Sewing Machine Retention Mechanism and Cutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sewing machines require human operators to manually pull out and cut excess sewing material before starting and restarting the sewing process, leading to inefficiency and material waste, especially in multi-head machines.
Innovation Solution
A sewing machine with a retention mechanism that holds the sewing material in place at the start point, eliminating the need for manual pulling and cutting of excess material, and incorporating a cutter device that automatically cuts the material at a predetermined position, reducing operator burden and waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pulling out and cutting of excess sewing material is performed, then sewing can be started at the correct position, but operator burden increases and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The retention mechanism performs preliminary action by holding the sewing material at the guide member before sewing starts. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for manual pulling and cutting operations, as the material is already in the correct position ready for sewing to begin
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service through automated retention and cutting mechanisms. The retention mechanism automatically holds the material, and the cutter device automatically cuts excess material, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention in these positioning tasks
2Loss of substance
If manual cutting of pulled-out material is performed, then excess material is removed, but productivity decreases due to additional operations
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting operation is integrated into the continuous sewing process. The cutter device operates automatically during or after sewing without requiring separate manual cutting steps, maintaining continuous productive action while removing excess material
Solution Approach 2:
The cutter device performs self-service by automatically cutting the sewing material at the appropriate position. This automated cutting eliminates the need for separate manual cutting operations, maintaining productivity while properly managing material length
3Extent of automation
If cutter device is added to automate cutting, then operator burden is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter device is merged with the existing sewing machine structure. The cutting function is integrated into the overall sewing system, sharing space and control mechanisms with other components, which minimizes the increase in overall device complexity while achieving automation
Data Source
AI summary
A guide is mounted to a rotary member which is freely rotatable about the axis of a needle bar, and guides a sewing material to a needle drop position of the sewing needle. A cutter device is mounted to a side of the rotary member opposed to the guide in such a manner that the cutter device is rotatable together with the rotary member for cutting the sewing material, having been paid out from the guide, at a predetermined cutting position. A retention mechanism is incorporated in the cutter device for retaining an end portion of the sewing material, at a position closer to the guide than the predetermined cutting position and in interlocked relation to cutting, by the cutter device, of the sewing material. Thus, upon restart of sewing of the sewing material, the retention mechanism retains an end portion of the sewing material.