Sewing machine with thread monitor for the bobbin thread

US4805544A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• PFAFF INDUSTRIES MASCHINEN AG · DE

Inventors

• Reinhold Dobner · Kaiserslautern, DE
• Bernhard Mertel · Enkenbach-Alsenborn, DE
• Erich Willenbacher · Karlsruhe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 2, 1988
• Grant date: Feb 21, 1989
• Expiry date: Feb 2, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC D): Textiles; Paper
• CPC primary: D05B59/02
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A sewing machine having a thread monitor associated with a bobbin mounted for rotation. The bobbin includes first and second reflecting surfaces associated with an inner side of a second bobbin flange, and first and second light outlet openings associated with a second bobbin flange. A light source is provided for directing light toward the reflecting surfaces. A light receiver is positioned so as to receive light emerging from the first and second outlet opening. The light receiver produces signals representing the light intensity received by the light receiver. A Schmitt trigger provides a pulse to a microprocessor coinciding with a revolution of the bobbin. For each revolution of the bobbin, an A/D converter converts signals received from the light receiver into digital signals which are compared. The digital signal having the maximum value for the revolution is stored in a memory and then compared with a subsequent maximum value. When the subsequent maximum value differs from the stored maximum value, a warning signal is generated by the microprocessor.