SIDE MOUNT THREAD WIPER FOR A SEWING MACHINE

摘要

A thread wiper assembly mountable to the side of a sewing machine. The thread wiper assembly is particularly advantageous with sewing machines that are equipped with a walking foot. The thread wiper is mounted sidewardly relative to the needle and includes a picker arm, that while in a retracted position, is disposed sidewardly relative to the needle and out of its path of travel. Because the thread wiper is mounted to the side of the sewing machine and sidewardly relative to the needle, the picker arm is able to traverse along a path between the needle and the walking foot without interference. An actuating member: (i) lowers the picker arm in a direction substantially parallel to the needle until a free end of the picker arm is at a level between the needle and the walking foot; (ii) sidewardly thrusts the picker arm at a first angle, relative to a vertical axis, towards the needle along a path between the needle and the walking foot without interference; (iii) advances further sideways the picker arm at a second angle, relative to the vertical axis, greater than the first angle; and (iv) retracts away while raising the picker member in a reverse movement to complete the cycle. The thread wiper may include a microprocessor that is programmed to intelligently disable/enable the thread wiper depending on such factors as the adjustment in rise of the walking foot and/or whether the turn back operation of the sewing machine is activated. The thread wiper assembly is also suitable for use with a sewing machine that does not have a walking foot.