Sewing Machine Needle Plate with Localized Friction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing needle plates with smooth surfaces struggle to feed and manipulate fabrics with high friction, such as non-slip, leather, or plastic fabrics, leading to adhesion issues and potential skipped stitches due to inadequate friction control.
Innovation Solution
A needle plate with a support surface featuring regularly arranged small projections and recesses, optionally coated with a self-lubricating layer, reduces contact area and friction, preventing fabric adhesion and ensuring smooth feeding and manipulation, especially around the needle opening where a rough surface enhances friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a smooth support surface is used, then fabric manipulation is facilitated, but high-friction fabrics adhere to the surface and cannot slide smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into multiple regions with different surface characteristics. The first region (under presser foot) has a self-lubricating coating for smooth fabric feeding, while the second region (around needle opening) has increased friction to prevent fabric adhesion and pulling into the needle hole, resolving the contradiction between smooth manipulation and preventing adhesion
2Productivity
If a self-lubricating coating is applied, then fabric feeding is smooth, but smooth fabrics are pulled by the needle and slide over the support surface
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into multiple regions with different surface characteristics. The first region (under presser foot) has a self-lubricating coating for smooth fabric feeding, while the second region (around needle opening) has increased friction to prevent fabric adhesion and pulling into the needle hole, resolving the contradiction between smooth manipulation and preventing adhesion
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the entire support surface has increased friction, then fabric adhesion is reduced, but fabric feeding becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is divided into multiple regions with different surface characteristics. The first region (under presser foot) has a self-lubricating coating for smooth fabric feeding, while the second region (around needle opening) has increased friction to prevent fabric adhesion and pulling into the needle hole, resolving the contradiction between smooth manipulation and preventing adhesion
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 needle plate effectively feeds and manipulates high-friction fabrics, preventing sticking and ensuring proper upper thread loop formation, reducing the occurrence of skipped stitches.
Implementation Method 1
the presence of a self-lubricating coating formed via electroless nickel phosphorus PTFE composite plating
Implementation Method 2
a rough surface portion instead of the small projections and recesses only in a region surrounding the needle opening
Data Source
AI summary
A needle plate of a sewing machine mounted on an upper surface of a bed of the sewing machine includes a support surface for supporting a fabric pressed by a presser foot, a needle opening through which a needle passes, and a feed dog slot through which a feed dog moves up and down and back and forth. The support surface has small projections and recesses.