Rotatable Spool and Guide for Embroidery Sewing Machine
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sewing machines lack an efficient mechanism to attach embroidery materials like ribbon or cord to a workpiece while maintaining the ability to sew complex patterns without disrupting the machine's normal operation.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable spool system with a support mechanism that allows for independent rotation of the spool and support around a first vertical axis, combined with a sewing guide that aligns the embroidery material with the sewing needle, enabling the attachment of embroidery materials to a workpiece as the needle follows a predetermined path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spool system is added to dispense embroidery material, then the ability to attach ribbon or cord to workpiece is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spool is nested within the support structure, with the support enveloping the spool. The embroidery material passes through the support structure to reach the needle, creating a compact nested arrangement that adds functionality without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure serves multiple functions: it holds the spool, guides the embroidery material, and rotates independently from the spool. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving the desired versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If the spool and support rotate independently around a vertical axis, then the ability to follow complex embroidery paths is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support is designed to rotate independently around the vertical axis relative to the spool, creating a dynamic system with two degrees of freedom. This dynamic capability allows the embroidery material to be fed along complex curved paths while the spool itself can remain simpler in design
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation mechanism is segmented into two independent rotational components: the spool rotation and the support rotation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized separately and simplifies the control mechanism, as each rotation can be controlled independently to achieve the desired embroidery path
3Manufacturing precision
If the support is positioned close to the needle for precise material guidance, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the spool rotation freedom is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure extends vertically above the needle, utilizing the vertical dimension to provide precise material guidance close to the needle path. The independent rotation of the support around the vertical axis compensates for the restricted horizontal movement, maintaining spool rotation freedom while achieving precise guidance in the critical vertical plane
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary embroidery accessory for a sewing machine includes a spool that is rotatable around a first vertical axis, a support rotatably attached to the sewing machine and to the spool, a sewing guide, and a mechanism for rotating the support around a second vertical axis of rotation. The spool receives and dispenses a length of embroidery material and is supported above a sewing bed of the sewing machine by the support. The sewing guide has a needle opening configured to receive a needle of the sewing machine and to guide the embroidery material toward the needle.