second cams, saidreplaceable' cam including capability for actuating both said first operating means and said second operating means, a third cam follower for said replaceable cam and associated with saidfirst operating means, a fourth cam fol- I lower for said closed patternand said replaceable cam and associated with said second operating means, and a fifth cam follower for said closed pattern unit moveable with said third cam follower and associated with said first operating means for determining needle field of operation, wherein the improvement comprises:

a. first control means for having an operating range, said first control means connected with said first cam follower to control the position thereof;

b. second control means-connected with said second cam follower to control the position thereof, said second control means positioned to be actuated by said first control means during afirst portion of said operating range of said first control means;

c. third control means connected with said third cam follower and said fifth cam follower to control the positions thereof, said-third control means positioned to be actuated by said first control means v during a second portion of said operating range of said first control means; I

d. fourth control means connected with said fourth cam follower to control the position thereof, said fourth control means positioned to be actuated by said first control means during said second portion of said operating range of said first control means.

7. In a zigzag sewing machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said coaxial aligned cams include a first section within which said first cam follower is ineffective to operate said first operating means during a portion of said second portion of said operating range of said first control means and said third, fourth and fifth cam followers are ineffective to operate said first and second operating means during said first portion of said operating range of said first control means; and, wherein said coaxial aligned cams include a second section within said' second cam follower is ineffective to operate with said second operating means.

8. In a zigzag sewing machine as set forth in claim 7 l wherein'said first" control means includes a support bracket attachable to-said frame adjacent said coaxially aligned cams, a plate slidable on said support bracket in a direction parallel to the axis of said coaxially aligned cams, a first pin affiited to said plate and connecting said plate to said first cam follower, and means nected to said second cam follower, resilient means bi-' asing said second pin and said second follower to a position where said second cam follower is ineffective to 16 operate said second operating means, and, means connecting said first abutment member and said second pin during said first portion of said operating range of said first control means to shift said second pin and said second cam follower to a position where said second cam follower is effective to operate said second operating means.

10. In a zigzag sewing machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plate includes a second abutment member and said third control means includes athird pin slidably mounted on said support bracket and connected to said third and fifth cam followers, resilient means biasing said third pin andthird and fifth cam followers to a position where said'cam followers are ineffective to operate said first operating means, and means connecting said second abutment member and said third pin during said second portion of said operating range of said first control means to shift said third pin and said third and fifth cam followers to a position where said third and fifth cam followers are effective to operate said first operating means.

11. In a zigzag sewing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said plate includes a third abutment member and said fourth control means includes a fourth pin slidably mounted on said support bracket and connected to said fourth cam follower, resilient means biasing said fourth pin and fourth cam follower to a position where said fourth cam follower is ineffective to operate said second operating means, and, means connecting said third abutment member with said fourth pin during said second portion of said operating range of said first control means to. shift said fourth pin and said fourth cam follower to a position where said fourth cam follower is effectiveito operate said second operat-

Claims

1. A pattern cam selector mechanism for a sewing machine having a camshaft with a plurality of pattern cams carried thereon, a plurality of cam followers shiftably supported for movement along said cam stack for tracking selected ones of said pattern cams iN said cam stack, each follower operatively associated with a different instrumentality of said sewing machine, a single operator influenced selector member carried in said sewing machine for influencing the pattern cam tracking relationship of each of said plurality of pattern cam followers, a single control member shiftably supported in said sewing machine continuously over a predetermined range, means influenced by said operator influenced selector member for directly regulating the position of said control member within said entire range, means for interconnecting one of said cam followers to said control member for movement therewith over the entire range of shifting movement of said control member, means for shiftably supporting the others of said plurality of cam followers independently of said control member, and means effective over only portions of said entire range of shifting movement of said control member for interconnecting said control member to shift said other of said plurality of cam followers.

2. A pattern cam selector mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which said means effective over only portions of said entire range of shifting movement of said control member for interconnecting said control member to shift said other of said plurality of cam followers includes a separate operative interconnection between said control member and each of said others of said plurality of cam followers, respectively, each of said operative interconnections being effective over a different portion of said entire range of shifting movement of said control member.

3. A pattern cam selecting mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for shiftably supporting said other of said plurality of pattern cam followers includes an independent carrier means for each of said other pattern cam followers, a support bracket shiftably supporting said independent carrier means, said support bracket including stop means limiting motion of each of said independent carrier means to a range less than said entire range of shifting movement of said control member.

5. In a zigzag sewing machine having a frame, a gate supported in said frame for lateral oscillation, a needle bar supported in said gate for endwise reciprocation, driving means to drive said needle bar in endwise reciprocation, first operating means to cause said gate and said needle bar to undergo lateral oscillation, said first operating means including a set of individually selectable first cams and a first cam follower therefor, a feed mechanism, second operating means for controlling said feed mechanism, said second operating means including individually selectable second cams and a second cam follower therefor, a closed pattern unit, a replaceable cam, said replaceable cam including capability for actuating both said first operating means and said second operating means, a third cam follower for said replaceable cam and associated with said first operating means, a fourth cam follower for said closed pattern and said replaceable cam and associated with said second operating means and a fifth cam follower for said closed pattern unit moveable with said third cam follower and associated with said first operating means for determining needle field operation, wherein the improvement comprises: a. first control means having an operating range, said first control means connected with said first cam follower to control the position thereof; b. second control means connected with said second cam follower, said second control means positioned to be actuateD by said first control means during a first portion of said operating range of said first control means; c. third control means connected with said third cam follower and said fifth cam follower to control the positions thereof, said third control means positioned to be actuated by said first control means during a second portion of said operating range of said first control means; d. fourth control means connected with said fourth cam follower to control the position thereof, said fourth control means positioned to be actuated by said first control means during said second portion of said operating range of said first control means.

6. In a zigzag sewing machine having a frame, a gate supporte in said frame for lateral oscillation, a needle bar supported in said gate for endwise reciprocation, driving means to drive said needle bar in endwise reciprocation, first operating means to cause said gate and said needle bar to undergo lateral oscillation, said first operating means including a set of individually selectable first cams and a first cam follower therefor, a feed mechanism, second operating means for controlling said feed mechanism, said second operating means including individually selectable second cams in coaxial alignment with said first cams and a second cam follower therefor, a closed pattern unit in coaxial alignment with said first and second cams, a replaceable cam in coaxial alignment with said closed pattern unit and said first and said second cams, said replaceable cam including capability for actuating both said first operating means and said second operating means, a third cam follower for said replaceable cam and associated with said first operating means, a fourth cam follower for said closed pattern and said replaceable cam and associated with said second operating means, and a fifth cam follower for said closed pattern unit moveable with said third cam follower and associated with said first operating means for determining needle field of operation, wherein the improvement comprises: a. first control means for having an operating range, said first control means connected with said first cam follower to control the position thereof; b. second control means connected with said second cam follower to control the position thereof, said second control means positioned to be actuated by said first control means during a first portion of said operating range of said first control means; c. third control means connected with said third cam follower and said fifth cam follower to control the positions thereof, said third control means positioned to be actuated by said first control means during a second portion of said operating range of said first control means; d. fourth control means connected with said fourth cam follower to control the position thereof, said fourth control means positioned to be actuated by said first control means during said second portion of said operating range of said first control means.

7. In a zigzag sewing machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said coaxial aligned cams include a first section within which said first cam follower is ineffective to operate said first operating means during a portion of said second portion of said operating range of said first control means and said third, fourth and fifth cam followers are ineffective to operate said first and second operating means during said first portion of said operating range of said first control means; and, wherein said coaxial aligned cams include a second section within said second cam follower is ineffective to operate with said second operating means.

8. In a zigzag sewing machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first control means includes a support bracket attachable to said frame adjacent said coaxially aligned cams, a plate slidable on said support bracket in a direction parallel to the axis of said coaxially aligned cams, a first pin affixed to said plate and connecting said plate to said first cam follower, and means for moVing said plate in stepwise fashion to individually select a cam from said set of first cams.

9. In a zigzag sewing machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said plate includes a first abutment member and said second control means includes a second pin slidably mounted on said support bracket and connected to said second cam follower, resilient means biasing said second pin and said second follower to a position where said second cam follower is ineffective to operate said second operating means, and, means connecting said first abutment member and said second pin during said first portion of said operating range of said first control means to shift said second pin and said second cam follower to a position where said second cam follower is effective to operate said second operating means.

10. In a zigzag sewing machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plate includes a second abutment member and said third control means includes a third pin slidably mounted on said support bracket and connected to said third and fifth cam followers, resilient means biasing said third pin and third and fifth cam followers to a position where said cam followers are ineffective to operate said first operating means, and means connecting said second abutment member and said third pin during said second portion of said operating range of said first control means to shift said third pin and said third and fifth cam followers to a position where said third and fifth cam followers are effective to operate said first operating means.

11. In a zigzag sewing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said plate includes a third abutment member and said fourth control means includes a fourth pin slidably mounted on said support bracket and connected to said fourth cam follower, resilient means biasing said fourth pin and fourth cam follower to a position where said fourth cam follower is ineffective to operate said second operating means, and, means connecting said third abutment member with said fourth pin during said second portion of said operating range of said first control means to shift said fourth pin and said fourth cam follower to a position where said fourth cam follower is effective to operate said second operating means.