US2490887A - Quilting machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1949 G. SCHADT 2,490,887.

I QUILTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1945 5 Shets-Sheet 1 m r 1 T Q (0 (o I 2 0 14:52am -.""'::T-- 5 o '2 00 N q m E w J g L 00 ,3 1

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QUILTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8-, l945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [U s :2 a 00 H 0, 00 L. 1 m

i INVENTOR. ELM. GEORGE SCHADT Y G. SCHADT QUILTING MACHINE Dec. 13, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 8, 1945 INVENTOR. GEORGE SCHADT Dec. 13, 1949 GFS CHADT QUILTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1945 5 SheetsSheet 4 GEORGE SCHADT INVENTOR.

Dec. 13, 1949 G. SCHADT QUILTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 8, 1945 INVENTOR.

T D A H C S E G R O E G Patented Dec. 13, 1949 am OFFICE QUILTING MACHINE George Schadt, Detroit, and Mathewson,

Mich, assignor to Schadt a corporation of Michigan Application December 8, 1945, Serial No. 633,673 8 Claims. (Cl. 112-118) This invention relates to quilting machines, and has particular reference to certain new and useful improvements therein which facilitate and expedite the work of the operator of the machine.

In machines of this type, the material to be stitched is placed in' hoops which form the ends of a cylinder, the body of which is the quilt to-be stitched. When using a machine of this type, the operator must shift the quilt or Work about its axis of rotation-as 'well'as longitudinally thereof so as to'properly develop apattern to be applied to the quilt. A sewing machine forms a part of the machine and performs the stitches on the quilt. This invention contemplates the provision of an improved machine of this type, by-means of which the quilt may be more expeditiously brought in cooperative relationship with the sewing machine.

Principal objects of vide:

A new and improved quilting machine;

A quilting machine which is constructed and arranged in such a manner that the work thereon maybe more efficiently handled and presented to the sewing machine thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which there are five sheets, which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of'the invention and the principles thereof, and what is now considered to be the best mode of applying such principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used, and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It is also contemplated that of the several different features of the invention, certain ones thereof may be advantageously employed in some applications separate and apart from the remainder of the features.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational. view taken from the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

the invention are to pro- Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the machine taken from the line 6-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the sewing machine, and taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentaryelevational view of the machine taken along the line- 99 of Fig. 2 and illustrating a quilt mounted on the cylinder thereof; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of one end of the cylinder illustrating the means by which a quilt is detachably secured to the cylinder. 7 7

Referring now toFigs. 1 and 2, the machine in general comprises a frame having standards 20 forming a support for the machine and interconnected by transverse bars or frame members 22, 24 and 26. A cylinder indicated generally at 28 (Fig. 9) adapted for holding a quilt 30 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 9 and 0, is

more fully explained hereinafter. I

The sewing machine 32 further includes a work surf having any suitable nism with the reciprocation of the needle 42. The shaft 54 is journaled in bearings '55, which are mounted upon one of the frame members 24.

The surface or table 50 has associated therewith a stretcher, or former member 58, over which the material to be stitched passes or slides, and which stretcher functions to hold such material against wrinkling during stitching. This stretcher 59, as illustrated, comprises a loop frame which is secured to one of the frame members 24 at the needle end of the table 59, the upper surface of the member 50 being in substantially the same plane as the surface of the table 50, but sloping slightly downwardly away from the opposite sides thereof. The presser foot 44 may be formed of a transparent plastic material so as to make it possible for the operator of the machine to follow the pattern to be stitched on the quilt.

The shaft 46 has a pulley 60 affixed thereon, such pulley being in driving relationship with the belt 62, which is driven from the pulley 64 driven by the motor 34. Between the pulley 54 and the motor 34, a clutch mechanism, indicated generally at B6, is provided, such clutch mechanism being controlled by a lever 68,. which is connected by suitable linkage I to the clutch pedal 35, so that by rocking of the clutch pedal 35 the drive between the motor 34 and the sewing machine 32 may be interrupted. The clutch mechanism 90 includes a dog clutch which is disengaged when the pedal 36 is rocked or depressed, the clutch mechanism 66 being constructed and arranged so that it will automatically re-engage upon release of the clutch pedal 36. Since the clutch mechanism 66 may be of any conventional or desired construction, it is believed that no further illustration thereof is necessary.

The clutch pedal control of the driven connection between the motor and the sewing machine 32, however, provides the operator of the quilting machine with a very responsive control over the operation thereof, so that the operation of the sewing machine 32 may be started and stopped to enable the quilt to be shifted. The shafts 45 and 54, as illustrated in Fig. 7, project beyond the bearings II and are each provided with a sprocket I2, the sprockets I2 being interconnected by a chain I4 so that the shaft 54 the shaft 46. The bearings H in which the ends of the shafts 46 and 54 are journaled are suitably supported by brackets affixed to the frame 20 at the right hand side of the machine. as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The frame members 22, 24, and 2B are suitably secured to the standards 20, such as by means of U-shaped bolts 80 straddling the frame members and passing through holes in the cross pieces 82 of the standards, nuts 84 being applied to the threaded ends of the bolts 80.

The cylinder 28 comprises a pair of spaced hoops 86 which are adjustably secured relative to each other so that the distance therebetween may be increased or decreased in order to accommodate quilts of different sizes. The construction of the hoops 86 is more particularly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, from which it may be observed that each hoop includes a spider 90, an inner race or circular member 92, and an outer race or ring 94; The spider 90 includes a hub 95 having spokes 9B projecting therefrom which define the spider 99. The hub 96 has an opening therein through which the frame member 22 projects, it being observed that the frame member 22 is triangular or noncircular in cross section. The frame member 22 forms a guide upon which the cylinder 28 is axially shiftable.

The hub 96 is provided with a series of rollers I00, I02, which extend into the opening thereof.

will be driven with I with the left hand hoop 86.

Said rollers I00, I02 are suitably journaled on shafts I06 and I08, and are arranged to engage the inclined side surfaces of the frame member 22 so as to provide a rolling bearing for movement of the hoops 86 axially of the frame member 22. The arms 98 of each of the hoops 86 are adjustably interconnected by means of a plurality of telescoping tubes H2 and I I4, one end of each of the tubes H2 being secured to the arms 98 of one of the spiders 90, while the opposite end of the tubes H4 are secured to the arms of the other of the spiders 90. A clamp I I6 is affixed to the outer tubes H2 adjacent to the joint between the telescoped tubes'IIZ and H4 and may be tightened by means of the winged screw H3 so as to secure the hoops 86 relative to each other.

Each of the arms 98 of the spiders 90 of the hoops 86 are provided with a series of rollers I20, I22 and I24, each of such rollers being journaled on a suitable pin or shaft carried by the end of the arm 98. The rollers I20, I22 and I24 provide bearings for locating and rotatably supporting the inner race 92 ofthe hoop, such race being positioned between the rollers I20 and I24, which take the side thrust of the race 92, while the rollers I22 function to rotatably support the inner race 92 for rotation about the axis of the frame member 22.

The outer race 94 is provided with a series of arms I30 forming brackets for a friction roller I32, which is mounted on a pin I34 carried by the arms I30. The roller I32 is clamped between the arms I30 so that it will not freely rotate about the pin I34.

The inner race is provided with a groove I35 in which the rollers I32 operate. The inner race has a strip I40 of flexible material such as fabric secured thereto by means of screws I42. A series of spaced clamps I44 are attached to the strip I40, and they are adapted to clamp the edges of the quilt 30, it being understood that one edge of the quilt 30 is secured by the clamps I44 on the right hand hoop 86, while the opposite parallel edge of the quilt 30 is secured by the clamps I44 associated When the quilt 30 is clamped to the races 92, it forms all or part of a cylinder, depending upon the length of the quilt 30 and the size of the hoops 86.

. The outer races 94 are interconnected by one or more bars I50 which form a handle by means of which the races 92 may be rotated about their axis, or shifted longitudinally thereof. The bandle may be adjustable in the same manner as the pipes H2 and H4 which interconnect the hoops 86, and, if desired, more than one handle I50 may be employed and positioned and in spaced relation to the other handle so as to expedite the translation of the cylinder 28 by the operator. The outer races 94 and the handle I50 carried thereby thus are frictionally positioned rotatably relative to the inner races 92. However, by holding the inner race against rotation, the outer race.

94 may be shifted circumferentially relative thereto so as to bring other portions of the quilt 30 into position to be acted upon by the sewing may be spring acso that they may be disengaged from the tuated pincer type clamps readily engaged with or quilt 30.

In order to help in positioning the cylinder 20 against accidental shifting, a brake mechanism,

such as that herein disclosed, may be employed.

This brake mechanism may comprise a pipe I60 covered with friction material, one end of the pipe I60 being secured to the left hand standard;

20, as indicated at I62. through the hoops 86, adjacent to the inner races 92. The other end of the pipe projects through a slot I64 in the right hand standard 20. It is then bent downwardly as indicated at I66 and-laterally as indicated at I68. A horizontally extended portion I70 of the pipe is rotatably journaled in one or more brackets H2, so that when the foot brake pedal 38 is rocked about the axis of the portion I in one direction, the portion I60 of the pipe will bear against the inner races 92 and cooperate therewith to prevent rotational as wellas axial movement thereof.

The sewing machine 32 further includes means for holding a spool of thread I14 and for feeding such thread to the reciprocating needle 42 during the operation thereof.

In operation of a. machine embodying the present invention, the hoops 36 are positioned to enable the clamps I44 to be secured to opposite end edges of the quilt 30 and to clamp the quilt 30 essentially in a cylindrical form between the hoops 86. The hoops 86 are then separated axially along the support 22 until the quilt 30 is drawn to a taut cylinder essentially as shown in Fig. 9. The proper spacing between the hoops 86 is maintained by securely clamping the extensible arms H2 and H4 together with the clamps H6.

The friction rollers I32 are journaled on their pins I34 to resist rotation except under relatively strong rotational forces. Hence, unless the brake rod I60 is set to lock the circular members 92 against movement, rotation of the races 94 will cause the members 92 to be rotated by friction contact with the rollers I32. The relatively light inertial force of the members 92 turning on their rollers I22 is not sufficient to cause the rollers I32 to rotate on their pins I34. Accordingly, circumferential movement of the handle I50 will rotate the quilt 30 when the brake I60 is not applied. By translating or rotating the handle I 50, the quilt 30 may be translated or rotated relative to the sewing machine 32. The clutch foot pedal 36 permits simultaneous operation of the sewing machine 32 as the quilt is rotated and translated so that intricate patterns may be sewn in the quilt 30.

During the sewing operation it frequenly becomes necessary to hold the quilt 30 rigid against both translation and rotation for various purposes as, for example, to check the alignment of the sewing needle 42 with a particular portion of the quilt, or to make adjustments in the sewing machine 32, or to shift the position of the handle I50 circumferentially relative to the quilt 30. By rocking the foot pedal 38 to the braking position, the brake rod I50 will be moved into friction contact with the inner surfaces of both circular members 92 and rigidly hold these members, and accordingly the quilt 30, against either translatory or rotatory movement. With the circular members 92 thus locked against movement, circumferential movement of the handle I50 will overcome the retarding friction force between the rollers I32 and their journal pins I34, the wheels I32 will roll along the tracks I 36, and the handle I50 will be shifted so as to facilitate the bringing of a new portion of the quilt 30 under the sewing machine 32 at the top of the cylinder 28.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such The pipe I 60 extends changes and alternations asfall within the pur view of the following claims. 1

I claim:

' 1. In a quilting machine having a sewing machine operative to sew a quilt as the latter is moved relative thereto, the combination of a horizontal frame member, a pair of spaced spiders shi-ftable-axially thereon, means to hold saidquilt in cylindrical form for sewing and comprising a pair of spaced circular members having quilt engaging means, one of each of said circular members being rotatably mounted on one of each of said spiders, a handle means mounted for rotation concentrically with said circular members, and a light friction coupling between said. circular members and said handle means to effect rotation of the former by the latter upon rotation f the latter, said handle means being readily rotatable relative to said circular members: and against the force of said friction coupling when said circular members are restricted against rotation.

2. The combination in a quilting machine as claimed in claim 1 and being further characterized in that brake means are provided for positively holding said movement.

3. The combination in a quilting machine as claimed in claim 1 and being further characterized in that said handle means comprise a pair of rings concentric with said circular members, and a handle crossbar connecting said rings, said friction coupling being between said rings and said circular members. 1 4. The combination in a quilting machine as claimed in claim 3 and being further characterized in that means to facilitate the circumferential movement of said rings relative to said circular members are provided which includes a brake means adapted to engage and to lock said circular members against movement.

5. In a quilting machine having a sewing machine operative to sew a quilt as the latter is moved relative thereto, the combination of a horizontal frame member, a pair of spiders shiftable axially thereon, adjustable spacers connecting said spiders, means to hold said quilt in cylindrical form for sewing and comprising a pair of circular members providing peripherally disposedfiexible strips and clamps carried by said strips to engage the edges of said quilt, each of said circular members being rotatably mounted on one of each of said spiders, and handle means mounted for rotation concentrically with said circular members and being frictionally connected therewith for rotation thereof, the force of said frictional connection being slight to permit said handle means to be readily rotated relative to said circular members upon restricting the movement of said circular members.

6. In a quilting machine having a sewing machine operative to sew a quilt as the latter is moved relative thereto, the combination of a horizontal frame member, means to hold said quilt in cylindrical form for sewing and comprising a pair of spaced quilt engaging circular hoops mounted on said frame member for axial and rotative movement, adjustable spacers connecting said hoops for securing the latter in spaced relationship relative to each other, a pair of rings mounted for rotation concentrically with said hoops, a handle crossbar connecting said rings, one of each of said rings being frictionally connected to one of each of said hoops for rotation thereof, the force of said frictional connection being circular members against slight to permit rotation of said handle means and rings readily relative to said hoops when rotation of the latter is restricted.

7.. The combination in a quilting machine as claimed in claim 6 and being further characterized in that brake means are provided for positively holding said hoops against movement.

8. In a quilting machine having a sewing machine operative to sew a quilt as the latter is moved relative thereto, the combination of a horizontal frame member, a pair of spaced spiders shiftable axially thereon, means to hold said quilt in cylindrical form for sewing and comprising a pair of spaced circular members having a quilt engaging means, one of said circular members being rotatably mounted on one of each of said spiders, a handle means mounted for rotation concentrically with said circular members, and a coupling between said circular members and said handle means adapted to transmit therebetween a small force to effect rotation of the former by the latter upon rotation of the latter, said handle means being readily rotatable relative to said circular means and against the force of said coupling when said circular members and restricted against rotation.

GEORGE SCHADT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,937,491 May Nov. 28, 1933 1,946,868 May Feb. 13, 1934 2,377,951 May June 12, 1945

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