The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 14, 1994
Yu-Sheng Wang, Hsinchu, TW;
Han-Chieh Chang, Hsinchu, TW;
Hung-I Hsu, Hsinchu, TW;
Wen-Chin Cheng, Hsinchu, TW;
Jin-Lunng Chirn, Hsinchu, TW;
Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu Hsier, TW;
Abstract
A needle-changing mechanism for use in a multiple-needle embroidery sewing machine is disclosed for controlling the changing of a selected sewing needle to a working position on the sewing platform of the sewing machine. The needle-changing mechanism includes a sensing plate having a gap portion sandwiched between two solid side portions. The position of the gap portion is changed by moving the sensing plate according to which needle is currently selected as the working needle. A plurality of photo detectors equal in number to the number of the needles of the sewing machine are arranged at equal intervals along a straight line relative to the axial orientation of the sensing plate such that the gap portion and the side portions of the sensing plate cause the photo detectors to output a pattern of positioning signals. A controller, which receives and processes output signals from the photo detectors, is used to control the movement of the needles so that the desired needle is positioned as the working needle. Among the advantages of the present invention are that it requires only a single positioning signal for the changing and positioning of the needles; it is capable of restoring the position of the current working needle after a power failure that causes the working needle to be out of position; and it can be constructed without the use of gears so as to reduce cost and facilitate easy assemblage.