US3750603A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for controlling a sewing machine thread cutter
Assignee: Madison Management Group Inc
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Filing: 1971-04-05
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1991-04-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for controlling sewing machine operations and a counting combination whereby a sequence of pulses having a frequency which is a function of machine speed is produced and counted by a counter. Upon a first count, the counter produces a first operation, such as cutting, reversing the machine, changing machine speed, etc., to take place and upon a second count the counter produces a second signal which causes a second operation to take place. In one embodiment the counter operates a counter after a predetermined amount of material or thread has been advanced before the cutter and again after a predetermined number of stitches have been taken after the material has passed the needle. The counting combination includes first and second switches connected to the output of digital counting circuitry for manually selecting the first and second counts and logic circuitry linking the switches to a flip-flop for providing signals at the two counts.
Inventors
- 👤 R Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:53
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05B; D05B69/00; D05B69/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
Apparatus for operating a thread cutter associated with a sewing machine a predetermined distance from the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, said apparatus comprising: signal generating means operable in synchronism with said sewing machine for providing an impulse signal having a frequency which is proportional to the speed of operation of said sewing machine, a digital counter for counting impulses provided by said signal generating means, said counter having a multiplicity of distinct states which occur sequentially and having also read out means providing signals identifying the state of the counter, means for providing a signal substantially when the edge of a piece of material being sewn passes the point of operation of the sewing machine needle and for applying that signal to reset said counter to a predetermined state, a presettable control switch having a multiplicity of states corresponding to possible states of said counter, said switch and said counter being interconnected to provide an out-put signal when coincidence occurs between the state of said counter and a preset state of said switch, and means for actuating said cutter in response to said output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
Apparatus for operating a thread cutter associated with a sewing machine a predetermined distance from the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, said apparatus comprising: signal generating means operable in synchronism with said sewing machine for providing an impulse signal having a frequency which is proportional to the speed of operation of said sewing machine, a digital counter for counting impulses provided by said signal generating means, said counter having a multiplicity of distinct states which occur sequentially and having also read out means providing signals identifying the state of the counter, means for providing a signal substantially when the edge of a piece of material being sewn passes the point of operation of the sewing machine needle and for applying that signal to reset said counter to a predetermined state, a presettable control switch having a multiplicity of states corresponding to possible states of said counter, said switch and said counter being interconnected to provide an out-put signal when coincidence occurs between the state of said counter and a preset state of said switch, and means for actuating said cutter in response to said output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said signal providing means indicates a first state when material is present and indicates a second state when material is absent and wherein said counter is reset when said signal providing means changes from either state to the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second presettable control switch having a multiplicity of states corresponding to possible states of said counter and being interconnected with said counter to provide a second output signal when coincidence occurs between the state of said counter and a preset state of said switch and means controlled by said signal providing means for applying said second control signal to said cutter actuating means in place of the first said output signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including means for stopping said counter after said cutter is actuated until a material edge again passes the point of needle operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for operating a thread cutter associated with a sewing machine a predetermined distance from the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, said apparatus comprising: signal generating means operable in synchronism with said sewing machine for providing an impulse signal having a frequency which is proportional to the speed of operation of said sewing machine, a digital counter for counting impulses provided by said signal generating means, said counter having a multiplicity of distinct states which occur sequentially and having also read out means providing signals identifying the state of the counter, means for resetting said counter to a predetermined state substantially when the edge of a piEce of material being sewn passes the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, and means for actuating said cutter when said counter reaches a preselectable state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus for operating a thread cutter associated with a sewing machine a predetermined distance from the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, said apparatus comprising: signal generating means operable in synchronism with said sewing machine for providing an impulse signal having a frequency which is proportional to the speed of operation of said sewing machine, a digital counter for counting impulses provided by said signal generating means, said counter having a multiplicity of distinct states which occur sequentially and having also read out means providing signals identifying the state of the counter, means for resetting said counter to a predetermined state substantially when the edge of a piEce of material being sewn passes the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, and means for actuating said cutter when said counter reaches a preselectable state.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
352 words
Apparatus for operating a thread cutter associated with a sewing machine a predetermined distance from the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, said apparatus comprising: signal generating means operable in synchronism with said sewing machine for providing an impulse signal having a frequency which is proportional to the speed of operation of said sewing machine, a digital counter for counting impulses provided by said signal generating means, said counter providing a multiplicity of distinct states which occur sequentially and having read out means providing signals identifying the state of the counter, said counter having also reset means for setting said counter to a predetermined state in response to a reset signal applied thereto, sensing means for detecting when the edge of a piece of material is present at the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, a first presettable control switch having a multiplicity of states corresponding to possible states of said counter, said first control switch and said counter being interconnected to provide a first output signal when coincidence occurs between the state of said counter and a preset state of said first control switch, a second presettable control switch having a multiplicity of states corresponding to possible states of said counter, said second control switch and said counter being interconnected to provide a second output signal when coincidence occurs between the state of said counter and a preset state of said second control switch, a bistable device, said first output signal being applied to set said device to a first stable state, said second output signal being applied to set said device to a second stable state, means interconnected with said sensing means for applying a reset signal to said counter when said bistable device is in said first stable state and material is present or when said bistable device is in said second stable state and material is absent, and means responsive to said first output signal when said bistable means is in said second state and responsive to said second output signal when said bistable means is in said first state for actuating said cutter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
352 words
Apparatus for operating a thread cutter associated with a sewing machine a predetermined distance from the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, said apparatus comprising: signal generating means operable in synchronism with said sewing machine for providing an impulse signal having a frequency which is proportional to the speed of operation of said sewing machine, a digital counter for counting impulses provided by said signal generating means, said counter providing a multiplicity of distinct states which occur sequentially and having read out means providing signals identifying the state of the counter, said counter having also reset means for setting said counter to a predetermined state in response to a reset signal applied thereto, sensing means for detecting when the edge of a piece of material is present at the point of operation of the sewing machine needle, a first presettable control switch having a multiplicity of states corresponding to possible states of said counter, said first control switch and said counter being interconnected to provide a first output signal when coincidence occurs between the state of said counter and a preset state of said first control switch, a second presettable control switch having a multiplicity of states corresponding to possible states of said counter, said second control switch and said counter being interconnected to provide a second output signal when coincidence occurs between the state of said counter and a preset state of said second control switch, a bistable device, said first output signal being applied to set said device to a first stable state, said second output signal being applied to set said device to a second stable state, means interconnected with said sensing means for applying a reset signal to said counter when said bistable device is in said first stable state and material is present or when said bistable device is in said second stable state and material is absent, and means responsive to said first output signal when said bistable means is in said second state and responsive to said second output signal when said bistable means is in said first state for actuating said cutter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said counter comprises a semiconductor integrated circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said counter comprises a pair of binary coded decimal counting units and a one-out-of-10 decoder for each unit and wherein each of said presettable control switches comprises a pair of manually operable, 10-position switches.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |