Sequin Feeder Apparatus

Abstract

Sequin strip ( 60 ), let out from a reel and then placed on the upper surface of a supporting plate ( 8 ), is fed at a predetermined pitch corresponding to a size of a sequin (S′) of the strip. After a sewing needle ( 31 ) fits into a hole ( 61 ) of a leading sequin (S′) as a needle bar ( 31 ) descends in accordance with sewing operation, a movable cutter blade cuts off the leading sequin (S′) by being driven downward by abutment against the needle bar ( 31 ) or a member ( 32 ) movable with the needle bar ( 31 ). Sequin-cutting portion ( 27 a ) of the movable cutter blade ( 27 ) has a thickness smaller than a thickness of an abutting portion ( 27 b ) that abuts against the needle bar ( 31 ) or the member ( 32 ) movable with the needle bar ( 31 ), to secure an appropriate strength. For example, the movable cutter blade ( 27 ) is shaped such that the thickness of a particular region, corresponding to a needle drop position, of the movable cutter blade ( 27 ) is reduced, and that, when the movable cutter blade ( 27 ) is in a posture before abutting against the needle bar ( 31 ) or the member ( 32 ) movable with the needle bar, an upper region (u) of the thickness-reduced sequin-cutting portion ( 27 a ) is located below an uppermost region (T) of the abutting portion ( 27 b ) not reduced in thickness.

1 . A sequin feeder apparatus comprising a feed mechanism for feeding a strip of a multiplicity of continuously-connected sequins, let out from a reel and then placed on an upper surface of a supporting plate, at a predetermined pitch corresponding to a size of a sequin of the strip, and a movable cutter blade that cuts off a sequin by being driven downward, by abutment against a needle bar or a member movable with the needle bar, after a sewing needle fits into a hole of a sequin fed out by said feed mechanism as the needle bar descends in accordance with sewing operation of a sewing machine,
 characterized in that a sequin-cutting portion of said movable cutter blade has a thickness smaller than a thickness of an abutting portion thereof that abuts against the needle bar or the member movable with the needle bar.   
     
     
         2 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sequin-cutting portion is formed by reducing a thickness of a particular region, corresponding to a needle drop position, of said movable cutter blade, and wherein, when said movable cutter blade is in a posture before abutting against the needle bar or the member movable with the needle bar, an upper region of the sequin-cutting portion, formed by reducing the thickness of said movable cutter blade, is located below an uppermost region of the abutting portion not reduced in thickness. 
     
     
         3 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein, in said movable cutter blade, the sequin-cutting portion reduced in thickness is formed below the abutting portion not reduced in thickness. 
     
     
         4 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said feed mechanism is arranged to feed out a sequin by advancing and retracting movement of a feed lever, said feed mechanism performing feeding operation by causing a distal end of the feed lever to engage the hole of at least one sequin of the strip on the supporting plate and then advancing the feed lever, and wherein a position of the hole where the distal end is to engage when the feed lever is to be advanced is variable in accordance with a size of the sequin.