Buttonholing Machine Looper Mechanism Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional looper mechanisms in buttonholing machines require manual lubrication, leading to inefficient operation and contamination of workpieces due to scattered lubricant oil, which deteriorates working efficiency and product quality.
Innovation Solution
A looper mechanism with a lubricant oil feeding member fixedly equipped on the looper base supplies oil directly to the contact portions of the spreaders, preventing oil scattering and contamination, and includes features like grooves and permeable members for extended lubrication and reduced wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual lubrication is used in the conventional looper mechanism, then the sliding contact portions can be lubricated, but the working efficiency is significantly deteriorated due to the complicated operation required
Solution Approach 1:
The looper mechanism is designed to automatically supply lubricant oil to the sliding contact portions during operation. The lubricant oil supply grooves and centrifugal force mechanism enable the system to self-lubricate without requiring manual intervention, thus maintaining reliable lubrication while significantly improving working efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The lubricant oil is pre-supplied to the supply grooves before the swinging operation begins. The centrifugal force then automatically distributes this pre-positioned lubricant to the contact portions during the swinging motion, eliminating the need for manual lubrication during operation
2Reliability
If lubricant oil is supplied through supply grooves formed along the up-down direction on the spreader cam, then the cam portions can be lubricated, but the lubricant oil scatters upward due to centrifugal force and contaminates the workpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant oil supply grooves are strategically positioned and oriented to match the local motion characteristics of each cam portion. The grooves are formed to direct lubricant oil along the sliding path of the contact portions, ensuring lubrication is applied precisely where needed and preventing upward scattering that would contaminate the workpiece
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing lubricant oil to be scattered upward by centrifugal force, the supply grooves are designed to channel the lubricant oil in the opposite direction - along the cam surface in the direction of sliding contact. This inverted approach to lubricant distribution prevents contamination while maintaining effective lubrication
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances working efficiency by eliminating the need for manual lubrication, reduces contamination of sewing threads and workpieces, and maintains smooth operation with prolonged lubrication, improving overall quality and reducing the frequency of oil replenishment.
Implementation Method 1
by using a centrifugal force of swinging of the spreader cam 103, a lubricant oil supplied from an oil wick 110 is further supplied to the cam portions 104, 105 on the upper side through the supply grooves 108, 109
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a looper mechanism (10) of a buttonholing machine (1). The looper mechanism (10) includes two loopers (11, 12) which catch a sewing thread to form a loop, two spreaders (20, 30) which expand the loop of the sewing thread, a looper base (60) which is supported below a sewing needle (3) so as to be turnable about a centerline extending in a vertical direction (Z), a looper mount (70) on which the loopers (11, 12) and the spreaders (20, 30) are mounted and which is swingably supported on the looper base (60) such that the loopers (11, 12) and the spreaders (20, 30) move toward and away from the up-down movement path of the sewing needle (3), and a spreader cam (40) which is swingably supported on the looper base (60) to give a rotation movement to each of the spreaders (20, 30) to expand the loop. The looper mechanism (10) is characterized by further comprising a lubricant oil feeding member (90) which is brought into contact with the contact portion (23, 33) of each of the spreaders (20, 30) in accordance with the swinging of the looper mount (70) to provide a lubricant oil to the contact portion (23, 33), wherein the lubricant oil feeding member (90) is fixedly equipped on the looper base (60).