Experiment No.

3
Drive Mechanism of Hook, Feed Dogs and Lubrication System in Lock
Stitch Machine.
Abstract:
The purpose of this experiment was to drive the mechanism for take up lever, feed dogs, and needle
bar in a lock stitch sewing machine. The casing from the machine was removed by the instructor.
The different parts of the machine were observed and identified. The mechanisms of thread take
up lever, feed dogs, and needle bar were observed. And then motion transfer, links and joints were
noted in lock stitch sewing machine. And finally, the mechanism diagram was drawn.
Drive Mechanism of Hook, Feed Dogs and Lubrication System in Lock Stitch Machine.
Muqaddas Javaid

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Table of Contents
Abstract: ...........................................................................................................................................1
Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................2
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................1
1.1. Objectives.................................................................................................................................1
1.2. Theory ......................................................................................................................................1
2. Equipment and Materials ............................................................................................................2
3. Method ........................................................................................................................................2
4. Results/ Conclusion.....................................................................................................................2
5. References ...................................................................................................................................7

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Drive Mechanism of Hook, Feed Dogs and Lubrication System in Lock Stitch Machine.

Muqaddas Javaid

1. Introduction

1.1. Objectives
• To drive mechanism of hook, feed dogs and lubrication system in lock stitch machine.
1.2. Theory
Single needle lockstitch machine
Single needle lock stitch machine is generally used for sewing fabric, leather, etc. particularly one
that uses two threads such as an upper and a lower thread. The one side of the needle has the eye
and a sharp tip while the other side is attached to a needle bar that moves up and down to form a
stitch. The arm also secures a presser foot which presses the fabric while sewing. The needle
penetrates into the fabric from the top, to bring the needle thread through the fabric to the bottom
to form a stitch.

Figure 1. Single Needle Lock Stitch Machine

The needle thread in a spool is threaded through the thread guides, tensioning mechanism and into
the sewing needle eye. The bottom thread (bobbin thread) is wound onto the small package called
a bobbin before sewing and is secured inside a bobbin case. For stitch formation, the needle brings
the needle thread loop to the bottom of the fabric where a small hook on the bobbin case catches
it. As the bobbin hook rotates, it takes the needle thread around the bobbin to produce a stitch and
then the take-up lever takes back the extra loop of top thread to tighten the stitch. As the needle is
out of action of fabric, the feed dog comes above the throat plate, and pushes or moves the fabric
up against the presser foot for next stitch.

Working Principle
• The single needle lockstitch sewing machine is getting drive from the electric motor which is
mounted in sewing table. The main parts of the sewing machine are; flywheel, eccentric or
cam, needle bar, bobbin holder, feed dog and presser foot.
• The flywheel is driven by motor belt and it drives the sewing machine main shaft. Another end
of the main shaft is connected with eccentric or cam, which drives the needle bar’s up and
down movements for every revolution and take-up lever.
• Every rotation of the main shaft moves the needle a full cycle of up and down movements.

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Drive Mechanism of Hook, Feed Dogs and Lubrication System in Lock Stitch Machine.

Muqaddas Javaid

• The main shaft is further connected with a bevel gear and two connecting rods to transfer the
motion to the bottom of the machine. The bevel gear rod is used to transfer the motion to the
bottom center shaft, which is the main shaft for connecting the bobbin shuttle mechanism. This
connection helps the bobbin shuttle to move. The bevel gear mechanism helps to transfer the
motion without any energy loss.
• Every one revolution of the main shaft is connected to every revolution of shuttle hook to make
one-unit stitch.
• The other two connecting rods from main shaft are used to connect with the feed dog, which
has a synchronized movement with needle and bobbin shuttle mechanism.
• The feed dog has to perform four stop motions for every cycle of stitch formation. The feed
dog gets drive from main shaft in two ways, one is rotation – to deliver the unit length of the
fabric for sewing and another motion is the up and down movements above the throat plate of
the sewing machine.
• One rod helps the feed dog to move up and down for the selected distance based on the settings
kept. The other rod is used to move the feed dog to and fro as required.
• Whenever, the stitch regulator is adjusted, the feed dog delivers the required amount of fabric
needed by adjusting the feed bracket. The revolution per minute of the feed dog is same as the
needle stroke.

2. Equipment and Materials

The materials required was;
Sewing machine (single needle lock stitch)

3. Method
• The casing from the machine was removed by the instructor.
• The different parts of the machine were observed and identified.
• The mechanisms of thread take up lever, feed dogs, and needle bar were observed.
• Motion transfer, link and joints are observed.
• The mechanism diagram was drawn.

4. Results/ Conclusion
Links, Joints and Mechanism of Motion Transfer Links and Joints
A joint is a connection between two or more links (at their nodes), which allows some motion, or
potential motion, between the connected links. All the shafts in the sewing machine are acting as
links. And the links are connected through joints.

Links: Main shaft, bed shafts, cams, thread take up lever, needle bar, connecting rods Joints:
Screws

Needle bar Motion Transfer Mechanisms

The main drive is coming from motor to the fly wheel. Fly wheel is connected to main shaft and
has rotational motion. Main shaft is connected to the cam. With help of cam rotational motion is
converted translational motion of needle as it moves up and down.
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Drive Mechanism of Hook, Feed Dogs and Lubrication System in Lock Stitch Machine.

Muqaddas Javaid

Thread Take-up Lever Motion Transfer Mechanisms

The fly wheel is getting drive from the motor. Fly wheel is connected to main shaft and has
rotational motion. Main shaft is connected to the cam and with help of cam rotational motion is
converted to translational motion of thread take-up lever as it moves up and down.

Hook Motion Transfer Mechanism

The main drive is coming from motor to the fly wheel. Fly wheel is connected to main shaft and
has horizontal rotational motion. A vertical shaft is connected to the main shaft through bevel gears
and has vertical rotational motion. The vertical shaft is connected to a horizontal shaft through
bevel gears. This horizontal shaft is connected to the hook and give horizontal rotational drive to
it.

Feed dog Motion Transfer Mechanism

The fly wheel is getting drive from the motor. Fly wheel is connected to main shaft and has
rotational motion. The main shaft is connected to the two vertical shafts and has translational
motion. Each vertical shaft is connected to the bed horizontal shaft through cam and the motion of
horizonal bed shafts is converted to rotational motion with help of cams. Two types of motion are
given to the feed dogs.
One shaft is giving up and down movement to the feed dogs. And second shaft is giving to and fro
motion to the feed dogs.

Lubrication System Motion Transfer

The main drive is coming from motor to the fly wheel. Fly wheel is connected to main shaft and
has rotational motion. A vertical shaft is connected to the main shaft through bevel gears and has
vertical rotational motion. Th bevel gear is applying force due to which suction is produced in the
lubrication system pipe. In this way lubrication system works.

Images of Lock Stitch Sewing Machine

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Drive Mechanism of Hook, Feed Dogs and Lubrication System in Lock Stitch Machine.

Muqaddas Javaid

Figure 2. Bobbin Holder/ Hook

Figure 3. Shafts (Main & other) and Bevel Gear

Figure 4. Bed Shafts (Hook & Feed Dogs)

Figure 5. Needle Bar & Thread Take-up Lever

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Drive Mechanism of Hook, Feed Dogs and Lubrication System in Lock Stitch Machine.

Muqaddas Javaid

Figure 6. Oil Pump

Instructions from manual

• Lubrication
Fill oil pan up-to high mark. When the oil level lowers below low mark, refill the oil pan with
specified oil. When the machine is operated after lubrication splashing oil can be seen through oil
sight window if the lubrication is adequate. And amount of splashing oil is unrelated to the amount
of lubricating oil.

Caution
When the machine is first operated after the set up. The machine should be run at 3000 rpm for
almost 10 minutes for the machine to break in.

Adjusting the amount of oil supplied to the face plate parts

The amount of oil supplied to take-up lever and needle bar crank by turning the adjust pin.
When the marker dot is set near to the needle bar crank by turning the adjust pin a minimum amount
of oil is reached. When the marker dot is set opposite from the needle bar crank by turning the
adjust pin a minimum amount of oil is reached the maximum oil is transferred.

• Thread Tension Needle Thread Tension

When the needle thread tensioner is turned clockwise, the tension of thread will be increased and
when it is turned counter clockwise the thread tension is decreased.

Bobbin Thread Tension

When the screw on bobbin case is tuned clockwise the thread tension will be increased and when
turned counter clockwise the thread tension is decreased.

• Thread Take-up Spring Changing the Stroke

Loose the set screw. When the tension knob is turned clock wise the stroke of the thread take-up
lever is increased and vice versa.

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Drive Mechanism of Hook, Feed Dogs and Lubrication System in Lock Stitch Machine.

Muqaddas Javaid

Changing the Pressure

Loose the set screw and remove the tensioner knob. When the knob is turned clock wise the
pressure is increased and vice versa.

• Adjusting the Thread Take-up Stroke

Move thread guide to the left to increase the length of the thread pulled out by thread take-up lever.
This is done for sewing heavy materials. And to decrease the length of the thread pulled out by
thread take-up lever, move the thread guide to the right. This is done for lightweight materials.
Normally the thread guide is positioned in a way that marker line is aligned with the center of the
screw.

• Needle to Hook Relationship Adjust the Timing Between the Needle and the Hook
Bring the needle bar to the lowest position of its stroke by turning the fly wheel and loose the set
screw.

Adjusting Needle Bar Height

Align marker line on needle bar with bottom end of needle bar lower bushing then tight the screw.

Adjusting Position of the Hook

Loose the three-hook set screw. Turn the hand wheel and align the marker line on ascending needle
bar with the bottom end of needle bar lower bushing. Then align hook blade point with the center
of the needle. Provide a clearance of 0.04 mm to 0.1 mm between the needle and the hook and then
tight the set screws in hook.

Caution
If the clearance between the blade point of the hook and the needle is smaller than the specified
value, the blade point of the hook will be damaged. Larger clearance will result in skip stitching.

• Adjust the Feed Timing

Loose the screws and in feed eccentric cam, move the feed eccentric cam in the direction of arrow
or opposite direction of arrow and then tight the screws firmly. Adjust so that the top surface of
feed dogs and top end of needle eyelet are flush with the top surface of throat plate when the feed
dogs descend below the throat plate.
To advance the feed timings in order to prevent uneven material feed, move the feed eccentric cam
in the direction of arrow. And to delay the feed timing in order to increase stitch tightness move
the feed eccentric cam in the opposite direction of arrow.

• Cautions o To avoid possible personal injury due to the abrupt start of the machine, turn off
the power to the machine and check to be sure that the motor has totally stopped rotating in
prior.
o If the clamping pressure is insufficient, the motion of forked portion becomes heavy.
o Whenever the feed dog tilt is adjusted, the feed dog height will be changed. So, it is
necessary to check the height after tilt adjustment.
o Be careful to move the feed eccentric cam too far or else needle breakage may result.

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Drive Mechanism of Hook, Feed Dogs and Lubrication System in Lock Stitch Machine.

Muqaddas Javaid

It is concluded that stitch is formed by the movement of both thread take-up lever and needle bar.
The single needle lockstitch sewing machine is getting drive from the electric motor. The flywheel
is driven by motor belt and it drives the sewing machine main shaft. Another end of the main shaft
is connected with eccentric or cam, which drives the needle bar’s up and down movements for
every revolution and take-up lever.

5. References
https://clothingindustry.blogspot.com/2018/02/single-needle-lockstitch-machine.html
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1198876/Juki-Ddl-8300n.html?page=23#manual