Sewing Machine Lateral Feed Mechanism for Edge Guidance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sewing machines face challenges in maintaining a constant distance along the side edge of a workpiece during sewing, requiring manual operator intervention and increasing the burden on the operator.
Innovation Solution
A sewing machine equipped with a feed mechanism that includes a lateral feed mechanism and a control device, allowing the feed dog to move orthogonally to the primary feeding direction, and a presser foot with a feed guide that guides the workpiece's edge, enabling stable feeding without manual pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pressing is used to maintain constant distance along side edge, then sewing stability is improved, but operator burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed guide is designed to automatically press the side edge portion of the workpiece against its side wall during feeding, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention. The feed guide structure includes a pressurizing mechanism that self-adjusts to maintain constant distance, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous human input.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed guide acts as an intermediary device between the workpiece and the feeding mechanism. It mediates the interaction by providing a physical interface (side wall) that the workpiece abuts against, thereby maintaining constant distance automatically without requiring direct operator control.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual pressing is required to maintain constant distance, then sewing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The feed guide structure includes a side wall that automatically maintains constant distance through its geometric design. The workpiece is fed while its side edge portion abuts against the feed guide's side wall, which self-adjusts to maintain the predetermined distance without requiring operator intervention or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed guide is pre-configured with the correct geometry and positioning to maintain the desired constant distance before feeding begins. The side wall is positioned at the exact offset required, so the workpiece naturally follows this predetermined path during feeding, eliminating the need for real-time adjustment.
3Reliability
If feed guide is added to presser foot, then sewing stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed guide is integrated with the presser foot, combining two functions (pressing and guiding) into a single component. This merging approach maintains sewing stability by providing both pressurization and lateral guidance through one unified structure, rather than requiring separate independent mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The presser foot is designed to serve multiple functions: it applies downward pressure to the workpiece and simultaneously provides lateral guidance through its integrated feed guide structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components while maintaining sewing stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A sewing machine includes a feed mechanism which feeds a workpiece by a feed dog partially protruding out upward from an upper surface of a throat plate and moving along a predetermined feeding direction; a presser foot which presses the workpiece on the upper surface of the throat plate from above; a feed guide which has an abutting surface along the feeding direction and guides feeding of the workpiece; and a control device. The feed mechanism includes a lateral feed mechanism which adds a moving component in a direction along the upper surface of the throat plate and orthogonal to the predetermined feeding direction, to the feed dog. The control device controls the feed mechanism to feed the workpiece by adding a moving component to a side of the abutting surface of the feed guide by the lateral feed mechanism, in addition to the feeding along the regulated feeding direction.