CN103469496B - Multiple horizontal needle quilting machine and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-needle quilting machine (10) and method in which provided bridges (21,22) are provided having selectively operable stitching element pairs (90). Either the material or the bridges or both may be moved relative to the frame. Control schemes are provided to quilt continuous patterns, discrete patterns, linked multiple patterns, 360 degree patterns, closely spaced patterns. A plurality of small presser feet (158) are provided, each for one or more needles (132), with a wide spacing for material passage between the needle and looper plates. Combinations of intermittent and continuous feed and feed transition are employed during tack sequence sewing and other direction reversals in sewing, as well as double needle guards and thread deflection.

Description

Multiple horizontal needle quilting machine and quilting method

The divisional application that the application is the applying date is on March 11st, 2005, application number is 200580013928.2, denomination of invention is the application for a patent for invention of " multiple horizontal needle quilting machine and quilting method ".

The application is the continuation application of the U.S. Patent application No.11/040499 that on January 21st, 2005 submits to, above-mentioned application is the part continuation application of U.S. Patent application No.10/804833 on March 19th, 2004, above-mentioned application is the part continuation application of the PCT application PCT/US03/07083 that on March 6th, 2003 submits to, this application claims the preference of following U.S. Provisional Patent Application, they combine in this application all by reference: the No.60/362179 that on March 6th, 2002 submits to, the No.60/446417 that on February 11st, 2003 submits to, the No.60/446430 that on February 11st, 2003 submits to, the No.60/446419 that on February 11st, 2003 submits to, the No.60/44626 that on February 11st, 2003 submits to, the No.06/446529 that on February 11st, 2003 submits to, and the No.60/447773 that on February 11st, 2003 submits to, this application claims the preference of all these patent applications, all these patent applications combine in this application by reference at this.

Technical field

The present invention relates to quilting, particularly relate to and carry out quilting with high speed multi-needle quilter.More specifically, the present invention relates to spininess chain stitch quilter, such as, in other quiited products that manufacture External cover of bed-mattress and broad-width multi-layer cloth are made.

Background technology

Quilting is a kind of sewing technology, textiles or other tissue layer can be combined thus, for the production of having ornamental and functional compressible material block (panel) simultaneously.Stitching (stitch) pattern is used for sewn designs decoration material block, and each layer cloth making quilt combines by stitching itself simultaneously.Manufacture External cover of bed-mattress and comprise the extensive quiltmg piocess of use.Large-scale quiltmg piocess uses high speed multi-needle quilter usually, and the band material along multilayer cloth forms a series of External cover of bed-mattress.These extensive quiltmg piocess use chain-type stitch sewing head usually, form the elasticity stitching chain can supplied by large bobbin thread.Some such machines can run under up to 1500 pins per minute or higher speed, each driving a line or multirow pin, thus on the band material of width 90 inches or wider, stitch out pattern simultaneously.In the quiltmg piocess of articles for use industry in bed, persevering target is the operating efficiency of higher speed, larger graphics flexibility and Geng Gao.

Conventional multi-needle quilting machines has three-axis moving.X-axis is the longitudinal direction of band material through its motion during quilting station of cloth.Usually, this motion is two-way, and wherein the band material of cloth forward or counter motion, can make stitching be achieved in any direction, such as, need quilting 360 degree of patterns on cloth.Cloth integrator usually with this two-way machine, thus oppositely partly can be with material, and need not change the direction of whole length band material along quilting line.Band material moves to opposite side and also forms Y-axis motion from side, also for the formation of quilting pattern.Usually, quilting mechanism keeps static in quiltmg piocess, and controls cloth motion simulation, thus affects the quilting of various pattern.

X-axis and Y-axis are parallel to cloth quilting plane, and this is horizontal plane normally.3rd axle, Z axis, perpendicular to this cloth plane, formed produce QUILTED STITCH the method for movement moving back and forth pin to.The eedle of the upper sewing head usually above cloth plane, looper (looper) co-operating with cloth opposition side or downside, moves back and forth perpendicular to Z axis, normally in X-direction.Comprise the suturing mechanism top of eedle driver, carried by a large static bridge portion in conventional multi-needle quilting machines.The suturing mechanism bottom comprising looper drive is contained on cast iron platform.Such as, in each corresponding upper and lower structure, three row suture element can be installed.All pins are all connected to an independent main shaft and are driven by it.

Traditional multi-needle quilter uses single large pressure foot, by the band material Partial shrinkage of all clothes of suture zone on band material width.In a kind of typical machine used in mattress industry, this pressure foot can in each stitching process, the cloth surface of size more than 800 square inches is overstock to be reduced to thickness little of 1/4 inch.When extracting pin out from cloth after being formed at each stitching, cloth presser still must be reduced to about 7/16 inch by pressure foot.Because cloth must form pattern relative to suture element motion while being still in below pressure foot, therefore pattern is parallel to the dilatory force distortion of cloth plane effect on cloth usually.These conventional machines are large and weigh, and occupy the suitable large area on mattress makers ground.

In addition, multi-needle quilter lacks flexibility.Most of machine provides the locking pin of straight line or an array, and these operate simultaneously, sews up identical pattern and the stitching of same train.Changing pattern needs physics to arrange, rearrange or dismantle pin, and the pin threading to change arrangement.This reconfiguring is wasted between working hour, and machine stopping time is long.

Conventional chain-type stitch machine for quilting uses and rotates shaft-driven crank mechanism, makes one or more pin through thick multilayer cloth.The active force of drive motors, and the inertia of connecting rod, force eedle to pass cloth.The eedle of generation like this moves normally sine curve, that is, be that the curve represented by equation y=sin (x) is formed.In order to this application, the motion not meeting the party's journey is called non-sinusoidal cuve.Therefore, the motion of eedle makes eedle point from high position, such as, above cloth 1 inch, is passed down through the cloth being compressed to roughly 1/4 inch, arrives the position of below cloth about 1/2 inch, in its reversing of motion in addition.Eedle carries upper thread through cloth, and forms ring in the looper side of cloth, is picked up by looper thread.In the looper side of cloth, looper or bearded needle move back and forth by sine curve rotary motion around an axle.Looper is relative to the position of eedle, and the upper thread ring that its tip ingress engine pin is formed, passes upper thread ring in the looper side of cloth by looper wire loop.The motion of looper and the synchronized movement of pin, thus when eedle is in the downward process of its cycle period, upper thread ring is picked up by looper thread.Then, eedle rises and extracts out from cloth, leaves upper thread and walks around looper and looper wire loop.

When extracting pin from cloth out, cloth moves relative to suture element, and eedle is dropped through cloth again, and dropping distance equals a stitch length apart from previous pin crossing point, thus forms a stitching.When again through cloth, the ring that next upper thread ring is formed through looper thread by eedle, the latter is that looper passes previous upper thread ring and previously stung out.In this moment of cycle period, looper itself is extracted out from upper thread ring, is in its sine curve and moves back and forth, and leaves looper thread collar coiling mark auxiliary member, stop (retainer) is called, for eedle decline next time keeps looper wire loop open in a lot of machine.In the process, alternately formed along with looper wire loop and pass upper thread ring, upper thread ring is formed and passes looper wire loop, thus forms the chain link replaced along cloth looper side eedle and looper thread, and it is visible for only leaving in cloth eedle side a series of stitchings formed by upper thread.

In chain-type stitch forming machine, through experience for many years, can regulate the conventional sinusoidal motion of eedle and looper, keep reliable line to get ring, thus can not stitching be missed in sewing process.In express stitcher, the motion of eedle makes needle point be in below cloth plane, or below the needle plate of support cloth, continues about 1/3 eedle cycle period, or 120 of eedle cycle period degree.

In the part eedle cycle period of eedle through cloth, preferably not relative to the cloth motion simulation of eedle.The inertia of machine element and cloth cause cloth relative to eedle some stitchings between motion occur, now eedle is through cloth.This causes eedle deflection, will cause and miss stitching because looper misses upper thread ring or eedle misses looper wire loop, or due to cloth stretch and distortion cause loss of pattern to define.In addition, restriction eedle defines the speed of eedle through fabric through the time of fabric, this determines the ability of eedle through thick multilayer cloth.Further, increasing eedle speed needs to increase eedle travel distance, thus causes upper thread too much below fabric loose, and this must pull-up in stitching forming process, makes stitching become tight.Therefore, conventional eedle motion has limitation, particularly to high speed quilting to chain-type stitch sewing.

Further, the curved needle head in known multi-needle quilter produces looper motion by driving cam follower on cam surface, and this needs to lubricate and forms the wear-out part needing to safeguard.

In addition, the chain-type stitch formation part that multi-needle quilter uses is usually each to be comprised from facing side through the eedle that cloth moves back and forth, and looper or bearded needle, the top line ring that looper is formed in side, the cloth back side by puncture needle, the route along side, the cloth back side vibrates.Chain type sewing comprises, and by the eedle of side, the cloth back side and the interaction of looper, forms alternately interlocking that is a series of or chain type, form a uniserial top line stitching simultaneously in cloth top side in side, the cloth back side between top line and bottom line.Reliably form eedle and looper path that serial stitching needs accurately to set up each suture element group, thus eedle and looper all can not the rings of the contrary line of miss pick.Miss this ring and produce wrong stitching, this is the defect of sewing pattern.

Using the initial of quilting machines and periodically, the relative position of eedle and looper must be regulated.Usually, this comprises the lateral adjustments of looper in the position of its vibration axis.In multi-needle quilter, this adjustment is the route next-door neighbour eedle side making looper, directly over the eedle eye passing top line.In this position, upper thread ring is formed on eedle side, thus looper point is inserted bottom line ring.The formation of these rings and engagement chain-type stitching is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5154130 in detail, and this patent combines in this application by reference.

Looper regulates normally manual processes.Adjustment is undertaken by technical staff when machine stops, wherein use the hand tools of some types to unclamp, reorientate, School Affairs tightens looper, thus when eedle is when being undertaken near route nadir by the eedle of quilting fabric bottom side, looper is near eedle or lean against gently on eedle, regulates and takies certain operating personnel's time.In multi-needle quilter, the quantity of pin can be a lot, and regulating time is long.Usually, quilting line will be only eedle and regulate stopping 1 hour or longer time nearly.

Further, be manual process because looper regulates, be difficult to touch regulating element, be difficult to determine looper and eedle relative position, and be difficult to regulating element be remained on its position, simultaneously using the fixing of assembly or locking member as adjustment error source.

Multi-needle quilter chain-type stitch forming element used is each eedle comprised from facing side back and forth through cloth usually, and looper or bearded needle, and the top line ring that looper is formed in side, the cloth back side by puncture needle, the route along side, the cloth back side vibrates.Chain type sewing comprises, and by the eedle of side, the cloth back side and the interaction of looper, forms alternately interlocking that is a series of or chain type, form a uniserial top line stitching simultaneously in cloth top side in side, the cloth back side between top line and bottom line.Top line or upper thread pass fabric from fabric top side or facing side, form ring in fabric bottom side or side, the back side.Bottom line is only remain in envers side, forms the chain that replaces interlocked rings herein with top line ring.

High speed multi-needle quilter, such as those External cover of bed-mattress manufacture in use those, usually according to the pattern part sewing pattern of discontinuous series.In this sewing, form tack stitches (tack stitch), and at the end of quilting pattern part, at least cut off top line.Then, fabric proceeds to new pattern part beginning relative to eedle, forms more tack stitches herein, and restarts sewing.A kind of high speed multi-needle quilter is like this see U.S. Patent No. 5154130 recited above.This patent describes a kind of method of cutting line in this multi-needle quilter especially in detail.Therefore, in multi-needle quilter, need more reliable and more effective wire management.

These characteristics of high speed multi-needle quilter and requirement, and above-mentioned deficiency, prevent the carrying out of traditional quilting machines more speed and larger graphics flexibility.Therefore, need to overcome these obstacles and increase quiltmg piocess operating efficiency, particularly for the large volume quilting that bedding industry is used.

Summary of the invention

Main purpose of the present invention improves the efficiency and economy that quilting manufactures, particularly at a high speed, extensive quilting application, such as find in articles for use industry in bed those.Specific purposes of the present invention comprise, and compared with prior art, improve quilting speed, reduce quilting apparatus size and cost, and improve the flexibility of quilting pattern.

Another object of the present invention is to provide eedle arrangement flexibility in multi-needle quilter.Another object of the present invention changes eedle when reducing multi-needle quilter operation to arrange required machine stopping time and operator's time.

A special object of the present invention is to provide a kind of quilting head, it can be adapted to the multi-needle quilter of various structures, and a lot of machines in different size, type and direction can be used for, such as, single needle or multi-needle machine, there is the machine of a line or multirow eedle, the machine that eedle spacing is different, and eedle vertically, the machine in level or other direction.Another specific purposes of the present invention are to provide the quilting head of different operating in same machines, such as, in different directions sewing, and sewing different pattern or sew at various speeds.

Another object of the present invention improves the reliability of quilting machines suture element adjustment.The present invention one more specifically object is to provide quilting machines operator and can regulates with the looper that initiatively carry out fast.The chain-type stitch sewing head looper that another object of the present invention is to provide quilting machines is in or is not in the reliable instruction suitably regulated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the cut-out of the line of multi-needle quilter.A more special object of the present invention be to provide have can operate separately or independently moving, the line of the multi-needle quilter of removable or reconfigurable head cuts off.Another object of the present invention is to provide the monitoring more reliably of line tension in quilting machines and/or controls, particularly multi-needle quilter.The present invention one more specifically object is automatic maintenance and the adjustment of line tension in this quilting machines.

According to principle of the present invention, provide a kind of multi-needle quilter, wherein eedle to move back and forth the vertical direction used from prior art multi-needle quilter different.Quilting machines of the present invention provides 7 axles different from conventional multi-needle quilting machines to move.In illustrated embodiment of the present invention, matrix is supported on vertical plane, and eedle moves back and forth in the horizontal direction.Although matrix is supported on vertical plane and eedle is preferred in the horizontal direction and has important advantage, but other non-horizontal matrix direction (namely, relative to in-plane, there is obvious vertical component and be here called substantially vertical) and non-vertical eedle direction (namely, relative to eedle direction, there is obvious horizontal component and be called basic horizontal here) be compatible with a lot of feature of the present invention, and features more of the present invention can provide advantage at any matrix or eedle direction.

According to the preferred embodiment of quilting machines of some principle have and can separate or the independent two or more bridge portions controlled.Each bridge portion can have a line Sewing needles.Eedle can drive together, each separately or drive separately, or to drive with different combinations.

According to illustrated embodiment of the present invention, provide 7 axle motions.These comprise unidirectional X0 axle, for only carrying cloth along a downstream direction.In another embodiment, provide two-way X-axis.The motion of this X-axis is rotated by conveying roller and is formed, and makes the cloth of band material form be advanced past quilting station.

Further, in accordance with the embodiments illustrated, carrying eedle and looper sewing mechanism can have two axle movement in self-movement bridge portion, be X1, Y1 and X2, Y2 respectively.Y-axis motion makes the motion in corresponding bridge portion from side to opposite side, is parallel to band and expects and cross it to extend and the direction of motion; And X-axis motion makes the upper and lower motion in bridge portion, be parallel to band and expect and be parallel to its direction of motion.In another embodiment, provide the bidirectional-movement of band material, the unnecessary X-axis in bridge portion that provides is moved.X, Y motion in bridge portion is formed by separately controlled X and the Y driver in each bridge portion.Preferably, each direction of Y-axis motion every side in center in bridge portion has the scope of 18 inches, 9 inches, and no matter is that band is expected or bridge portion moves in X direction, and bridge portion has 36 inches of scopes relative to the X-axis motion of band material.

According to some principle of the present invention, quilting machines has one or more quilting head, can at horizontal or vertical directional control eedle.According to other aspects of the invention, sewing head in a kind of machine is provided, can operate separately or other this sewing head combination operation one or more, in identical or different direction, or identical or different speed or stitching speed (stitch rate), be synchronized with the movement or independently moving by same movement, identical or different pattern of sewing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the quilting machines of some principle of the present invention, the sewing head that can be bundled together in static platform or motion bridge portion is provided, and can arrange with other sewing head one or more, thus be bound together into separately with independent group on another platform or bridge portion, with other head group closing operation or separately and separate and control.

In illustrated embodiment of the present invention, bridge portion separates and support and motion separately, each bridge portion supports several sewing head separating and operate separately.Each bridge portion can separate and control separately and motion, can move upward relative to quilting fabric flat transverse with vertical.Bridge portion is contained on common support leg, and supporting leg, being separated by near quilting fabric route, vertically extends, and bridge portion is guided by the common linear bearing sliding system be combined in each supporting leg.Each leg also carries multiple counterweight, one, each bridge portion.Different independent controllable servo motors drives each bridge portion along vertical and level-horizontal direction.The motor in each bridge portion produces the vertical of bridge portion and horizontal movement.

In addition, according to some aspect of the present invention, each bridge portion has independent controlled driver, and suture element, eedle and looper are moved back and forth.What driver was the most practical is rotates input, as from rotating shaft, operating element move back and forth connecting rod.The independent operation of the driver in each bridge portion makes sewing head or sewing head group carry out independent sewing operation, or one or more free time and other head one or more sewing.Every head has the element that response controller controls, and preferably response is sent to the data signal of all heads on common bus, and each controlled member has the decoding circuit selected for the bus signals of respective element.

In illustrated embodiment of the present invention, each sewing head, comprises each needle head and each curved needle head, public rotating driver is connected to by independent controlled clutch, clutch is handled by machine controller, head is opened or closed, thus provides graphics flexibility.In addition, head can be arranged to suture element pair, and each needle head has corresponding similar module curved needle head.Although every enemy can open and close separately, they open and close together usually, or simultaneously or in the out of phase of its cycle period, this may wish most.In addition, only needle head can have selection drive link, and curved needle head can be connected to the output of eedle drive motors, thus runs continuously.This connecting rod can be directly and permanent, or can be adjustable, can switch or can relative to eedle driver phase modulation position, such as, by providing different driving mechanism in looper drivetrain.When using Direct driver, curved needle head driver is connected to input drive shaft by gear-box instead of clutch.Each curved needle head also has alignment disk on curved needle head driving shaft, when curved needle head fills in the machine, accurately can arrange the phase place of each curved needle head relative to other curved needle head or eedle driver.In addition, each curved needle head shell has two sizes adjustments in perpendicular to the plane of eedle, is convenient to be alignd with corresponding needle head by curved needle head when installing curved needle head.

In addition, according to other principle of the present invention, multiple presser feet is provided, eedle presser feet of each needle head.This can reduce the cloth total amount needing compression, reduces the power needed for quilting machines operation and active force.Each eedle, and corresponding looper, can move separately and control, or by than the aggregate motion of all that combined few in bridge portion and control, and can selective actuation and stopping.The startup of eedle and looper and stopping are to provide, and are preferably realized by computer-controlled actuator, such as electronics, pneumatic, magnetic or other type actuator or motor or mobile connecting rod.

To suture element and the less gross pressure of pressure foot and the requirement of active force, allow quilting machines to have the structure of lighter in weight, and articles for use factory occupy the comparatively small machine compared with small size in bed.In addition, independent presser feet presser feet of avoiding over is used to arrange a lot of pattern deformations caused.Wider by the spacing between the needle plate of fabric looper side and the rising presser feet of fabric eedle side, these advantages can be strengthened.This spacing can reach several inches.

According to other principle of the present invention, the eedle that chain-type stitch forms machine can be driven into the motion different from conventional sinusoidal motion.In illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a chain-type stitch is driven to form the eedle of head, or multiple chain-type stitch forms every root eedle of head, thus compared with the situation of conventional sine mechanism needle movement, in the major part of its cycle period in lifting position, and at the smaller portions puncture cloth of its cycle period.And according to illustrated embodiment of the present invention, drive eedle, make it move downward through cloth, move downward the movement velocity that velocity ratio extracts out from cloth fast.In another embodiment of the present invention, sinusoidal motion is provided.

In the embodiment that asymmetric, non-sine eedle move, the degree of depth that eedle is dropped through cloth is substantially equal to the degree of depth that sinusoidal motion provides, but compared with conventional sinusoidal motion, move very fast and arrive its stroke minimum point in the smaller portions of its cycle period.But from its stroke minimum point increase ratio, it declines more slow eedle, and the time existed below cloth is at least the same with conventional sinusoidal motion long or longer, thus looper has time enough to pick up upper thread ring.As a result, eedle forms the cloth puncture force larger than prior art, eedle deflection and cloth deformation ratio prior art little, this is shorter through time of cloth mainly due to eedle.

An embodiment according to the quilting machines of some principle of the present invention provides a kind of mechanical linkage, and wherein hinged lever or driver make eedle motion depart from sine curve.A kind of cam also can provide the curve different from sine curve with cam follower structure.Similar connecting rod also can drive presser feet.

Machinery of the present invention and electric embodiment may be used for generating eedle according to the present invention and move.In one embodiment of the invention, the suture element that each eedle is right, particularly eedle, by driven by servomotor, preferred linear servo-motor, and controller needle movement, make it accurately follow preferred curve.In an embodiment of non-sinusoidal motion, curve makes eedle point exceed the routine 0 degree position, top of its cycle period slightly upward and hold it on ordinary curve, decline than regular situation more quick, until arrive the extreme lower position of eedle point, or 180 degree of positions that eedle drives.Then, or along the rotine positioning of eedle, or more lower slightly than eedle rotine positioning, and eedle rises to its 0 degree of position.

U.S. Patent application No.09/686041 discloses a kind of being suitable for and implements quilting machines that this moves, that have SERVO CONTROL quilting head, quotes here as a reference.Use this equipment, control quilting head servomotor by the controller of sequencing, thus perform sewing movement.For the present invention, director demonization handles sewing head, drives eedle by motion described here.In another embodiment, the needle head of quilting machines has mechanical linkage, and design becomes eedle provides non-sinusoidal motion, as mentioned above.The mechanism performing this motion can be formed by the connecting rod of asymmetric weight and element, the asymmetric force that its Mass Distribution makes asymmetrical movement produce departs from, and makes to be different from the disresonance of conventional harmonic SIN function, the irregular vibration effect accelerating to produce that non-sinusoidal motion causes is minimum.In certain embodiments, sewing head itself has shell mechanism, when being contained in bridge portion, for reinforcing, strengthening and sclerosis bridge portion, makes vibration minimum right overhead.

In addition, according to principle of the present invention, curved needle head converts input rotary motion to two and independently moves, and does not need the cam follower that slides on cam.Therefore, curved needle head is adjustment of balance mechanism, have the element of minimum number and do not need lubrication, thus maintenance needs is minimum.Similarly, the structure of needle head does not need lubrication yet.

According to other principle of the present invention, providing looper adjustment feature, for regulating the looper-eedle relation in chain stitch quilter, particularly using on multineedle sewing machine.Adjustment feature comprise there is regulating element easily touch looper holder, make looper point towards eedle motion and away from eedle thus.In one embodiment, single two-way adjustable bolt or other element make looper point move in either direction.Independent locking element also preferably provides.In order to regulate looper, controller makes suture element proceed to ten ring moment adjusting positions, and now they stop and entering safety lock pattern, for regulating looper.Then, at the end of adjustment, controller reversion suture element, thus stitching is not formed in cloth.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, provide eedle-looper proximity transducer, this sensor is connected to indicator, and its signal is the position of looper relative to eedle of suture element group, is shown to the operator regulating looper.Preferably, the luminescence of coloud coding lamp indicates looper relative to the position of eedle, and wherein a kind of instruction is when arranging correct, and one or more instruction is when arranging incorrect.Incorrect instruction can comprise looper disembark pin too closely or too far away time a kind of coloud coding lamp luminous, and another instruction is when to be looper too far away in other direction.

In illustrated embodiment of the present invention, looper holder has palp governor motion, and operator regulates looper relative to the lateral attitude of eedle with an independent adjustment action in either direction thus.This mechanism comprises looper holder, and wherein looper element is contained on pivot, sharp at lateral bearing looper relative to the eedle of sewing mechanism.Regulating curved tip position to be by rotating independent adjusting bolt in a direction or another direction, making looper point relative to eedle side-to-side movement.Looper spring in its retainer is biased in adjusting bolt end, thus when bolt rotates in a direction, bolt active force yielded to by spring; When bolt rotates at other direction, spring is towards screws looper.Looper is clamped in it and regulates rear position by adjusting bolt and spring, and can tighten the lock bolt be contained on retainer, looper is clamped in it and regulates rear position.

According to the other feature of the present invention, provide and detect the sensor of looper relative to eedle position, this can be the circuit form of the Contact detecting looper and eedle.Can provide indicator lamp, such as, when eedle contact looper, notice carries out the operator of looper adjustment, thus can accurately consider when regulating to contact formation/braking point.Sensor also can be some other looper and/or eedle position monitoring device.

According to principle of the present invention, multi-needle quilter has single wire cutter in each eedle position.Wire cutter is preferably located on each curved needle head of spininess chain sitch sewing machine, and each device can operate separately.In a preferred embodiment, each curved needle head of multi-needle quilter has wire cutter, and wire cutter has movable blade or set of blades, cuts off at least top line under the order of machine controller.Device also preferably cuts off bottom line, and when performing this process, preferably clamps bottom line or looper thread, until sewing proceeds, normally by a reposition of quilted fabric.Quilting machines have can individually actuating or separately controllable sewing head time, can the head of single installation or removal time, the curved needle portions of each this head has separately controllable wire cutter.

In order to reduce the possibility missing stitching, can use initiatively or the guiding of passive looper thread tail, handle below needle plate when starting or otherwise guide looper thread tail.In certain embodiments, provide looper thread deflector to guide looper thread, thus eedle can not miss looper thread triangle.In addition, when particularly pattern starts after cut-out looper thread, providing one to start to be separated control methods, can feature be selected as avoiding the one missing stitching when starting.Starting separation characteristic is one application eedle being separated with looper drive and distinguishing motion characteristics.Use and start partition method, the initial motion of eedle and looper drive carries out respectively when starting, thus stitching is picked up can predict.This ensured that looper was picked up top line and realized by pick up bottom line ring triangle at eedle before, and this is a kind of a kind of method beginning partition method being provided to alternative approach, and such as looper thread is handled.This is guided by a pair eedle of each looper drive position to have assisted, and this guides one on looper to eedle, one on curved needle shell, the two is all adjustable.Two-shipper pin guides the eedle deflection limited perpendicular to looper plane of movement, increases the reliability that stitching is formed thus.

Another kind of scheme is that cut-outs top line is scraped material top, comprises line scraper mechanism and the cycle is struck off in the motion of bridge portion, before a new pattern part starts, after it is cut-off, removes cut-out top line from cloth.In addition, providing line the pleating cycle, when starting sewing pattern curve, cut-out top line tail being placed in the cloth back side.The pleating cycle also reduces the possibility missing stitching when starting.To strike off and the pleating cycle can be combined into the part of noose between pattern, cutting line, hand pick (jump), noose and beginning sequence.

Also provide a kind of tack-stitch sequence (tack-stitch sequence) lockstitch, make eedle deflection minimum and the further possibility reducing to miss stitching, this is particularly useful when starting noose sequence.This sequence is included in pattern direction sewing certain distance, such as about one inch, then turns back to home position in the forward position same straight line starting normal pattern sewing along sewing thread.In this sequence, use long stitching to combine and be interrupted conveying suture element relative to cloth.This is interrupted bull ladle and draws together the another kind of cycle period of eedle through cloth, and not relative to eedle conveying cloth, then suspends eedle cycle period, and from cloth, extract eedle out, cloth moves relative to eedle simultaneously.Cloth or eedle stop not being indispensable, but can at other eedle or cloth motion simulation of slowing down more reposefully that move.No matter when to sew reverse directions in pattern, particularly when the stitching oppositely causing the sewing of use previously to be formed in pattern returns, this stitching sequence can be used.This is particularly useful in beginning noose process, and or can cannot be applied to end noose.In sewing process, preferably use continus convergence, instead of be interrupted conveying.Carry stitching row transition to continus convergence stitching for when starting sewing pattern in the position of previous cutting line from interruption, use a series of interruption-continuous transition stitching.

Further, according to the principle of the invention, every root line of quilting machines or other Sewing machines has line tension monitoring device.The line tension control device of this line of every root automatically can change it and regulate, thus regulates the tension force of line in response to monitoring result.Preferably, closed loop feedback is provided to control to every root line of machine.During the operation of each device independent measurement line tension force and correct tension force by root line.

The bridge portion drive system provided makes bridge portion independently moving and control, and accurate and rapidly travelling bridge portion, in abandoned situation, keep its direction.This feature, for performing novel bind, can start separately by the method for synchronization and stop bridge portion thus, thus alignment pattern and avoid wasting cloth between pattern.In addition, can by the eedle in different bridge portion at tack stitches of not sewing in the same time.

The independent controlled motion in different bridge portion and different motion degree provide and manufacture the ability of wide region pattern and the larger flexibility of selection and manufacture pattern.Unique quilting pattern can be manufactured, such as, the different pattern that those different eedles or eedle combination manufacture.Such as, different bridge portions can be moved at different pattern of sewing in the same time mutually.

Feature of the present invention provides a lot of new pattern and pattern stitching process.The result that some of them are at least parts to be obtained as the feature of equipment in accordance with the principles of the present invention.In detailed description below, some special applications will be provided with the discussion of equipment operating by reference to the accompanying drawings.

This mechanism has low inertia than traditional quilting machines.Quilting speed is increased 1/3, such as, reaches 2000 pins per minute.

To suture element and the less gross pressure of pressure foot and the requirement of active force, allow quilting machines to have the structure of lighter in weight, and articles for use factory occupy the comparatively small machine compared with small size in bed.In addition, independent presser feet presser feet of avoiding over is used to arrange a lot of pattern deformations caused.

In addition, do not need quilting fabric moved to opposite side from side and do not need to extrude cloth under large pressure foot, make machine have simple cloth route, thus make machine dimensions less, be more suitable for automatic distributing processing.

From the detailed description of the accompanying drawing of the preferred embodiment of the present invention below, these and other objects of the present invention and advantage are by easier to understand.In the accompanying drawings:

Accompanying drawing explanation

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of the quilting machines embodying the principle of the invention;

Figure 1A is the top view of the section that the quilting machines of Fig. 1 intercepts along the line 1A-1A of Fig. 1, represents lower bridge portion especially;

Figure 1B represents the needle head in Figure 1A bridge portion and the right amplification vertical view of curved needle head assembly;

Fig. 2 be represent that the needle head of Fig. 1 quilting machines and the right embodiment of curved needle head assembly see from eedle side etc. shaft side figure;

Fig. 2 A be represent the eedle of Fig. 2 and the right needle head assembly of curved needle head see from looper side etc. shaft side figure;

Fig. 2 B be according to an embodiment of the invention sewing head at the curve of the eedle position of whole stitching cycle period;

Fig. 2 C is the grade shaft side figure similar with Fig. 2, represents another kind of eedle and curved needle head pair;

Fig. 3 is the shaft side figure such as grade of Partial Resection, represents the needle head clutch of the needle head assembly of Fig. 2 and 2A;

Fig. 3 A is through the axial sectional view of Fig. 3 clutch;

Fig. 3 B is the sectional view of clutch along the line 3B-3B of Fig. 3 A;

Fig. 3 C is similar to Fig. 3 A, axial sectional view along the line 3C-3C of Fig. 3 D, represents another embodiment of the clutch of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 D is the sectional view of the line 3D-3D along Fig. 3 C, represents another embodiment of Fig. 3 C further;

Fig. 3 E is the perspective view representing the eedle driver engaged with machinery conversion mechanism, and this is that the one of Fig. 3 clutch is alternative;

Fig. 3 F-3I is the perspective view representing that the eedle driver engaged with Fig. 3 E machinery conversion mechanism operates;

Fig. 3 J is the perspective view representing the eedle driver be separated with Fig. 3 E machinery conversion mechanism;

Fig. 3 K-3M is the perspective view that the eedle driver be separated shown in Fig. 3 J, with machinery conversion mechanism does not operate;

Fig. 4 is the shaft side figure such as grade representing Fig. 2 curved needle head assembly embodiment;

Fig. 4 A be similar to Fig. 4, remove looper drive shell etc. shaft side figure;

Fig. 4 B is the sectional view of looper drive along the line 4B-4B of Fig. 4 of Fig. 4 A;

Fig. 4 C be a part of Fig. 4 looper drive assembly along the axial top view of looper, wherein looper is in adjusting position;

Fig. 4 D is the looper holder of Fig. 4 C looper drive assembly and the decomposition diagram of looper;

Fig. 4 E is the sectional view of looper along the line 4E-4E indicated direction of Fig. 4 C;

Fig. 4 F represents an embodiment of the looper position indicator of the looper adjustment mechanism of Fig. 4 C-4E;

Fig. 4 G represents an embodiment of eedle protection assembly;

Fig. 5 is the perspective view that the device represented in multiple wire cutter uses, and now multiple wire cutter is configured in each of corresponding multiple curved needle head of multi-needle quilter in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 5 A represents relative to shearing device, the relevant position of eedle and looper and eedle and curved needle head at the end of a series of stitching;

Fig. 5 B and 5C represents the step of line rupturing operation;

Fig. 5 D represents the line tension measuring circuit according to some aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 5 E-5J represents according to certain embodiments of the invention, comprises line tail and strikes off the line processing feature with the pleating cycle;

Fig. 5 K-5X represents and to move according to the suture element of the stitching sequence of certain embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 5 Y represents looper thread deflector according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is that the schematic of an embodiment of the kinematic system representing Fig. 1 machine waits shaft side figure;

Fig. 6 A is the schematic cross sectional views of the line 6A-6A along Fig. 6, represents the band material of sports cloth and the kinematic system in static bridge portion;

Fig. 6 B is the schematic cross sectional views being similar to Fig. 6 A, represents the kinematic system of the band material of motion bridge portion and static cloth;

Fig. 6 C is the enlarged perspective representing Fig. 1 machine left part in detail;

Fig. 6 D is the sectional view of the line 6D-6D along Fig. 6 C;

Fig. 6 E is the amplification view of a part of Fig. 6 C;

Fig. 6 F is the sectional view of the line 6F-6F along Fig. 6 E;

Fig. 6 G after machine more to be seen, the enlarged schematic sectional view of a part of Fig. 6 D;

Fig. 6 H be a part of bridge portion wait shaft side figure, represent another embodiment of the suture element driver with Fig. 2 C needle head and the right Fig. 1 machine of curved needle head assembly;

Fig. 6 I is the enlarged perspective in Fig. 6 H bridge portion, represents the needle head assembly side in bridge portion;

Fig. 7 A represents quilting standard continuous pattern;

Fig. 7 B represents quilting 360 degree of continuous pattern;

Fig. 7 C represents quilting discontinuous pattern;

Fig. 7 D represents the pattern that quilting difference connects;

Fig. 7 E represents the continuous 360 degree of patterns of quilting variable-length;

Fig. 7 F represents the continuous mirror image pattern of quilting simultaneously;

Fig. 7 G represents quilting different pattern simultaneously;

Fig. 8 is the shaft side figure such as grade being similar to Fig. 6, represents another kinematic system of Fig. 1 machine;

Fig. 8 A is the sectional view of the line 8A-8A along Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 B is the fragmentary, perspective view of a part of Fig. 8 bridge system;

Fig. 8 C represents the tape drive structure of Fig. 8 B bridge system part;

Fig. 8 D towards quilting plane, the perspective view of the tape drive structure of Fig. 8 B bridge system part;

Fig. 8 E deviates from quilting plane, is similar to the perspective view of the tape drive structure of Fig. 8 D;

Fig. 9 represents according to an embodiment of the invention, the combination pattern be made up of closely alternate multiple quilting pattern;

Fig. 9 A represents the combination pattern of quilting on prior art machine;

Fig. 9 B-9N represents the step of the quilting process of the combination pattern of quilting Fig. 9.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 and 1A represents multi-needle quilter 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.Quilting machines 10 is the types for quilting wide cut quilting laminates material strip material (web) 12, and these clothes are such as the cloth of bedding industry for the manufacture of External cover of bed-mattress.Quilting machines 10 is designed to, and compared with prior art machine, can have the less area of coverage, thus occupy less floor area; Or also can have more feature when occupying identical floor area with prior art machine.Quilting machines 10, such as, its floor space is about 1/3rd of the machine that U.S. Patent No. 5154130 discloses, and this machine produces a lot of year by assignee of the present invention in the industry.

Quilting machines 10 is built in frame 11, has upstream extremity or arrival end 13 and downstream or the port of export 14.Substantially along the band material 12 that horizontal access plane extends, below the narrow passage 29 of quilting machines 10 arrival end 13, quilting machines 10 is entered bottom frame 11, single entrance deflector roll 15 herein bottom frame 11 or between a pair entrance deflector roll, upwards turns to thus and extends along the basic vertically quilting plane 16 through frame 11 center.At frame 11 top, band material 12 again through a pair band material driven roller 18, and turns to downstream along basic horizontal exit face 17.The pair of rolls of frame top and bottom or simultaneously two pair rollers can be connected to drive motors or brake, can control cincture material 12 through the motion of quilting machines 10, and the tension force of control cincture material 12, particularly in quilting plane 16.In addition, one or more sets other rollers can be installed, as described below, realize the one or more of these objects.Quilting machines 10 operates under the control of Programmable Logic Controller 19.

Frame 11 is installed the kinematic system comprising multiple bridge portion, and bridge portion is included in the lower bridge portion 21 of vertical movement in frame and upper bridge portion 22, but also can comprise plural bridge portion.Each bridge portion 21,22 has front element 23 and posterior elements 24(Figure 1A), each element is basically parallel to quilting plane 16 and at its two opposite sides horizontal-extending.Each front element 23 is equipped with multiple needle head assembly 25, and each component Design becomes eedle is moved back and forth along the vertical equity route of vertical quilting plane 16.There is muscle or stiffener 89 between adjacent needle head assembly 25, structurally strengthen bridge portion and resist eedle driver apply sewing edge produce dynamic deformation.Each needle head assembly 25 can be movable separately, and controlled by machine controller 19.Each posterior elements 24 in each bridge portion 21,22 installs multiple curved needle head assembly 26, corresponding with each needle head assembly 25.Each curved needle head assembly 26 is designed to swing looper or bearded needle in the plane being basically perpendicular to quilting plane 16, thus intersects with the longitudinal route of the eedle of corresponding needle head assembly 25.Curved needle head assembly 26 also can be movable separately, and controlled by machine controller 19.Each needle head assembly 25 and corresponding curved needle head assembly 26 form sewing element to 90, and co-operation of wherein sewing forms an independent serial twin-lock chain-type stitch.In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and 1A, have 7 to such sewing element to 90, comprise 7 corresponding curved needle head assemblies 26 in the posterior elements 24 in 7 needle head assemblies 25 in the front element 23 in each bridge portion 21,22 and each bridge portion 21,22.Sewing element represents in fig. ib in more detail to 90.

The needle plate of single-piece is not provided.On the contrary, in the looper side of the quilting plane 16 of each curved needle head 26, there are the 6 square inches of needle plates 38 being parallel to quilting plane 16.This needle plate 38 has the independent pin hole 81 moved with curved needle head 26.All needle plates 38 are usually located in same level.

Similarly, public pressure foot is not provided.On the contrary, as described below, each needle head assembly 25 comprises corresponding one of multiple independent presser feet 158.This local presser feet instead of the single pressure foot extended on the whole area of multirow array pin in prior art.Each front element 23 in each bridge portion 21,22 has multiple presser feet, the cloth around each presser feet compression single needle.Preferably, each eedle assembly 25 has himself local presser feet 158, and these presser feets only have enough area compression materials 12 around pin, make corresponding eedle assembly sewing thread trace.

Each eedle assembly 25 in the front element 23 in bridge portion 21,22, is contained in the corresponding upper thread 27 bobbin supply line in frame 11 by the upstream side of quilting plane 16 or pin side.Equally, each looper assembly 26 in bridge portion 21,22 posterior elements 24, is contained in the corresponding looper thread 28 bobbin supply line in frame 11 by quilting plane 16 downstream or looper side.

As shown in Fig. 1-1B, the front element 23 in each bridge portion 21,22 has public eedle driving shaft 32, for each needle head assembly 25 of drive.Every root axle 32 drives servo-drive system 67 to drive by the eedle of the pin side part 23 in each corresponding bridge portion 21,22, and servo-drive system 67 is in response to controller 19.Each looper drive belt system 37 is contained in the posterior elements 24 in each bridge portion 21,22, for driving each curved needle head assembly.Each looper drive belt system 37 drives servo-drive system 69 to drive, also in response to controller 19 by the looper of the looper side part 24 being contained in each corresponding bridge portion 21,22.Each needle head assembly 25 optionally can connect the motion of eedle driving shaft 32 or disconnect with it.Equally, each curved needle head assembly 26 optionally can be connected to the motion of looper band drive system 37 or disconnect with it.Each eedle driving shaft 32 and looper band drive system 37 are that the mechanical linkage that controlled by controller 19 or motor in synchrony are driven.

Referring to Fig. 2, each needle head assembly 25 comprises clutch 100, optionally power is delivered to eedle driver 102 and presser foot driver 104 from eedle driving shaft 32.Eedle driver 102 has the crank 106 being mechanically connected to needle holder 108 by hinged eedle driver 110, comprises three connecting rods 114,116 and 120.Crank 106 has the arm or eccentric part 112 that are rotatably coupled to first connecting rod 114 one end.One end of second connecting rod 116 is rotatably coupled to the pin 117 stretched out from base 118, and base 118 is supported in the front element in a bridge portion 21,22.One end of third connecting rod 120 is rotatably connected on the pin 123 stretched out from block 122, and block 122 is fixed on and moves back and forth on axle 124, and it is the prolongation of needle holder 108.Each connecting rod 114,116 with 120 opposite end to be rotatably connected by pivot pin 121 together with, in hinged eedle driver 110, form a tie point.

Axle 124 respectively reciprocating linear motion in bearing block 126,128 in the front and back.Drive block 122 has the bearing (not shown) be contained in static straight line guide bar 130, and guide bar 130 supports and rigidity is contained in drive tab 126,128.Therefore, the rotation of crank 106 is operated by hinged eedle driver 110, thus the pin 132 being fixed on needle holder 108 end is moved back and forth.

Referring to Fig. 2 A, presser foot driver 104 has hinged presser foot driver 144, is similar to hinged eedle driver 110.Crank 140 is mechanically connected to presser feet retainer 142 by mechanical linkage 144, and mechanical linkage 144 comprises three connecting rods 146,150 and 152.One end of double leval jib 146 is rotatably coupled to arm or the eccentric part 148 of crank 140.One end of 5th connecting rod 150 is rotatably coupled to the pin 151 stretched out from base 118, and one end of six-bar linkage 152 is rotatably coupled to the pin 155 stretched out from presser feet drive block 154.Each connecting rod 146,150 with 152 opposite end to be rotatably connected by pivot pin 153 together with, in hinged presser foot driver 144, form a tie point.Presser feet drive block 154 is fixed on presser feet and moves back and forth on axle 156, and presser feet moves back and forth axle 156 and is contained in slidably in bearing block 125,126.Presser feet 158 is rigidly connected to the end that presser feet moves back and forth axle 156.Drive block 154 has bearing (not shown), for sliding in straight line guide bar 130.Therefore, the rotation of crank 140 is that the presser foot driver 144 passed through carries out, thus moves back and forth presser feet 158 relative to needle plate 38.

Eedle driving crank 106 and presser feet crank 140 are contained in the opposite ends of the power shaft (not shown) that bearing block 160 supports.Belt pulley 162 is also contained on crank 106,140 and also rotates together thereupon.Timing Belt 164 is driving crank 106,140 under output wheel 166 drives.Clutch 100 can operate and selective eedle driving shaft 32 and the output belt pulley 166 of making engages and throw off, thus correspondingly starts and stop the operation of needle head assembly 25.

The curve 700,710 of Fig. 2 B represents quilting machines sewing head tip position, is to put with distance pin lowermost position or the inch number of down position and period position leave the function representation of the number of degrees that the cycle starts completely.Cycle starts to be defined as 0 degree of position of before minimum pin position 180 degree and curve.

Curve 700 is symmetrical sine curves 700 of standard, represents the needle movement of prior art sewing head, occurs in such as, quilting machines described in U.S. Patent No. 5154130.This pure sinusoidal motion is produced by the other sewing head Assemblies Example shown in Fig. 2 C, and this will be described in greater detail below.This curve 700 has extreme lower position 701 at 180 degree, and to define pin height be 0.0 inch, plant that (note, " pin height " is traditionally actual measurement in the horizontal direction with for referencial use here, pin side is usually called cloth " top " side thus, or even cloth 12 is in end face 16).Curve 700 has the eedle position 702 of pushing up most 0 degree and 360 degree of cycle, and now eedle is elevated to the height of 1.875 inches, more than a little 701 planes.From descending most about 0.5 inch, eedle position 701, eedle is through being placed on needle plate plane 704(such as plate 38) on the region 803 that occupies of one deck fabric thickness, such as cloth 12.Under the compression of presser feet, such as presser feet 158, by the finish coat of the cloth 12 that region 703 and plane 704 separate, distance descends the height of about 0.75 inch, eedle position 701 most.As a result, eedle drops in area of cloth 703 at point 705, enter the cycle only slight beyond 100 degree; And rose from cloth before about 260 degree that just enter the cycle, stay eedle at least partially in cloth through about 159 degree of the cycle, this depends on fabric thickness.Under this motion, eedle point from the cycle about 116 degree to about 244 degree below needle plate, or in about 128 degree of cycles of sine curve 700.

Curve 710 represents the action of the eedle according to the embodiment of the present invention, is have lowermost position 180 degree of its cycle to put 701 with curve 700 common ground.0 degree of this curve 710 and 360 degree of positions 711 put more than 701 1.96 inches in lowermost position.According to illustrated embodiment of the present invention, curve 710 is elevated to extreme higher position 712 further from point 711,2.06 inches, more than 701 planes are put in lowermost position in extreme higher position 712, entering about 50 degree of cycle, be put 1.66 inches, more than 701 planes in lowermost position at the tip position 713 of this point curve 700.From the point 712 of curve 710, to decline 1.66 inches of identical 130 degree of cycles with pin by standard sine curvilinear motion from point 713, eedle declines the distance point of arrival 701 of 2.06 inches, therefore, with the downward speed of faster than sinusoidal motion 25%.

Second half period of curve 710 and the first half asymmetric, in last 180 degree of the cycle, eedle is put 700 and is risen along the curve identical with sine curve 700 from lowermost position.As a result, the eedle of curve 710 is only about 116 degree in cloth district 703, from about 140 degree to about 256 degree of the cycle.The eedle of curve 710 from the cycle about 144 degree to about 240 degree below needle plate, or about 96 degree of curve 710 cycle.

Compared with curve 700, the eedle with curve 710 action passes cloth quickly in about 4 degree of the cycle, and curve 700 is about 15 degree of the cycle; Remaining on the time that area of cloth 703 is shorter, be 116 degree, and curve 700 is 159 degree; Looper below needle plate is had to the time of roughly the same length, curve 710 is 60 degree, and curve 700 is about 64 degree.Therefore, the feature of eedle point action is non-type asymmetric sine curve or non-sinusoidal motion.

The point motion of the pin 132 that curve 710 represents is what to be formed by hinged eedle driver 110.Pin 132 rest on through speed, eedle the speed that time length in cloth and pin exit cloth, be that the position of the pivoting point formed relative to pivot pin 121 by the relative length of the diameter of crank 106, connecting rod 114,116 and 120 and pivot pin 117 determines.These provide the variable value of eedle required reciprocating action in time, can carry out mathematical computations determine by computer model or experience.It should be noted, curve 710 is only the example using hinged eedle driver 110 how to drive eedle.Different application may need the different pattern of eedle reciprocating action in time, and the position of the diameter of crank 106, connecting rod 114,116 and 120 and pivot pin 117 can suitably be revised, thus provides required eedle reciprocating action pattern.

The curve 714 of Fig. 2 B represents the action of a point on presser feet 158.The absolute position of presser feet 158 also be can't help offset axis and is represented, but curve 714 effectively represent the relative position of presser feet 158 relative to eedle 132.Presser feet 158 is in its lowermost position and puts from about 80 degree of about 140 degree to about 220 degree of the cycle.Further, presser feet 158 move downward compression cloth than its move upward discharge cloth quicker.Wish that cloth is fully compressed and stablizes at eedle 132 through before cloth.In addition, presser feet 158 is extracted out more slow, and when eedle 132 is extracted out from cloth, the motion of cloth is minimum.When execution machine needle movement curve 710, presser feet curve movement 714 is non-sinusoidal cuve or motion.

The motion of a point on the presser feet 158 that curve 710 represents is formed by hinged presser foot driver 144.The speed that the time length of presser feet 158 fall off rate, presser feet compression cloth and presser feet 158 rise from cloth is that the pivotally connected position formed relative to pivot pin 153 by the relative length of the diameter of crank 140, connecting rod 146,150,152 and pivot pin 151 determines.These provide the variable value of presser feet required reciprocating action in time, can carry out mathematical computations determine by computer model or experience.It should be noted, curve 714 is only the example using hinged presser foot driver 144 how to drive presser feet 158.Different application may need the different pattern of presser feet reciprocating action in time, and the position of the diameter of crank 106, connecting rod 114,116 and 120 and pivot pin 151 can suitably be revised, thus provides required presser feet reciprocating action pattern.

Referring to Fig. 3, export belt pulley 166 and be fixed on output shaft 168, output shaft 168 is contained in shell 170 can be rotated by bearing 178.Actuator 176 is fixed on eedle driving shaft 32, and is contained in shell 170 can be rotated by bearing 178.Actuator 176 has semicircle flange or the flange 180 of the first radial extension, and extend along the direction being basically parallel to center line 184, provide the drive surfaces of diametrically aliging for a pair, one of them represents 182.Drive surfaces 182 is basically parallel to the longitudinal centre line 184 of eedle driving shaft 32.

Clutch 100 also comprises the sliding part 186 be connected on output shaft 168.Therefore, sliding part 186 can move relative to the direction of output shaft 168 along substantially parallel center line 184.But sliding part 186 locks or relative motion that is fixing and output shaft 168, therefore rotates thereupon.Annexation between sliding part 186 and output shaft 168 can utilize keyway and key or spline to realize, thus is connected on axle 168 by sliding part 186.In addition, the endoporus of sliding part 186 and the outer surface of output shaft 168 have the noncircular cross section profile of coupling, such as, and triangular-shaped profile, square profiles or other polygonal profile.

Sliding part 186 has the first semicircle flange or flange 188, extends along the direction being basically parallel to center line 184 towards annular flange 182.Flange 188 has the drive surface of diametrically aliging for a pair, one of them represent 190, can insert relative flange 180 drive surface 182 and from wherein extracting out.Sliding part 186 passes through actuator 192 relative to output shaft 168 translation.Actuator 192 has annular piston 194, is contained in the interior slip of ring cavity 196 of shell 100, thus forms the fluid chamber 198,200 adjacent with piston 194 opposite ends.Annular seal ring 202 for forming Fluid Sealing between piston 194 and the wall of fluid chamber 198,200.Sliding part 186 is fitted through bearing 204 can rotates relative to piston 194.

When operating, eedle driving shaft 32 stops at required angular orientation, and by pressure fluid, such as forced air, is incorporated into fluid chamber 198.From Fig. 3, piston 194 is from left movement to the right side, thus it is relative with drive surface 182 that the drive surface 190 of sliding part 186 is moved, as shown in Figure 3A.Have the clutch 100 of so engagement, eedle driving shaft 32 direct mechanical is connected to sliding part 186 and output shaft 168, exports the rotation that eedle driving shaft 32 followed exactly by belt pulley 166.The rotation subsequently of eedle driving shaft 32 causes output shaft 168 to rotate simultaneously.

When eedle driving shaft 32 is parked in required angular orientation again, be applied to fluid chamber 200 from fluid chamber 198 releasing pressurized fluid.From Fig. 3, piston 194 moves to a left side from the right side, thus makes the contact separation of drive surface 190 motion and drive surface 182, and throws off with clutch 100.Like this, drive surface 182 rotates over and drives flange 188, and eedle driving shaft 32 rotates, independent irrelevant with output shaft 168.

But, in disengaged condition, need to make output shaft 168 remain on fixing angle position while clutch 100 is separated.Like this, sliding part 186 has the second semicircular ring lock flange 206, from Fig. 3, extends to left side along the direction being basically parallel to center line 184.Lock flange diametrically aligns lock face 205.In addition, semicircle lock flange 208(Fig. 3 B) be contained on the radial wall 210 of shell 170.Lock flange 208 diametrically aligns lock face 207.Like this, when eedle driving shaft 32 is parked in required angular orientation, because piston 194 moves to a left side from the right side, be separated with clutch 100, as shown in Figure 3, the lock face 205 of lock flange 206 moves to the position of locking flange 208 and being close to lock face 207, as shown in Figure 3 B.Like this, when eedle driving shaft 32 stops, cylinder body 192 operation makes clutch 100 engage and is separated, that is, make power shaft 32 engage with output belt pulley 166 and be separated, optionally to handle a sewing head 25.In addition, while clutch 100 is separated, export belt pulley 166 and remain on required fixed angle position, thus pin 132 and presser feet 158 remains on respective required angle position, wait for the operation subsequently of clutch 100.

Another embodiment of clutch 100 represents at Fig. 3 C.In the embodiment that this is feasible in addition, the semicircle flange 180 of Fig. 3 is replaced by circular drives flange 181, and flange 181 has multiple equally spaced drive hole 183.Further, the first semicircle flange 188 of sliding part 186 is replaced by multiple drive pin 185, and drive pin 185 has the radial distance of the decentre line 184 identical with hole 183.In addition, as shown in Figure 3 D, drive pin 185 has angular separation, substantially identical with the angular separation of drive hole 185.Like this, when eedle driving shaft 32 is parked in required angular orientation, from Fig. 3 C, actuator 192 makes the action of piston from left movement to the right side, makes drive pin 185 insert the drive hole 183 of drive plate 181.Referring to Fig. 3 D, eedle driving shaft 32 rotate the drive surface 189. being delivered to respective drive pin 185 outside from the drive surface 187 of respective aperture 183 inside subsequently

In another embodiment of Fig. 3 C, in Fig. 3 A, the second semicircle flange 206 of sliding part 186 is replaced by multiple lock pin 193, and lock pin 193 has substantially identical size and dimension with drive pin 185.Further, the semicircle lock flange 208 of Fig. 3 A is replaced by the ring-type lock flange 195 with multiple equidistant lockhole 197.Lock pin 193 and pin-and-hole 197 have the identical radial distance of decentre line 184; The angular separation of lock pin 193 is basic identical with the angular separation of lockhole 197.Like this, when eedle driving shaft 32 is parked in required angular orientation, from Fig. 3 C, make piston move to the action of left actuator 192 from the right side, make lock pin 193 insert the lockhole 197 of jam plate 191.Like this, the respective inner locking face of lockhole 197 is supported on the lock face of corresponding lock pin 193, thus in the course of action subsequently of eedle driving shaft 32 while clutch 100 is separated, sliding part 186 and output shaft 168 remain on required angle position.As understandable, hole 183 can be positioned on sliding part 186, and pin 185 drives power shaft 32 to install relative to eedle.Similarly, the relative position in pin 193 and hole 197 can be put upside down.

As shown in Figure 2, eedle driver 102 starts simultaneously and stops by engaging with clutch 100 and 210 respectively with being separated with looper drive 104.Fig. 3 E represents another embodiment of clutch 100, is the mode of machinery conversion mechanism 101, for starting and stop the operation of eedle driver 102 and looper drive 104, does not wherein use clutch 100.Consider, if remove clutch 100 but belt pulley 166 is contained on main drive shaft 32, then main drive shaft 32 will be rotated by belt pulley 162,166 and Timing Belt 164 Continuous Drive eedle driving crank 106 and presser feet crank 140.Referring to Fig. 3 E, the eedle driver 102 of another embodiment can very similar with shown in Fig. 2, and namely hinged eedle driver 110 can comprise the connecting rod 114,116 and 120 that eedle drive block 122 is moved back and forth.Similarly, the connecting rod 146,150,152 that hinged presser foot driver 144 makes presser feet drive block 154 move back and forth.

Essential difference between the embodiment of Fig. 3 E and Fig. 2 be second and the 5th connecting rod 116,150 distal end or outer end by respective swivel pin 286,288 be articulated and connected respectively joint yoke 290.Engaging yoke 290 is U-shaped substantially, and the end 292 extends between the first end of substantially parallel relative leg 294,296.The opposite ends of leg 294,296 is hingedly connected to the outer end of respective connecting rod 116,150.In the position shown in Fig. 3 E, yoke effectively make second and the 5th the direction of connecting rod 116,150 form not parallel relation with first and double leval jib 114,146 respectively.In addition, engaging yoke 290 makes the position residing for second connecting rod 116 outer end can provide angular orientation respectively relative to first and needed for third connecting rod 114,120 for second connecting rod 116, that is, with connecting rod 114 shown in Fig. 2,116, orientation that the orientation of 120 is substantially identical.Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3 F-3I, when crank 106 turns over a whole circle, eedle drive block 122, needle holder 124 and pin 132 move one back and forth, identical substantially with described in earlier in respect of figures 2B.

Equally, when engaging yoke 290 and being in position shown in Fig. 3 E, the 5th connecting rod 150 has respectively relative to the 4th with the angular orientation of six-bar linkage 146,152, that is, substantially identical with the angular orientation of the connecting rod 146,150,152 shown in Fig. 2 A.Like this, when crank 140 turns over a whole circle, presser feet 158 is synchronous with the action of pin 132 through moving back and forth, and the description of the action of presser feet shown in this with earlier in respect of figures 2A is substantially identical.

In order to stop the action of eedle driver 102 and presser foot driver 104, engaging yoke 290 and moving to position shown in Fig. 3 J, making connecting rod 116,146 be in substantially parallel relation with connecting rod 120,152 respectively.When connecting rod 116,146 is in this position, as shown in Fig. 3 K-3M, the rotation of pin and presser feet crank 106,140 does not impel corresponding pin and presser feet drive block 122,154 to move.Further, pin and presser feet drive block 122 and 154 remain on the off position needed for them, and corresponding pin and presser feet crank 106,140 continue to rotate.

Engage yoke 290 to be moved between the position shown in Fig. 3 C and 3H by actuator (not shown).Such as, engage the end that yoke arm 298 hingedly can be connected to cylinder body (not shown) bar, cylinder body is hingedly connected on rack section.

Each needle head assembly 25 has corresponding curved needle head assembly 26 in needle plate 38 opposite side.Looper band drive system 37(Fig. 1 and 1B) by electronics or pneumatic actuator by power shaft 209(Fig. 4 B) be connected to looper clutch 210, this can be any clutch, thus optionally the rotary motion of power shaft 209 is delivered to output shaft 226.This clutch can be substantially identical with the eedle driving clutch 100 described in detail above.Looper clutch output shaft 226 is mechanically connected to looper and stop driver 212.Looper clutch 210 and eedle driving clutch 100 synchro-meshing be separated, thus looper and stop driver 212 and eedle driver 102 are respectively with cooperative mode operation, use pin and looper thread (not shown) formed needed for chain-type stitch.

As shown in Figure 4, looper and stop driver 212 make looper 216 carry out reciprocal angular movement around pivotal line 232 being close in the plane moving back and forth pin 132.Looper and stop driver 212 also drive stop 234 along the route of the closed-loop route in the plane being basically perpendicular to the reciprocal angular movement plane of looper 216 and pin 132.

Looper 216 is fixed on looper holder 214, and looper holder 214 is contained on the flange 220 that stretches out from the first curved needle shaft 218a.The outer end of curved needle shaft 218a is contained on bearing 236, and bearing 236 is supported by looper drive shell 238.The inner of curved needle shaft 218a is connected to wig-wag shell 240.Like this, looper 216 extends radially outwardly substantially from the rotating shaft 232 of curved needle shaft 218.As shown in Figure 4 A, counterweight 230 is contained on flange 220, and its position is contrary with on looper holder 218 base diameter.Second curved needle shaft 218b is diametrically contrary with the first curved needle shaft 218a.The inner of looper driving shaft 218b is also fixed on wig-wag shell 240, is in position contrary on the base diameter of looper driving shaft 218a.The outer end of curved needle shaft 218b is contained in (not shown) on bearing, and this bearing is supported (Fig. 4) by looper cover of driver device 238.

Wig-wag shell 240 has basic open center, and wig-wag main body 242 is hingedly mounted in it.As shown in Figure 4 B, wig-wag main body 242 is connected on wig-wag shell 240 can be rotated by diametrically contrary axle 241, and its outer end is fixed on wig-wag shell 240 by pin 243.The inner of axle 241 is contained in wig-wag main body 242 can be rotated by bearing 245.The outer ring 244 of wig-wag main body 242 spring bearing 246.The inner ring 248 of bearing 246 is contained on eccentric shaft 250.The inner 251 of eccentric shaft 250 is rigidly attached on interior wig-wag cam 252, and cam 252 is mechanically connected to output shaft 226 by clutch 210.The outer end 253 of wig-wag axle 250 is rigidly connected to outer wig-wag cam 256.

When looper clutch 210 engages, output shaft 226, wig-wag cam 252,256 be connected eccentric shaft 250 and rotate relative to rotating shaft 270.Eccentric shaft the inner 251 is connected to the primary importance of interior wig-wag cam 250, and primary importance departs from rotating shaft 270.Eccentric shaft outer end 253 is connected to the second place of outer wig-wag cam 256, and the second place departs from rotating shaft 270, in the direction diametrically contrary with the primary importance of the inner tie point of wig-wag axle.Like this, eccentric shaft 250 has the center line 271 tilted with rotating shaft 270.Center line 271 also can intersect with rotating shaft 270.Therefore, wig-wag main body 242 is basically perpendicular to the cross section of eccentric shaft 250 and is not orthogonal to rotating shaft 270.

Final result is, wig-wag shell 240 is crooked or tilts, and makes one end 276 than the contrary other end 278 more outwards or closer to needle plate 38.In other words, the position of the eccentric shaft 250 shown in Fig. 4 B, eccentric shaft outer end 253 is positioned at below rotating shaft 270, and eccentric shaft the inner 251 is positioned at above rotating shaft 270.Further, second point 274 contrary in the first circumferential point 272 diameter group of wig-wag shell 240 cross section is more outwards or closer to needle plate 38.When eccentric shaft 250 rotates 180 degree from its illustrated position relative to its center line 271, eccentric shaft outer end 253 is positioned at above rotating shaft 270, and eccentric shaft the inner is positioned at below rotating shaft 270.Like this, the second point 274 of wig-wag shell 240 outwards moves towards near needle plate 38, and 1: 272 inwardly moves.When eccentric shaft 250 rotates 180 degree further, wig-wag shell 240 and wig-wag main body 242 return to its position shown in Fig. 4 B.Therefore, eccentric shaft 250 rotate completely further cause a little 272,274 continuous towards needle plate 38 translation and leave needle plate 38, through the displacement shown in arrow 280.Like this, the continuous rotation of eccentric shaft 250 makes wig-wag shell 242 swing relative to rotating shaft 232 or wave.Referring to Fig. 4 A, angular oscillatory motion is delivered to curved needle shaft 218, thus makes looper flange 220, looper holder 214 and looper 216 experience reciprocal angular movement.

Referring to Fig. 4 A, stop cam 258 is connected to outer wig-wag gear 256, makes it also rotate relative to rotating shaft 270.The radial direction that has stop cam 258 departs from the crank 260 of rotating shaft 270.The near-end of stop actuating arm 262 is contained on crank 260 and can rotates, and stop 234 is contained in the far-end of stop actuating arm 262.Stop actuating arm 262 slides after installing in the hole 264 of back-up block 266.Back-up block 266 is hingedly contained in end face 268(Fig. 4 of looper drive shell 238).Therefore, power shaft 226 and outer stop cam 258 often turn a full circle and stop 234 will be caused around needle shaft along a closed-loop or orbital motion, thus form the knot needed for chain-type stitch.The feature of stop route is determined relative to the position of crank 260 by the length of actuating arm 262 and back-up block 266.

Looper and stop driver 212 are fairly simple mechanisms that a kind of rotary motion by power shaft 226 converts two self-movements of looper 216 and stop 234 to.Looper and stop driver 212 is unfavorable is used in the cam-follower that cam slides, does not therefore need lubrication.Thereby reduce maintenance demand.Looper and stop driver 212 are the high speed and the balanced controls that use minimum number element, for providing moving back and forth of looper 116 and stop 234.Therefore, looper provides reliable and effective looper function with stop driver 212 together with corresponding eedle driver.

Fig. 4 represents a kind of looper driven unit 26 of multi-needle quilter 10, and wherein pin is horizontal alignment.Looper driven unit 26 can comprise selects connector 210, and such as, clutch 210, can be connected to the drive train synchronous with the driving of crew-served eedle driven unit by the input 209 of driven unit 226.Looper driven unit 26 comprises framework 219, and driven unit 226 and 210 is with the mode top loading mutually alignd.Framework 219 is contained in the rear portion 24 in corresponding bridge portion 21,22, and curved needle head assembly 26 is alignd corresponding needle head assembly 25.The output of clutch 210 drives the looper drive 212 with output shaft 218, and output shaft 218 has flange 220, flange 220 is installed looper holder 214.In the multi-needle quilter of other type, this looper holder 214 is waved by the common driver connecting rod of the drive train being for good and all connected to eedle driver, can swing, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5154130 together with other looper around a common axis.The character of chain-type stitch forming machine and the quantity of pin are not the essence of concept of the present invention.

Usually, looper 216, when being installed on looper holder 214, axle 218 swings along route 800, forms collaborative stitching and forms relation, as shown in Figure 4 C with eedle 132.More thoroughly describing see U.S. Patent No. 5154130 of relation and motion is formed to the stitching of eedle and looper.In stitching forming process, looper point 801 enters the ring 803 of the top line 222 that eedle 132 provides.In order to pick up this ring 803, the lateral attitude of the point 801 of looper 216 remains on adjustment state, makes it be close to eedle 132 and passes through.The adjustment of looper 216 realizes with the axle 218 being parked in its wobble cycle, makes looper point 801 lateral alignment pins 132, as shown in Figure 4 C.In this adjustment, point 801 transverse shifting of looper 216, that is, perpendicular to pin 132 and perpendicular to the route 800 of looper 216.

As shown in figures 4 c and 4d, the preferred embodiment of looper 216 is made up of entity stainless steel part, has hook portion 804 and base part 805.Looper points 801 at the far-end of hook portion 804.Base part 805 is blocks that hook portion 804 stretches out from its top.Base part 805 has the erection column 806 stretched out bottom it, and looper 216 is contained in the hole 807 of retainer 214 and can rotates thus.

Retainer 214 is the fork blocks 809 be made up of entity steel part.The fork block 809 of retainer 218 has the gap 808 wider than the base part 805 of looper 216.By by pedestal 805 inserted into gap 808 and post 806 access aperture 807, looper 216 is loaded retainer 214.Looper 216 loosely remains in retainer 214, and being moved in gap 808 by pedestal 805 makes it on post 806, turn over a low-angle 810, as shown in Figure 4 E.This makes point 801 transverse shifting small distance of looper 216, as shown in arrow 811, although this is camber line, because the angle of the hook 804 of looper 216 is quite little, therefore can regard horizontal straight line as.

Adjustment is realized by the Allen bolt 812 be screwed in retainer 214, thus cling on the pedestal 805 of looper 216 at the point 813 departing from post 806.Compress Spring 814 supports looper pedestal 805 at the point 815 contrary with bolt 812, thus tights a bolt and 812 to move making the point 801 of looper 216 towards eedle 132, and unclamps bolt 812 and move making the point 801 of looper 216 towards leaving eedle 132.Lock bolt 816 for looper 216 being locked in its adjusting position in retainer 214, and unclamping looper 216 and regulates.Post 806 is clipped in hole 807 by lock bolt 816 effectively, keeps it not rotate.

In fact, preferably regulate the position of looper 216, make point 801 or just contact pin 132, or minimally leaves eedle 132.For the ease of reaching this position, a kind of electronics indicating circuit 820 being provided, being schematically illustrated in Fig. 4 F.Circuit 820 comprises the looper 216 be contained in retainer 214, and retainer 214 is contained on the flange 220 of axle 218 by electrical insulator 821, as shown in Figure 4 D.Retainer 214 is electrically connected to LED or some other visual detectors 822, and indicator 822 is connected between retainer 214 and power supply or electric signal source 823, and power supply or signal source 823 are connected to the earthing potential of frame 11.Eedle 132 is also connected to earthing potential.Like this, when looper 216 contact pin 132, through the closing of circuit of indicator 822 and power supply or signal source 823, activate indicator 822.

Operator can regulate looper 216 by forward-backward adjustment bolts 812, thus between eedle 132 and looper 216, form the contact point just separated.Then, operator makes looper be in this position or unidirectional retrogressing to arrange or other as required, then 816 to be locked on its position by looper 216 by tighting a bolt.

When carrying out looper and regulating, quilting machines 10 stops, and makes pin be in 0 degree or Top Dead Center position, what controller 19 made sewing element proceed to the cycle thus gets the ring moment (Fig. 4 C), now element stops, and machine enters safety lock pattern, makes operator carry out looper adjustment.After eedle and looper setting, under the input of operator, the controller 19 of quilting machines 10 makes looper and eedle move along the direction formed beyond stitching direction.This drives servo-drive system 67 and 69 by reverse drive pin and looper, makes eedle driving shaft 32 and looper drive 37 toward back rotation, looper and eedle are retreated in its cycle, thus make eedle return to its 0 degree of position.This stop formed stitching, this be wish occur because looper regulate be usually complete between these patterns best.By stoping stitching to be formed, looper regulates any position of trace along the line to complete, and no matter sews along straight line or route the need of continuation.Further, the condition looper thread of pruning and the top line wiped off being in described trim lines condition is remained, as the description below with reference to Fig. 5-5D.

Single needle sewing machine uses multiple thread cutting device.Device 850 such as shown in Fig. 5.It comprises and moves back and forth linear-motion actuator 851, and this can be pneumatic.Double hook cutting knife 852 slides, when it starts towards actuator 851 pulled straight after installing on actuator 851.Actuator 851 is arranged on sliding shoe 858 that (Fig. 5 is not shown, represent in Fig. 2 C embodiment), make actuator 851 and associated component towards the pin hole motion of needle plate 38 and leave pin hole, move to its position occupied when cutter sweep starts and get back to the resting position not stopping looper 216.Cutter 852 has upper thread hook 854 and looper thread hook 853, and each being hooked in when actuator 851 starts hooks corresponding top and bottom line.Hook 853 and 854 all has cutting edge, utilizes these swords to cut off respective line.Static overcoat 855 is fixed on actuator 851, has the surface be designed to sliding cutter 852 co-operating cutting line.When performing, cutter 852 is parked in retracted position, and upper thread tail is unclamped, but keeps bottom line tail to be clipped in cutter 852 and be fixed between the elastic metallic folder 856 bottom overcoat 855.This folder prevents looper from going offline, can near cutting position, makes looper thread tail can be very short thus.Fig. 5-5D represents in machine the assembly had perpendicular to orientation pin.But in quilting machines 10, pin 132 horizontal alignment, perpendicular to vertical cloth surface 16, and the orientation of looper 216 swings along horizontal horizontal direction parallel in plane 16, and the point 801 of looper 216 points to the left side of quilting machines 10 (front from Fig. 1).

Fig. 5 A represents a kind of looper driven unit 26 of multi-needle quilter 10, and wherein pin is horizontal alignment.At the end of the stitching chain sewing continuing discrete pattern or pattern part, pin 132 and looper 216 are parked in the position shown in Fig. 5 A usually, wherein pin 132 is being cut up with a hay cutter this moment of extracting out from cloth at sewing cycle by the pin of the fabric 12 of quilting, and upper thread 222 and looper thread 224 are in by the looper side of the cloth 12 of quilting.Upper thread 222 extends around the looper hook 804 of looper 216 downwards from cloth 12 and returns fabric 12, and looper thread 224 stretches out from line source 856, through looper hook 804, from the hole of looper 216 point 801 out, enters cloth 12.

In the looper side of cloth 12, multiple curved needle head 26 each on there is a cutter sweep 850, each cutter sweep 850 has its actuator 851, and actuator 851 is equipped with pneumatic control line 857, is connected to the output of quilting machine controller 19 by suitable interface (not shown).Single thread-cutting device 850 itself is thread-cutting device used in the single needle sewing machine of prior art.

According to the present invention, in multi-needle quilter, use multiple device 850 by mode described here.Referring to Fig. 5 and 5A, in each looper assembly 26 of spininess chain stitch quilter, the position of device 850 is, when expanded, the cutter 852 of device 850 is between looper 216 and cloth 12, and connects into and operate under the conputer controlled of the controller 19 of quilting machines.When in the cycle can moment of cutting line, as shown in Figure 5A, controller 19 starts actuator 851, makes cutter 852 through the ring of upper thread 222, thus hooks pin and looper thread, as shown in Figure 5 B.Then, the upper thread 222 and looper thread 224 that stretch out from cloth 12 are cut off in cutter 852 retraction.Two cut end of upper thread 222 are release, extend to the cut end of cloth as looper thread 224.But the end that looper thread 224 extends to looper 216 is still jammed, as shown in Figure 5 C.This clamping keeps looper thread end, thus forms ring when continuing sewing, loses unexpected stitching quantity before preventing linear chain from starting, and the defect of this sewing pattern by causing.

Avoid when starting as sewing losing the Additional Protection of stitching, the orientation of looper makes, and when the end of looper thread 224 is not jammed, the end of line 224 under gravity orientation, to the correct side of pin, thus starts a series of stitching.By this way, the probability forming ring in the several stitching of beginning continuing tack stitches sewing and beginning pattern is high.

For having selective operating head or can installing separately and respectively, dismantle or be reset at the multi-needle quilter of head in sewing bridge portion, the feature of above-mentioned trim lines is particularly useful.Each cutter sweep 850 has a curved needle head assembly and can dismantle, install and move together with each curved needle head assembly.In addition, when head is selective operation, this feature makes each thread-cutting device controlled separately.

In order to supplementary cords prunes feature, upper thread assembly 25 is equipped with line tail curette (wiper) 890.In addition as shown in Figure 5 C, curette 890 comprises line hook scraping element 891, is hingedly contained on the pneumatic actuator 892 near eedle 132, after upper thread 221 cuts off, scraping element 891 is rotated around the horizontal axis perpendicular to eedle 132.Start time, actuator 892 inside presser feet bowl 158 eedle 132 point around inswept scraping element 891, the line tail of upper thread 221 is dragged to the eedle side of cloth 12 from cloth 12 and arrives inside presser feet bowl 158.From then on position starts, and when starting to sew, under top line can not be clipped in presser feet, thus when when pattern starts, first time declines eedle, line tail is easily rolled onto cloth 12 back side usually.

Fig. 5 D represents line tension control system 870, and it similarly for each line of Sewing machines, can be specially adapted to the line that every root of above-mentioned multi-needle quilter is independent.Line, such as looper thread 224, usually stretch out from line source 856 and pass thread tensioner 871, and it produces friction to line, thus the line to downstream movement is tensioned to looper 216.Device 871 is adjustable, for the tension force of control line 224.System 870 comprises line tension monitor 872, and line 224 extends between regulating wheel 871 and looper 216 through monitor 872.Monitor 872 comprises a pair fixing wire carrier 873, the sensor 874 that line activated on arm 875 between laterally promotes and deflection, actuator arm 875 is supported on cross force converter 876, and measurement tensioned thread 224 is applied to the cross force on sensor 874, produces line tension measured value.Every root line 222 and 224 has such line tension and controls.

Thread tension signal exports from converter 876 and is sent to controller 19.Controller 19 judges that whether the tension force of line 224 is suitable, or its whether Tai Song or too tight.Line regulating wheel 871 is equipped with the motor or other actuator 877 that perform tension adjustment.The signal of actuator 877 response controller 19, when controller 19 determines from the tensile force measuring signals of converter 876 tension force needing to regulate line 224, controller 19 transmits control signal to actuator 877, and actuator 877 makes regulating wheel 871 regulate the tension force of line 224 in response to this.

Replace using line tail curette 890, as shown in Figure 5 C, or hold after the cut and continue to cut off freely other mechanism of top line before reposition sewing, machine control sequence can be performed, reach the result that line tail strikes off function.Fig. 5 E represents at the end of sewing pattern part, before being cut off online, in firm top line 222 state performed after tack-stitch sequence.Illustrated top line 222 extends to the pinprick of eedle 132 through top line regulating wheel 402 from top line source 401, this be can controller 19 output control actuator 403 operate.Between regulating wheel 402 and eedle 132, top line 222 is through pulling open mechanism 404, and it comprises the pusher 405 that actuator 406 drives, and actuator 406 is also controlled by the output of controller 19.In Fig. 5 E, the pusher 405 shown in solid line is in its retracted position.When actuator 406 starts, pusher 405 moves to the extended position 407 shown in its dotted line, and being moved to by top line is also the position shown in dotted line.It is that the actuator 403 transmitting a signal to top line regulating wheel 402 by controller 19 performs that top line pulls open, thus tension force one section of short time interval of release top line 222, line pulls open mechanism 404 and receives pulse during this period.The pulse that line pulls open mechanism 404 comes from the signal that controller 19 is dealt into the actuator 406 pulling open mechanism 404, makes pusher 405 strut top line 222, thus pulls open the loose top line of a segment length from top line source 401.In addition, eedle 132 to be moved roughly one section of short distance of several inches relative to cloth 12, pulls the relaxation length of top line through eedle 132, between eedle 132 and cloth 12, increase the line tail of certain length.This relative motion can by front forward (FWD) material 12 or motion bridge portion 21,22 or the two realization of all moving.

After pulling open top line 222 as mentioned above, cutting line 222 and 224 also clamps looper thread, as with reference to described in figure 5C.In this embodiment, but do not need to there is scraper mechanism 890.On the contrary, scraper action can be utilized.In this moment of operation, top line tail is passed down through cloth 12 from eedle 132 and arrives the position that cloth cut off below, and as illustrated in figure 5f, and diagonal applies line tension.Then, eedle 132 proceeds to a new starting position 410 relative to cloth 12, that is, bridge portion or cloth can move, or the two all moves, and by tape to material top, then starts sewing, as depicted in fig. 5g.

Then, no matter whether use curette 890 before this moment, perform top line pleating (tuck) cycle, wherein operate sewing head through a stitching cycle, top line tail is arrived below cloth 12 through cloth 12, is caught by looper 216 herein, as illustrated in fig. 5h.Then, under formerly, regulating wheel 402 starts the top line 222 tension force effect applied, eedle 132 is done exercises by the kerf relative to cloth 12, leaves and gets back to the original position 410 of line through cloth 12, as shown in fig. 5i.For this motion, controller 19 is by translating the pattern choice direction be sewed.This motion is enough to remaining top line tail to move to bottom cloth 12 or looper side, and will not pull out cloth again by top line tail.The length of this motion can be different for different application.

Moving line can be, such as, straight line, circular arc, triangle, straight line and circular arc and combination or some other motion or combination, can take distance and position 410 two inches to or be less than two inches by eedle.According to Machinery Design or the length of line of cut tail of program composition, different path lengths can be used.The preferred orientation of route is, any top line produced at eedle 132 is loose, is arranged in the pattern route side avoiding line to be absorbed in sewing pattern or to be encountered by eedle 132.For quilting machines 10, preferably, realization of this motion is by keeping cloth 12 static and along the line-of-road movement bridge portion 21,22 of parallel cloth 12 plane.When pleating end cycle, machine is in position shown in Fig. 5 J.

The starting of pattern needs suture element--eedle 132 and looper 216 co-operating, thus upper thread 222 and looper thread 224 alternately pick up the wire loop that other line is formed, and start to form chain-type stitch.When performing stitching cycle period in the middle of stitching sequence, namely, once chain starts to be formed, eedle 132 be dropped through cloth 12 pick up looper 216, between top line 222 and looper thread 224 formed ring 412, be sometimes referred to as triangle, the formation of ring is realized, as it can be seen from figure 5k (for Fig. 5 F more thoroughly explained see U.S. Patent No. 5154130 by the action of stop or distributor 234.Fig. 5 A-5G of the present invention is the sequential illustrations that a usual chain-type stitch forms the cycle).But line is not yet arranged in cloth 12, looper thread 224 stops below needle plate 38 and below stop 234.Particularly, looper thread 224 is clipped in (Fig. 5 J) between cutting knife 852 and elastic clip 856.Therefore, triangle 412 does not also exist by its normal form, and this ring is caught by eedle 132 and needed not to be completely predictable.As a result, the possibility missing the first stitching increases.The more important thing is to there is a kind of unacceptable possibility, that is, will each stitching subsequently be missed, until when forming the first stitching after the stitching cycle of some uncertain quantity.This will cause defective product and need repairing product or scrap products.

Have been found that by control wire, make looper pick up top line ring before eedle picks up bottom line ring, greatly improve the reliability that when starting sewing pattern, stitching is formed.This can realize by redirecting looper thread tail.More reliably, this can also the moment realizes toward each other by changing suture element, that is, the eedle moment is relative to the looper moment, thus the first ring picked up is the top line ring picked up by advance looper.This also by the moment of control wire like this or suture element, can make eedle miss bottom line ring when eedle first time declines and completes.A kind of mode that said process is occurred is, ensures that eedle reaches " mistake " side of bottom line when eedle first time declines.When looper thread tail returns from looper point along the looper side of eedle, bottom line is in " mistake " side of eedle.

Before starting sewing, after eedle 132 moves to a reposition of cloth 12, eedle 132 is above cloth 12, and top line 222 passes eedle 132 from bobbin to line tail.In a normal stitching cycle, eedle 132 is from above cloth, and as shown in fig. 5l, looper 216 advances as shown in the figure.The tail of looper thread 224 is below needle plate 38 and below stop 234.When tradition starts, looper 216 declines with eedle 132 and retracts, Ke Nengshi, but optional, passes, as shown in figure 5m, form bottom line ring, as shown in Fig. 5 N between bottom line 224 and looper 216.This makes looper thread 224 be wrapped in stop 234 below near the upper thread 222 of looper 216, as shown in Fig. 5 O, forms the triangle of distortion, increases the possibility that eedle 132 misses the ring that it declines next time.

According to one embodiment of present invention, when when Fig. 5 P starting position, this is similar with figure L's, and eedle is separated with looper drive, and eedle remains on its Top Dead Center position.Looper drive then advances half period, makes looper 216 move to the position shown in Fig. 5 Q, thus is retracted by the route of looper 216 from eedle 132.Then, looper drive remains on its half period position, and eedle driver starts simultaneously, makes eedle 132 drop to its half period position, eedle 132 is separated with bottom line 224, as shown in Fig. 5 R.Then, eedle and looper drive again link together and together with advanced in unison, looper 216 starts to pick up eedle ring near 3/4ths positions of stitching cycle thus, as shown in Fig. 5 S, and proceeds to the complete cycle position shown in Fig. 5 T from here.Then element continues to move across next cycle, now can be formed, as shown in Fig. 5 U to 5X by version stitching.Roughly in the position of Fig. 5 X, looper thread tail pulls out from the holding action of thread cutter.

Eedle is separated when starting with looper drive, as mentioned above, avoids missing stitching when starting.Eedle has other purposes with being separated of looper drive cycle, such as, be convenient to the pruning of line.

As the another kind of mode using above-mentioned beginning partition method, the possibility missing stitching when starting can be reduced by redirecting or guide the line tail of looper thread, thus prevented bottom line ring from being picked up by eedle before top line ring is picked up by looper.Realizing this redirecting can, by the movement of thread cutter and clip 850 or other location (Fig. 5 J), make looper thread 224 tail leave the eedle side of looper.Line pusher mechanism or other looper thread can be used to redirect technology, make looper pick up top line ring before eedle picks up bottom line ring.

Increasing the another kind of phenomenon missing the probability of stitching when starting is that distributor or stop 234 can not form triangle with looper thread 224, until towards needle plate 34 and cloth 12 stretch bending needlework 224.The looper thread 224 clamped by thread cutter 850 remains to and arrives stop 234.Before sewing starts, may be loose at the considerable looper thread of looper thread urogenesis between looper 216 and the clip position of thread cutter 850.Thisly loosely can form the large wire loop swinging to the opposition side of looper from eedle, reduce the possibility picking up stitching in any period demand, or even after eedle first time declines, thus unpredictably postpone the beginning of stitching chain.This delay can form unacceptable long gap in sewing pattern, needs repairing or abandons material block.The loose possibility causing these problems of this looper thread can be reduced by restriction looper thread.Realize this restriction can pass through below needle plate 38, to fill looper thread deflector 430, as shown in Fig. 5 Y.The such as structure of line deflector 430 may be used for the direction controlling to leave looper thread 224 tail of looper 216 when starting, and affects the spacing of looper thread tail and looper, makes eedle 132 can not miss looper wire loop after upper thread ring picked up by looper.No matter whether this structure of picture looper thread deflector 430, use beginning isolation technics, all improves the reliability that stitching is formed.In some cases, the reliability of raising is enough to allow to omit start separation characteristic.

Looper thread deflector 430 shown in Fig. 5 Y is wedge shapes, and is fixed on bottom needle plate 38.The wedge shape of deflector 430 has conical surface 431, when looper proceed to 0 shown in Fig. 5 P degree or eedle upper near its forward facing position time, the position of conical surface 431 is near the route of looper 216 point.In this position, when pattern starts, looper thread tail is clipped on thread cutter 850 in needle path opposition side.The surface 431 of deflector 430 is located relative to looper path, looper thread tail is guided to leave needle plate enough far away, thus once upper thread ring picked up by looper, looper thread 224 is probably positioned at the eedle side of looper 216, thus pick up looper wire loop when the eedle 132 declined once declines on it.When do not use or unavailable above-mentioned beginning partition method time, looper thread deflector 430 contributes to reducing when starting the stitching that misses.

Fig. 5 Y also represents traditional needle guard 460, and it is contained on the pedestal 805 of looper 216, and this represents in fig. 4d better.By it being pivotally contained on looper 216, and being locked in (Fig. 4 D) in hole 461 by bolt (not shown), can needle guard being regulated.This needle guard 460 prevents decline eedle 132 partially on the right side of advance looper 216, and make it remain on the left of looper, as shown in Fig. 5 R and 5S, thus looper 216 is picked up ring and can not be jumped over stitching.

An embodiment that can select improved as shown in Figure 4 G, wherein has two-shipper pin protection assembly 470.Assembly 470 comprises the first needle guard 471 and the second needle guard 472.First needle guard 471 perform function class be similar to needle guard 460, and also hingedly adjustable ground be contained on the pedestal 805 of looper 216.Second needle guard 472 is rods of a kind of circular cross-section, and adjustable ground is contained in the hole of mounting blocks 473 and can rotates, and mounting blocks 473 is rigidly fixed to the looper side of needle plate 38.Needle guard 472 prevents decline eedle 132 to be biased to the left side of advance looper 216 further, thus looper 216 can not arrive the right side of upper thread 222, misses top line ring and skips stitching, but being through (Fig. 5 S) between upper thread 222 and eedle 132.The center of the second needle guard 472 of circular cross-section is in the axis 474 of parallel looper plane of movement and needle plate plane, that is, be the transverse direction of level in described machine.Needle guard 472 has eccentric pedestal 475, and its axis 476 separates with axis 474 but parallel, and eccentric pedestal 475 is contained in block 473 hole.Like this; needle guard 472 adjustable ground is contained in the installing hole of block 473 and can rotates; thus making itself or its axis 474 move towards eedle 132 or leave eedle 132, the Allen bolt 477 herein by tightening block 473 is fixed on its position.

Technology for tack-stitch sequence of sewing also is improved, and reduces the possibility missing stitching, particularly in beginning tack-stitch sequence process.Preferably, starting tack-stitch sequence is by along wanting the short distance of about one inch of the direction of pattern sewing to start, and before then continuing forward on the line of identical stitching, initial stitching is sewed and gets back to starting position.When starting, then several long stitching of sewing is the stitching of normal length.Typical normal stitching rate can be the several stitching of per inch.In order to start noose sequence, first line is arranged on the initial point of pattern curvature, this can use above-mentioned striking off and the pleating cycle.Then the stitching of two triple-lengths of then sewing along pattern curvature in the direction leaving initial point is the stitching of a normal length.The stitching of 7 normal lengths of then sewing gets back to initial point.And then put upside down sewing direction, exceed initial stitching along pattern curvature sewing.

When normal sewing pattern, the conveying of bridge portion or cloth or both conveyings simultaneously, preferably form the continus convergence action of suture element relative to cloth.But in noose sequence, particularly in those parts using the noose sequence longer than normal stitching, the conveying obtained is intermittent.But intermittent delivery is preferably unexpected, but quick relative movement and eedle insert the slower this motion in cloth or do not have gentle transition between this motion between the suture element of eedle not in cloth and cloth.When sewing normal length stitching, or long stitching of sewing before or afterwards, conveying is preferably continuous print with stably.

Usually, the sewing of high speed when quilting pattern is undertaken by continuous stitching sewing, and the motion of eedle is the time or is at least the SIN function of needle gage.In above-mentioned so-called intermittent delivery process, eedle motion can think the non-sine function of distance, and when eedle puncture cloth, eedle moves back and forth faster than sine, slower when eedle is extracted out from cloth.The transition of eedle speed can be mild.Such eedle velocity variations is applied in any sewing pattern and uses reverse situation.Sewing originates in eedle and is moved by the halted state relative to cloth, is the useful another kind of situation of this eedle actuation movement.Noose sewing is these situations and the common example needing this eedle velocity variations.

Such as, eedle speed can from stopping and run under consecutive periods speed, its action is made to be the SIN function of time, but cloth and eedle conveying respect to one another very fast when eedle is extracted out from cloth, comparatively slow when eedle puncture cloth, it is move relative to the non-sine function of the distance of cloth that eedle is moved.Under this motion, can sew and slightly be greater than average stitching, the cloth conveying then between eedle puncture cloth can be reduced to the normal needle gage that sewing continuously continues to carry out gradually.Then, when carrying out noose, eedle is put upside down relative to the direction of cloth, and is slightly longer than the similar sequence of normal stitching by the motion of non-sine eedle, is then transitioned into normal size stitching.No matter whether travel direction is put upside down, and can carry out similar system.Which reduce mistake to form stitching, miss stitching and thread breakage.Realizing eedle can make bridge portion move relative to machine rack by (1) relative to the motion of cloth, keeps material stationary simultaneously; (2) keep bridge portion static relative to machine, make cloth motion simulation simultaneously; Or (3) bridge portion and cloth are simultaneously relative to the combination relative motion of machine rack.

The mode performing above-mentioned motion can be, consider the inertia of machine part and cloth and cloth distortion and accelerate, slow down, other impact of eedle deflection and other factors, optimize or minimize these impacts.Such as, when normally sewing in pattern body, eedle can be moved back and forth by a series of stitching cycle sines of relative motion between cloth and eedle, and be namely parallel to the motion of cloth plane, motion is continuous print, namely under constant speed.In this example, eedle per minutely can move back and forth 1400 circulations, and eedle is 200 inches per minute relative to the motion of cloth.Then, when sewing noose sequence, the speed of this parallel motion and reciprocating engine needle movement can slow down by direct ratio, that is, be 100 inches and 700 circulations per minute per minute respectively.Then; for tack stitches; eedle moves back and forth speed and can change and non-sinusoidal motion; such as; the speed motion that the partial periodicity that can puncture cloth at eedle circulates with 2100 per second, then slows to hundreds of per second individual or less, the stitching of normal length of sewing or the stitching longer than normal length between puncture cloth; can order as controller, make the distortion of eedle deflection minimum and cloth minimum.Like this, eedle moves back and forth and accelerates to larger circulation rate when puncturing cloth, between stitching puncture, decelerate to slower circulation rate.Normal stitching is transitioned into or from before or after normal stitching transition, transition stitching of can sewing at tack stitches.This sequence may be used for tack stitches sewing, or when in any pattern, sewing direction is put upside down.

Quilting machines 10 has kinematic system 20, is schematically illustrated in Fig. 6.By vertical travel mechanism 30 of the bridge portion of kinematic system 20, each bridge portion 21,22 can in frame 11 respectively and vertically movement independently.Vertical travel mechanism 30 of bridge portion comprises and is contained in two lifters in frame 11 or lifting subassembly 31, on the right side of frame 11, and one left side (also can see Figure 1A).Each lifting subassembly 31 comprises two pairs of stationary vertical tracks 40, a pair every side in frame 11, on each of which across each for two vertical bridge portion lifters of two vertical 41, one, movable platforms, comprise lower bridge portion lifter 33 and upper bridge portion lifter 34.Each lifter 33,34 comprises two vertical mobile platforms, 41, every side in frame 11, and is equipped with across the bearing block 42 on track 40.The platform 41 of each lifter 33,34 is contained on track 40, thus supports the opposition side in corresponding bridge portion, makes it substantially keep vertical equity, that is, anterior-posterior horizontal.

Upper bridge portion 22 is supported on the corresponding right and left side platform 41 of lifter 34 at its contrary left and right end, and lower bridge portion 21 is supported on the corresponding right and left platform 41 of lower lifter 33 at its contrary left and right end.Although all lifter platforms 41 can mechanically self-movement, the controlled device of opposite platform 19 of each lifter 33,34 controls harmonious upper or lower motion.Further, the controlled device 19 of each lifter 33,34 controls, the platform 41 of opposition side, synchronizing moving each bridge portion 21,22, makes the horizontal maintenance level in bridge portion 21,22, namely from a side to another side level.

A linear servo-motor stator 39 is contained in the every side of frame 11 and vertically extends, and is parallel to vertical rail 40.The armature of linear servo-motor 35,36 is separately fixed on each platform 41 of lower and upper lifter 33,34.Controller 19 controls lower servomotor 35, make the upper and lower motion on stator 39 of lower bridge portion 21, keep bridge portion 21 opposite ends level, and the upper servomotor 36 of control makes bridge portion 22 upper and lower motion on identical stator 39, keeps the opposite ends level in bridge portion 22 simultaneously simultaneously.Vertical travel mechanism 30 comprises digital encoder or decomposer 50, and each lifter carries one, accurately the position of measuring table 41 on track 40, by information feed back to controller 19, contributes to accurate location and the level in bridge portion 21,22.Although the linear electric machine of such as linear servo-motor is preferred, also can use other driver, such as ball bolt and rotating servo motor, or other drive unit.Encoder 50 preferably exports the absolute encoder of actual position signal.

Kinematic system 20 comprises transverse horizontal motion 85, for each bridge portion 21,22.Each bridge portion 21,22 has a pair tongue 49, stretches out rigidly from the opposite ends of its right and left side, is supported in bridge portion 21,22 on the platform 41 of lifter 33,34.Tongue 49 under the operation of transverse horizontal bridge portion motion 85 on lifter platform 41 transverse shifting.The tongue 49 in each bridge portion 21,22 carries laterally extending guide structure 44, and guide structure 44 is with the orbital fashion (Fig. 6 A and 6G) in the bearing 43 of the platform 41 across corresponding lifter 33,34.Linear servo-motor stator pole 60 is fixed on the tongue 49 of side, each bridge portion 21,22, and parallel orbit or guide structure 44 extend.The armature of linear servo-motor 45,46 is fixed on a platform 41 in each corresponding bridge portion 21,22, and it installs the signal and stator pole 60 co-operating transverse shifting stator pole 60 that are in response to controller 19.Transverse horizontal motion comprises the decoder 63 in each bridge portion 21,22, near the armature of servomotor 45,45 being positioned at corresponding lifter platform 41, by horizontal bridge position information feed back to controller 19, contributes to the accurate control of horizontal bridge position.Bridge portion 21,22 is independent controlled, thus vertical upper and lower motion and laterally left and right motion, and with coordination mode operation, quilting pattern that cloth 12 is sewed.In the illustrated embodiment in which, each bridge portion can transverse shifting 18 inches (decentre position +/-9 inches), and each bridge portion can move up and down 36 inches (decentre position +/-18 inches).The vertical moving range in lower and upper bridge portion 21,22 can be overlapping.

The driven roller 18 at frame 11 top is also a part for whole kinematic system 20, is to be driven by the conveying servomotor 64 at frame 11 top, and as shown in Figure 6, this conveying servomotor 64 is on the right side (for the downstream) of frame 11.Upon start up, servomotor 64 driven roller 18 downstream transport cloth material strip material 12, and by its along plane 16 between quilting station and the part 23 and 24 in two bridge portions 21 and 22 to pull-up.Roller 18 also drives the Timing Belt 65 in the frame 11 on the left of quilting machines 10, as shown in Figure 6A.Each bridge portion 21,22 also can have a pair pinch roll 66, replace dummy roll 15, its axle journal be contained in support corresponding bridge portion 21,22 corresponding lifter platform 41 on.These rollers 66 clamp cloth 12 at the height in bridge portion 21,22, make the transverse shifting of cloth minimum at the height of sewing head 25,26.Pinch roll 66 is synchronously driven by band 64, thus is becoming the district of nipping of pair roller 66, and the tangential motion on its surface drives cloth 12.

Only having dummy roll 15 and omitting roller 66 is also the other scheme of acceptable.This available scheme can avoid cloth pack in some cloth and bridge portion motion sequence process.

As shown in Figure 6A, utilize supporting bridge portion 21,22 static lifter platforms 41, starter motor 64, by driven roller 18, makes band material 12 between the pinch roll 66 in bridge portion 21,22 to downstream with upwards advance.Then, the band that roller 18 rotates on the left of frame 11 drives cogwheel 600, rotating band 65.The roller 66 in two bridge portions 21,22 is driven by the motion of band 65, thus when bridge portion 21,22 is vertically fixing, they have identical tangential velocity, roll with cloth 12 when cloth 12 is driven upwards by the motion of roller 18.On the other hand, when conveying roller 18 and cloth 12 static time, band 65 keep static, as shown in Figure 6B.When band 65 is static, any one bridge portion 21,22 moves up or down, roller 66 will be forced to move relative to band material 12, also move relative to band 65.Roller 66 makes roller 66 rotate relative to band 65 motion, and rotary speed make to nip between them the roller surface in district keeps static on band material 12, thus roller 66 is along static cloth material strip material 12 surface scrolls.In addition, aggregate motion with material 12 and bridge portion 21,22 is with the aggregate motion being delivered to roller 66, namely from band the moving upward of material 12, effectively deduct moving upward of bridge portion 21,22, thus be move with cloth 12 at the total surface of the roller 66 in the district of nipping at complete roller 66.On cloth 12, keep longitudinal tension force with being synchronized with the movement between material 12 and the pinch roll 66 in each bridge portion 21,22, and clamp cloth 12 in each bridge portion 21,22, the horizontal cloth distortion of opposing band material 12.

Make band 65 synchronously drive pinch roll 66 and bridge portion 21,22 and be with the structure of motion of material 12, also representing in Fig. 6 C and 6D, and Fig. 6 A and 6B as above.Inserted tooth driven roller 600 walked around by band 65, and the latter is driven (Fig. 6 D) by gear assembly 601 by conveying roller 18.Band 65 also walks around drive pulley 606 and loose pulley 607, and the two lifter platform 41 being contained in lower bridge portion 21 can rotate; And walk around loose pulley 608 and drive pulley 609, the two lifter platform 41 being contained in bridge portion 22 can rotate, and all these are on the left of frame 11.Drive pulley 606 is driven by the motion of band 65, and by gear mechanism 610(Fig. 6 D) drive the pinch roll 66 in lower bridge portion 21; And drive pulley 609 is also driven by the motion of band 65, and the pinch roll 66 in upper bridge portion 22 is driven by gear mechanism 611.Gear mechanism 610 and 611, relative to the drive ratio of driven wheel mechanism 601, makes the tangential velocity of roller 66 and roller 18 be zero relative to band material 12.It should be noted that the position regardless of bridge portion 21 and 22, the route of band 65 keeps identical.

In addition, entrance roller 15 represents that in the bottom of Fig. 6 D and Fig. 6 E, 6F be the roller being similar to roller 18 for a pair.If so provide and drive these rollers 15, and the induction system of band material 12 according to quilting machines 10 upstream, these rollers can be to need or unwanted, thus roller 15 is also driven by band 65, the gear mechanism 612 that the roller 605 driven as band 65 drives.In this case, by the gear ratio of coupling rightly between mechanism 601 and 612, roller 15 should keep the tangential velocity identical with conveying roller 18.But preferably make roller 15 rotate freely as dummy roll, and only provide single roller 15 with upstream side above cloth 12, cloth 12 is wrapped in around it.Each gear mechanism 601,610 with 611 can substantially as gear mechanism 612 diagram with explanation the same.

The vertical movement in bridge portion 21,22 is coordinated by the downstream movement of controller 19 with cloth material strip material 12.The coordination mode of motion, makes bridge portion 21,22 effectively remain in its 36 inch vertical stroke range.In addition, the motion in two bridge portions 21,22 makes the different piece of sewing different pattern or pattern.Like this, its independent motion is also coordinate, thus two bridge portions 21,22 remain on it separately in stroke range, and this may need them to operate under different sewing velocity.Its realization can control a bridge portion by controller 19 is independent, and the motion in another bridge portion depends on or be subordinated to another bridge portion, but other movement combination may adapt to different pattern and situation better.

Sewing head 25,26 sewing pattern in bridge portion 21,22 is realized relative to the vertical of cloth 12 and transverse shifting by composite bridge portion 21,22, is the motion of the sewing head 25,26 in bridge portion thus.These motions in most of the cases coordinated by controller 19, thus keep stitching size constancy, and such as, per inch 7 stitchings, this is representative value.This coordination usually needs to change bridge portion or be with material or the movement velocity of the two, or changes the speed of sewing head 25,26.

Two eedles being controlled the common eedle driving shaft 32 driving each bridge portion 21,22 respectively by controller 19 drive the operation of servo-drive system 67, the speed of controller syringe needle 25.Similarly, two loopers being controlled the common looper band drive system 37 driving each bridge portion 21,22 by controller 19 to drive in each bridge portions 21,22 of servo-drive system 69(one) operation, control the speed of curved needle head 26.By the different operating of two servo-drive systems 67 and two servo-drive systems 69, the sewing head 25,26 in different bridge portion 21,22 can be driven at different rates.But needle head 25 and the curved needle head 26 in identical bridge portion 21,22 run at the same speed, and synchronously coordinate to form stitching, but these can relative to each other phasing slightly, picks up for suitable ring, eedle deflection or other object.

In addition, the horizontal movement in bridge portion is controlled in some cases, makes them move in opposite directions, thus by the sewing operation that any one bridge portion 21,22 performs, is tending towards eliminating cloth 12 transversely deforming.Such as, when two bridge portions 21,22 are sewing identical patterns, can controlled them and in the opposite direction forming circle.Different pattern also can control, thus most actual capabilities eliminating effect is in the cross force of band material 12.

Above-described embodiment has independent driving servo-drive system, for needle head assembly 25 and the curved needle head assembly 26 in each bridge portion 21,22.Particularly, each bridge portion 21,22 comprises eedle and drives servo-drive system 67, and the signal of controlled device 19 controls respectively, driving shaft 32; Then drive all needle head assemblies 25 in each bridge portion, each needle head assembly 25 is optionally engaged by clutch 100, and this is also by the signal manipulation of controller 19.And, each bridge portion 21,22 also comprises looper and drives servo-drive system 69, also the independent signal by controller 19 controls, rotating band 37, drive all curved needle head assemblies 26 in corresponding bridge portion thus, make each curved needle head assembly 26 by the similar selective engagement of clutch 210, this is also by the signal manipulation of controller 19.Independent driver 67 and 69 is convenient to start separation characteristic, as mentioned above, and eedle deflection compensation, other controlled working can also be applied to.

Here also illustrate and describe other feasible bridge portions a lot of design, needle head assembly and eedle and looper and control thereof.In Fig. 6 H, indicate end section or the tongue 49 in bridge portion 21 or 22, wherein eedle drive motors 67 drives needle head assembly 25 and the curved needle head assembly 26 in same bridge portion simultaneously after connecting.Servomotor 67 Direct driver output shaft 32, this is the eedle driving power shaft in this bridge portion.Axle 32 drives inserted tooth band 32a thus, and inserted tooth band 32a drives looper to drive power shaft 37a, and looper drives power shaft 37a to replace the looper rotating band 37 of preceding embodiment.For this embodiment, eedle 132 drives together with looper 216, is not to control separately or phasing.Because suture element is mechanical connection, dynamic failure and other fault seldom cause the mechanical failure of machine.But the ability recovering to control separately eedle and curved needle head can drive servo-drive system 69 by retaining looper, and exported by Differential Driving 69a and be connected to axle 37a, Differential Driving 69a is increased between tape drive 32a and looper driving shaft 37a.

Looper driving shaft 37a is connected to segmentation axle 37c by band 37b, and the latter is formed by the torque tube 37d of alternate series and gear-box 210a.Gear-box 210a replaces looper driving clutch 210, but drives looper and the stop driver 212 of curved needle head assembly 26 continuously, instead of optionally drives each as described in preceding embodiment.Eedle is enabled separately or is stopped using and determines whether this cover suture element participates in pattern sewing.Although clutch 210 can replace gear-box 210a, because looper 216 is not through the cloth be sewed, no matter whether corresponding eedle driven unit 25 is driven, and looper 216 can continuous service.

The curved needle head assembly 26 of this embodiment, as that shown in fig. 2 c assembly 26a, comprise basic looper as above and stop driver 212.They each also comprise needle plate 38, being illustrated as rectangular slab 38a, is fixing relative to the looper drive shell 238 with pin hole 81.Each gear-box 210a has output shaft, is locked on the power shaft of looper and stop driver 212 by the axle collar 440, thus these axles relative to each other only axially can regulate.Each gear-box 210a is supported by two bearings 441, and every side of gear-box 210a has one, around the axle 37c as gear-box 210a input drive shaft.Each bearing 441 is fixed in holder 442, and the latter's bolted is in bridge portion.Like this, gear-box 210a is only axially adjustable relative to axle 37c.

When curved needle head assembly 26a is contained in the rear portion 24 in bridge portion 21,22,4 adjustments can be carried out.Two Level tunes may be used for regulating the assembly 26a in bridge portion.Before screw down clips gripping member 442, gear-box 210a can be positioned laterally on axle 37c, makes eedle hole 81 lateral alignment eedle 132.Then can unclamp the axle collar 440, assembly 26a moved towards eedle driven unit 25 or leaves it, thus regulating needle plate 38a relative to textile plane 16.The angular adjustment of looper and stop driver 212 can by aliging the disk (not shown) of the power shaft of the driver 212 in shell 238 with the aligned hole 444 of shell 238.This is by by the axle of straight pin (not shown) through hole 444 rotary driver 212, until pin inserts the hole of alignment disk.When completing adjustment, tighten the axle collar 440.The vertical adjustment of looper 216 has regulated by reference to the above-mentioned looper of Fig. 4 E.

Fig. 2 C also indicates the needle head assembly 25 producing the motion of simple sinusoidal eedle, and embodiment 25a is the same for camera needle assembly.Each needle head assembly 25a comprises clutch 100, for optionally power being delivered to eedle driver 102a and presser foot driver 104a from eedle driving shaft 32.Eedle driver 102a, presser foot driver 104a and clutch 100 and axle 32 are supported on eedle drive enclosure 418.Eedle driver 102a comprises crank 106, is driven through rotating band 164 by the output belt pulley 166 of clutch 100.Crank 106 is mechanically connected to eedle retainer 108 by direct eedle drive link 110a.The arm of crank 106 or eccentric 112 is connected to connecting rod 110a one end and can rotates.The other end of connecting rod 110a is connected to the pin 123 that stretches out from the block 122 moving back and forth axle 124 and can rotates, and axle 124 is extensions of eedle retainer 108.Axle 124 installs rear reciprocating linear motion, as above with reference to the assembly 25 described in Fig. 2.Presser foot driver 104a is similar to substantially above with reference to the presser foot driver 104 described in Fig. 2 A.The element of needle head assembly 25a is made up not needing the material operated under lubricating condition of permission head.

Shell 418 is the structural members with three mounting flanges 451,452 and 453, for assembly 25a and the related elements thereof of front portion 23, supporting bridge portion 21,22.The front portion 23, bridge portion 21,22 of the embodiment 23a shown in Fig. 6 I, utilize the shell 418 of head group part 25a to strengthen bridge portion part, shell 418 is made up of open slot 455.Flange 451 bolted is at the vertical plane of groove 455, and flange 452 and 453 bolted is at the groove extended along groove 455 bottom transverse, thus increases the reinforcement structure of strengthening groove 455, the principal stress run in opposing sewing process and dynamic load.Driving shaft 32 is (Fig. 2 C) of being made up of a section torque tube 32a and solid shafting part 32b, is also supported by shell 218 part by the clutch 100 be contained on shell 218, thus some driving forces is limited on these shells 218.This structure makes the supernumerary structure feature (Fig. 1) of elimination such as muscle 89 become a reality.

In typical structure, quilting machines 10 quilting can be transported downstream to the band material 12 of material block cutting machine and trimmer, or quilting can roll and be sent to the band material 12 of off-line cutting and clipping device.The material block cutting operation that also can perform with the material block cutting assembly 41 at frame 11 top with the motion in material 12 and bridge portion 21,22 is harmonious.Material block cutting machine 71 has just in the cut-out 72 of the cross-section band material 12 in driven roller 18 downstream, and in a pair pruning of frame 11 two opposite sides or rip cutting 73, rip cutting 73 near cut-out 72 downstream, for pruning the selvedge of band material 12 both sides.

Cutting off 72 is contained on track 74, and the position of rest on the left of frame 11 traverses across frame 11.By with inserted tooth band 76 output being connected to the end 72, the AC motor 75 be fixed in frame 11 drives this head to move on track 74.Cut off 72 and comprise a pair cutting wheel 77 rolled along the contrary side of cloth 12, make cloth 12 between, thus from the preceding limb transverse cuts quilting material block of band material 12.Take turns 77 gears and connect to the end 72, the speed of wheel 77 cutting edge is directly proportional to a speed of 72 traverse tracks 74.

When expecting that block edge is correctly positioned at the cutting position that cutting wheel 77 course formed, controller 19 makes the operation of cut-out 72 start synchronous with motor 75.When carrying out cut-out action, controller 19 makes cloth 12 move and stops at this position.In cutting operation process, the sewing that controller 19 can stop sewing head 25,26 to perform; Or when material 12 stops cutting, sewing can be continued by motion bridge portion 21,22, make sewing head 25,26 carry out any vertically moving relative to cloth 12.

Rip cutting 73 is carried out pruning or rip cutting when the band material of cut-off cloth 12 or material block is from cutting head 72 to downstream movement.Each rip cutting 73 has a set of relative conveyer belt 78, takes turns 79 coordinate to drive with a pair rip cutting.The U.S. Patent No. 6736078 that these rip cuttings structure of 73 and the detailed explanation of operation are submitted on March 1st, 2002 see people such as Kaetterhenry, title is " Soft Goods Slitterand Feed System for Quilting ", and this patent is incorporated herein by reference document.

Conveyer belt 78 79 to run with wheel together with tooth, and when band material 12 is advanced past rip cutting 73 by the drive systems of conveying roller 18.After cutting head 72 expects to cut material cutting block from band, band 78 and conveying roller 18 points of open shops, fall material block from band 78 supernatant.Rip cutting 73 laterally can regulate on the laterally extending track 80 striding across frame 11 width, thus adapts to the band material 12 of different in width, discloses as U.S. Patent No. 6736078.This regulates is expecting that block is cut off and carries out under control of the controller 19 after pruning band 78 is removed.Rip cutting 73 and the lateral attitude in frame 11 thereof are adjusted to consistent with the edge of cloth 12, carry out under control of the controller 19, and its mode is according to U.S. Patent No. 6736078 and with reference to explanation here.

Use said structure, controller 19 is along forward direction moving belt material, make bridge portion up and down, right and left motion, make lower bridge portion up and down, right and left motion, the Kai Heguan of each eedle of selective conversion and looper drive, and control eedle and the right speed of looper drive, and all with various combination and composite sequence, pattern and the operation efficiently of very wide region is provided.Such as, the sewing of simple line is very fast and have multiple combination.Compared with previous quilting machines, the sewing pattern of continuous 180 degree of patterns (those are also only proal from being sewn into opposite side) and 360 degree of patterns (those need oppositely sewing) is many, and speed is fast.Discrete pattern, has namely needed a pattern part, sewing tack stitches, cutting line jump to the beginning of a new pattern part, can sew with more pattern and higher efficiency.Different pattern can connect.Different pattern can be sewed simultaneously.Cloth can move when sewing pattern or static.Sewing can be cut with material block and synchronously be carried out.Material block can be sewed under different eedle speed, and pattern different piece can be sewed at various speeds simultaneously.Eedle arrangement, spacing and position can change automatically.

Such as, the simple straight line of sewing parallel band material 12 length can by being fixed on select location by bridge portion, and the operation then only by driven roller 18 makes band material 12 be advanced past machine.When driving sewing head 25,26, make stitching be with the speed of speed sync of expect under formed, thus the Stitching density needed for maintenance.

The continuous linear that band material 12 is crossed in sewing can move horizontally bridge portion by fixed band material 12, operates sewing head similarly simultaneously.Multiple sewing head can operate in the bridge portion of motion simultaneously, the fragment of sewing same lateral line, thus the motion in bridge portion only needs the level interval that equals between eedle.As a result, x wire sewing is very fast.

Those patterns that identical patterns shape is formed repeatedly are repeated when continuous pattern is machine stitching.Can be called standard continuous pattern by means of only band material relative to the available continuous pattern of sewing head one-way movement, wherein sewing head connects into transverse shifting.This is sometimes referred to as 180 degree of patterns.Their sewing on quilting machines 10 are vertical position by fixed bridge portion and run conveying roller 18 band material 12 is moved, and only make bridge portion 21,22 horizontal movement.On quilting machines 10, band material 12 is not relative to frame 11 transverse shifting.

Fig. 7 A is an example of standard continuous pattern.The conventional multi-needle Sewing machines of identical patterns that all eedles are sewed simultaneously, the illustrated the pattern 900 as long as eedle with two between-line spacing distance D can be sewed.Distance D is the preset parameter of machine, can not change with pattern difference.This is because eedle line-spacing is fixing, all eedles must move together.For quilting machines 10, as mentioned above, distance D can be arbitrary value, because alternately stitching can eedle sewing in a bridge portion, other stitching can with the eedle sewing in another bridge portion simultaneously.These two bridge portions can by any motion of relation toward each other.In addition, if interval, two bridge portions vertically distance 2D, the eedle in each bridge portion starts at point 901 and 902, such as, move when they upwards can be carried with band material along opposite lateral, thus alternate row 903 of sewing out with 904 as identical mirror image.By this way, bridge portion can be eliminated and to move the cross force acted on cloth, thus it is minimum that cloth is out of shape.

Need the continuous pattern of moving relative to sewing head two-way tape material referred to herein as 360 degree of patterns.These 360 degree of patterns can be sewed by various ways.Band material 12 can keep static in a pattern repeat length, completes whole sewing with the motion in bridge portion, is then with material 12 to advance a repeat length, stopping, and next repeat length also can only by the motion sewing of bridge portion.The method that is more effective and high yield of this 360 degree of continuous pattern of sewing comprises makes band material 12 advance, and the vertical bands material part formed needed for pattern is moved relative to head, and the sewing in bridge portion is only by the horizontal movement relative to band material 12 and frame 11.When a point of pattern reach need oppositely vertically sewing direction time, by stopping conveying roller 18 stop band material 12, and the one or more bridge portion performing sewing moves upward.When vertical direction must again oppositely time, bridge portion moves downward, and band material is still static, until bridge portion reaches initial position, from then on position starts its vertically mobile and band material motion and stops.Then recover the motion of band material, conveying pattern vertical portion is until pattern needs again reverse.The combination of bridge portion and the vertical movement of band material prevents bridge portion from walking out scope.

An example of 360 degree of continuous pattern 910 represents in figure 7b.The sewing of this pattern starts, and such as, at point 911, and vertical curve 912 is by means of only upwards vertical bands material motion sewing.Then, at point 913, band material stops and only horizontal line 914 is sewn into a little 915 with the motion of horizontal bridge portion, then suture 916 is sewn into by means of only the motion of upwards bridge portion, then only horizontal bridge portion moves to sewing thread 917, then only vertical bridge portion moves to sewing thread 918 downwards, and then only horizontal bridge portion moves to sewing thread 919, and then only vertical bridge portion moves to sewing thread 920 downwards.Then, only with horizontal bridge portion motion sewing thread 921, then only with upwards bridge portion motion sewing thread 922, then only with horizontal bridge portion motion sewing thread 923 to point 924.This point and along the line 923, bridge portion arrives below its initial position point more any than pattern maximum distance all far away.Then, bridge portion moves downward sewing thread 925 as far as point 926, the point 915 that this point starts near the motion of vertical bridge portion, and at point 926 bridge, its original vertical position is got back in portion, thus its vertically mobile stopping, and band material moves upward sewing thread until point 927.Then, only horizontal bridge portion motion sewing thread 928 is to point 929, gets back to the starting point of pattern.

The discontinuous pattern formed by discrete pattern part, TACK & JUMP pattern is called by trade mark by the assignee of applicant, sew according to the mode identical with continuous pattern, tack stitches is carried out in the beginning of each pattern part and end, trim lines after each pattern part completes, and make cloth proceed to next pattern beginning relative to eedle.180 degree and 360 degree of patterns are processed into continuous pattern.An example of this 360 degree of patterns 930 represents at Fig. 7 C.A kind of plain mode of this pattern of sewing is the motion sewing pattern with bridge portion, noose pattern line of cut, then only to be with the motion of material to jump to next repetition.But the band material motion shown in Fig. 7 B is increased to pattern sewn portion can productivity gain.

Concept according to U.S. Patent No. 6026756, different pattern can link together.Fig. 7 D is an example of the connection pattern can sewed on quilting machines 10, does not wherein have the vertical movement in bridge portion, and two bridge portions to be sewed four-leaf clover shape pattern 941 jointly by the opposition side that sewing becomes mirror image.In addition, a bridge portion can sew as the pattern 941 of 360 degree of discontinuous pattern, the straight-line pattern of another bridge portion sewing simultaneously.

Fig. 7 E represents continuous 360 degree of patterns 950, and its sewing to be sewed one of them pattern 951 with a bridge portion, and another bridge portion sews the mirror image 952 of identical patterns.This pattern 950 uses band material and the bridge portion vertical mobile logic similar with the pattern 910 of Fig. 7 B to sew.When determining the distribution of the vertical movement between bridge portion and band material, controller 19 analyzed pattern before sewing starts.In such decision, in the beginning that each pattern repeats, the identical when lateral attitude at the end of repetition must start with pattern, and vertical bands material level put must be identical or farther downstream (upstream).The sewing of pattern 950 can with lower bridge radicals by which characters are arranged in traditional Chinese dictionaries first sew a little 953 tack stitches and sewing pattern 951.This sewing will use the horizontal movement of bridge portion and only band material is vertically mobile, until the point of arrival 954.Then, band material stops, and bridge portion vertically sews, and downwards more upwards, the point of arrival 955, at this point, watchman's wooden clapper is in and its lengthwise position at the identical band material of point 954 and identical vertical position.Then, recover band material conveying once vertically movement, and this sequence is repeated for the second half patterns 956.

When the point of arrival 957, the second bridge portion starts pattern 952, and tack stitches, at point 953, is sewed by the mode identical with the first bridge portion sewing pattern 951, but level or horizontal direction reverse.Sewing proceeds, and for two patterns 951 and 952, bridge portion is identical with band material and simultaneously vertically mobile.Sewing proceeds, until the lower bridge portion point of arrival 958, and sew herein tack stitches cutting line.After repetition more than one pattern, the second bridge portion arrives identical point, and sew tack stitches cutting line.

Form a pattern by the bridge portion that moves and another bridge portion that moves forms another pattern, two different patterns can be sewed simultaneously.The operation of two bridge portions and the sewing head above it is controlled relative to public imaginary axis, the speed of this imaginary axis can increase, until a bridge portion arrives its maximal rate, and another bridge portion runs at lower speeds, and velocity ratio is determined by patterning requirement.The pattern 960 of Fig. 7 F represents that this on the one hand.With the vertical curve of a bridge portion sewing pattern 961, the Z-shaped line of sewing pattern 962 while of another bridge portion, the sewing speed in two bridge portions must be different.Because the sewing series of pattern 962 is longer than pattern 961, therefore with the reference value 1:1 ratio that arranges under imaginary axis or maximum sewing velocity under drive pattern 962.If the line of pattern 962 is miter angles, such as, the sewing speed of pattern 961 will be set as 0.707 times of the speed of pattern 962.

Sewing pattern can by the vertical and horizontal movement in composite bridge portion while cloth advance, thus make process optimization become possibility.Fig. 7 G, such as, represent pattern 970, it is formed by straight border pattern 971 combined diamond shape pattern 972 and circular pattern 973.If whole material block is greater than 36 inch vertical bridge portion strokes, such as, if size L is 70 inches, sewing is carried out as follows: use 360 degree of logics, when being with material static, the first diamond of the material to be sewn block first half 974 and circle, one of them bridge portion sewing diamond, another bridge portion sewing circle, or some other combinations.Then, sewing border pattern 971, is with material to move upward 35 inches in the process, sews as mentioned above vertically and horizontal line.Then, the diamond of material to be sewn block Lower Half 975 and circle.In addition, during the material to be sewn block first half, the upper circle of upper bridge portion sewing and diamond shape pattern, the lower circle of lower bridge portion sewing and diamond (two row).Then, after sewing boundary line, circle and the diamond shape pattern of material block Lower Half can be distributed similarly between bridge portion.

Use above-mentioned quilting machines 10, can sew or unpractical other pattern impossible for prior art machine.Such as, Fig. 9 represents the part 500 of quilting band material 12, above quilting two pattern parts 501 and 502.In order to simplify, select these two patterns as the unidirectional pattern of continuous print, but the principle that these patterns of contact sewing are discussed, be combined with the principle that a lot of patterns of the above-mentioned Fig. 7 of contact A-7G are discussed, produce other more complicated pattern and combinations of patterns, thus the advantage of additional features and stitching process is provided.The pattern 501 and 502 of band material part 500 has some denominators and some special natures.Both be the unidirectional types of patterns of continuous print, eachly complete respectively on fixing eedle multi-needle quilter separately, wherein from one, identical patterns expects that block extends to another.Pattern 501, such as, is called " cepaeform " pattern, and by replacing, basic sine curve 503 and 504 formed.These curves 503,504 can be thought identical, but differ from 180 degree of phase places, thus they are polymerized and are separated the illustrated cepaeform pattern 501 of formation.Pattern 502 is called " diamond " pattern, is to be formed by the Z-shaped line 505 and 506 replaced.These lines or curve 505 and 506 also can be thought identical, but differ from 180 degree of phase places, thus they are also polymerized and are separated the illustrated diamond shape pattern 502 of formation.Two curves 503,504 of pattern 501 were formed by the pattern repetition period 507, and two curves 505,506 of pattern 502 were formed by the repetition period 508 simultaneously.These two patterns 501 and 502 are separated by a little length 510 of band material 12.

Each pattern 501 and 502 can be thought and forms by with lower part respectively: (1) initial length 511 and 512, strides across 180 degree or the half of pattern repetition period; (2) intermediate length 513 and 514, strides across one or more 360 degree of the pattern repetition period, or the complete cycle; And (3) terminate length 515 and 516, also stride across 180 degree of the pattern repetition period.These length 511-516 are for moving upward in Fig. 9 through quilting machines 10 and the band material 12 of top-to-bottom quilting from figure.Every bar curve of pattern 501 and 502 starts with tack-stitch sequence 517, and terminates with tack-stitch sequence 518.The noose of these curves start and terminate and the longitudinal direction of the end tack-stitch sequence 518 of a pattern and the beginning tack-stitch sequence 517 of next pattern close, be the special advantageous characteristic of this aspect of the present invention.The length 210 of the band material 12 between pattern 501 and 502 can be less than 180 degree of length of pattern, is even significantly less than, such as, be 90 degree, 15 degree or be 0 degree.Between pattern, length 210 may reside on the material block that be made up of two identical or different patterns of material block, such as illustrated two patterns 501 and 502, or may reside in two borders of expecting between block.When the border of interior pattern length 210 between two patterns, at this region cutting material block, thus the minimum or Waste reduction of cloth waste of the band material 12 between material block can be made.In fig .9, it is long that each pattern 501 and 502 is expressed as two pattern period, and each end length 515 or 516 grown by intermediate length 513 or 514 and the half period of the long initial length 511 or 512 of half period, a complete cycle length respectively forms.

Although each pattern 501 and 502 can be sewed on prior art multi-needle quilter, such as, disclosed by U.S. Patent No. 5154130, wherein there are some to limit, as understandable with reference to figure 9A.This in part because, use conventional multi-needle quilting machines, multirow eedle is contained on a public rigidity sewing header structure, eedle is fixed on this sewing head, and eedle is capable is limited to constant spacing, all eedles of all row are sewed simultaneously, and the fixed relationship that maintenance is determined in the layout of sewing head structure by it.These stitchings simultaneously formed utilize in position 521 and are spaced the first row eedle of lateral separation 522, and be spaced the second row eedle of lateral separation 524 in position 523, and two row eedles separate fore-and-aft distance 525.This eedle arranges the relative dimensions part of the cepaeform design forming pattern 501 in Fig. 9 A, particularly in longitudinal direction.Similar size restriction comes from the distance eedle position 526 of 527, Article 1 lateral separation and the eedle position 528 of Article 2 spacing distance 529.In figure 9 a, the lateral separation 527 of pattern 502 does not need (not being in figure 9 a) identical with 524 with the distance 522 of pattern 501 with 529.Because the structure of equipment limits, the fore-and-aft distance 525 of row is identical for pattern 501 and 502.These distances 525,527 and 529 form the size of the diamond design part of pattern 502 in Fig. 9 A.

From every two eedles of sewing pattern 501(, use every bar 4 eedles) be transitioned in every two eedles of sewing pattern 502(use every bar 7 eedles), as shown in Figure 9 A, need change eedle arrange.For at least most prior art machine, it is normally hand-manipulated that eedle arranges replacing.In addition, pattern 502 can replace with those patterns that restriction uses 4 eedles identical with pattern 501, such as, have 4 row instead of the diamondoid pattern of 7 row, thus changes to pattern 502 from pattern 501 and do not need replacing eedle.Further, all eedles of the machine fixed due to eedle are starting in the same time and are stopping mutually, occupy which row have nothing to do with them on sewing head; And the longitudinal separation distance 525 necessary with the start and stop position of the pattern curvature 503 and 504 being positioned at position 521 and 523 of being sewed by different rows eedle respectively, make half length thereof of the only curve 503 or 504 occupying certain length band material, equal distance 525 in the beginning of each pattern 501 and 502 and end.This causes the length 530 of cloth waste material or the refuse produced to equal double length 525 between adjacent patterns on band material 12, and these must cut away and abandon.Correspondingly, this needs pattern to extend to the cutting upstream and downstream end of material block.This just can not produce the material block that pattern leaves material block end, makes pattern curvature that different eedle bar is sewed in identical point start and stop.Further, the tack stitches of the lateral alignment of the eedle sewing of different eedle bar or unknown.In addition, the combination of the equipment and process of prior art still can not make the curve start and stop of two patterns of quilting material block align and more closely be separated from each other on identical material block, as shown in Figure 9.

According to one embodiment of present invention, the pattern shown in Fig. 9 obtains on the multi-needle quilter improved.The limitation of this pattern is, the repeat length 507 of pattern 501 is basic identical with the repeat length 508 of pattern 502.In this embodiment, multi-needle quilter, such as, discloses in U.S. Patent No. 5154130, has automatic retraction or selects eedle, thus eedle can, and another eedle is sewed.In addition, this multi-needle quilter makes band material 12 reverse relative to the relative motion in eedle bar or bridge portion that sewing head is housed.Although the method explained here is for the sewing head machine fixing relative to machine stands longitudinal, band material 12 is longitudinally travelled forward, and at least short distance is moved backward, but these are explained and are also applicable to sewing head in bridge portion by the machine that array is fixing, make that sewing head is longitudinal relative to cloth to move together.The diagram of the method is see Fig. 9 B-9I.

Referring to Fig. 9 B, band material 12 is advanced past quilting station along the direction of arrow 531, and quilting station has the eedle strip array 532 comprising upstream eedle bar 533 and downstream eedle bar 534.Eedle bar 533 and 534 points open fixing distance 525.The eedle sewing pattern curve 503 of upstream eedle bar 533 is by tack-stitch sequence 517 of sewing in eedle position 523.When band material 12 advances a distance 525, as shown in Figure 9 C, the eedle of downstream bar 534 starts and the tack-stitch sequence 517 that passes through to sew in eedle position 521 starts sewing pattern curve 504, thus is starting with the starting position that the identical lengthwise position in curve 503 beginning is alignd curve 504 of sewing.Then, along with two eedle bars 533 and 534 are sewed curve 503 and 504 simultaneously, band material 12 is advanced further, until the position of Fig. 9 D, at this position sewing tack-stitch sequence 518, and cutting line and the eedle of bar 533 in position 523 of stopping using.Then continue sewing, make eedle in the position 521 of bar 534, until band material is in the position shown in Fig. 9 E.In this position of band material 12, the eedle sewing tack-stitch sequence 518 of bar 534, then cutting line and the eedle of bar 534 of stopping using, finishing patterns 501 thus.

Now machine prepares sewing pattern 502, but upstream bar 533 crossed by band material 12, must the position shown in slow astern distance 525 arrival Fig. 9 F, thus can by the sequence sewing pattern 502 contacting the sewing pattern 501 described in Fig. 9 B-9E above being similar to.For sewing pattern 502, eedle in the position 528 of bar 534 starts, and sewing tack-stitch sequence 517 starts curve 505, wherein along with band material 12 distance 525 of advancing starts sewing.Like this, start pattern 502 at distance 510 place of distance pattern 501 end, do not have cloth to waste.Then, when shown in Fig. 9 G during position, the eedle of the position 526 on bar 534 starts, and sewing tack-stitch sequence 517 starts curve 506.Then, two eedle bars 533 and 534 sew simultaneously curve 503 and 504 time, band material 12 is advanced further, until arrive the position of Fig. 9 H, at this position sewing tack-stitch sequence 518, cutting line and the eedle of position 528 on bar 533 of stopping using.Then continue sewing, eedle is in the position 526 of bar 534, until band is expected reach position shown in Fig. 9 I.In this position of band material 12, the eedle sewing tack-stitch sequence 518 of bar 534, then cutting line and the eedle of bar 534 of stopping using, finishing patterns 502 thus.If will to sew another pattern 501 or 502 near the pattern 502 that complete, be then with material 12 back leg distance 525 must arrive the beginning of next pattern.

Because eedle bar 533 moves together with 534, when the tack-stitch sequence 518 of the tack-stitch sequence 517 of construction drawing 9C and 9G and Fig. 9 D and 9H, start other eedle, result to be sewed with the curve midway that these other eedles are carrying out sewing tack-stitch sequence.This may be unwanted in aesthetic view point.Select as one, these eedles can be stopped using when not cutting line, this line process problem that will cause not wishing to occur, cause line sequence loose or miss stitching.Based on these and other reason, preferably, there is with quilting machines 10 preform the sewing pattern combination of pattern 501 shown in Fig. 9 and 502 character, as below with reference to described in Fig. 9 J-9N.

Above-mentioned quilting machines 10 is used simplyr to combine with the pattern 501 and 502 shown in Fig. 9 of sewing more neatly.Fig. 9 J represents any original position of bridge portion 21 and 22 in the middle part of its stroke range of quilting machines 10, enough high in frame, allows certain for down stroke.When curve 503 beginning at pattern 501 of the eedle in lower bridge portion 21 of tack-stitch sequence 517 of sewing, sewing can be started.Then, lower bridge portion 21 curve 503 that starts to sew moves downward simultaneously, and band material 12 is static, and upper bridge portion 22 moves upward to identical starting position, arrives position shown in Fig. 9 K.This action can with or replace with band material 12 move upward.When being in original position, the eedle in upper bridge portion 22 is then at curve 504 beginning sewing tack-stitch sequence 518.Because the sewing head in bridge portion 21 and 22 can independent operation, therefore tack-stitch sequence 518 can be sewed by upper bridge portion 22, the normal stitching of the curve 503 that continues to sew incessantly with bridge portion 21 at present.In addition, the distance that lower bridge portion 21 moves downward can be any distance in its stroke range, makes bridge portion 22 be in original position and has enough gaps.By moving downward a complete pattern cycle 513, such as, using the method for above-mentioned reduction band material distortion, bridge the portion 21 and 22 sewing curve 503 and 504 of opposite direction transverse shifting can be used.

Then, when bridge portion 21 and 22 longitudinal direction is static, band material 12 moves upward, and curve 503 and 504 is sewn into pattern to be terminated, as Fig. 9 M.In the process arriving this state, be with material 12 through the position shown in Fig. 9 L, the now end of arrival curve 503, the tack-stitch sequence 518 and bridge portion 21 sews.When carrying out this tack-stitch sequence, band material 12 can move continuously, and the curve 504 and bridge portion 22 sews and not interrupting, bridge portion 21 carries out other horizontal and vertical movement.

After pattern 501 terminates, as shown in figure 9m, band material 12 stops, and bridge portion 21 and 22 moves upward, until bridge portion is in the identical original position shown in Fig. 9 J.Then, start or stop needle head as required, prepare the pattern that sewing is new.In this case, start sewing heads in the middle of 3, each be in into sewing pattern 501 and 4 heads that start each between, thus all 7 head sewing patterns 502.Then, the sewing of pattern 502 is carried out according to the basic mode identical with sewing pattern 501.

In addition, for quilting machines 10, lower bridge portion 21 advances immediately and starts the curve 505 of sewing pattern 502 after the curve 503 terminating pattern 501, or even upper bridge portion 22 is still at the curve 504 of sewing pattern 501.This represents in Fig. 9 N.When two bridge portion sewing different patterns, the controller 19 of quilting machines 10 controls the motion in bridge portion, and the mode that the motion of band material and sewing head drive is the Stitching density keeping sequencing, such as, for the curve of two bridge portion sewing, and typically per inch 7 stitchings.Usually this is that band material is sewed with fixing sewing velocity with the head in fixed speed motion or static bridge portion, completes compensating motion by the sewing head controlled in other bridge portion and other bridge portion simultaneously by keeping a bridge portion longitudinal static.

Although contacted continuous, unidirectional pattern to describe Fig. 9-9M, this has also been clearly explain some characteristic sum principle.These characteristic sum principles can be applied to other pattern characteristics, such as with reference to figure 7-7G describe those.May comprise two-way situation about vertically moving for those patterns, the Method And Principle of Fig. 9-9M can be move forwards or backwards relative to the identical pure longitudinal direction of other pattern or pattern characteristics.

The cutting of material block can be synchronous with quilting.From when band material 12, the point of transverse cuts material block arrives cutting-blade head 72 in band material length, band expects that conveying roller 18 stop band material 12 also cuts.Sewing can proceed, and is not moved upward by band material and replace with bridge portion and move downward and interrupt.This is controlled by controller 19, by faster for the sewing making roller 18 drive the band material 12 of advance to carry out than making bridge portion move upward, therefore bridge portion puts above enough high in its lowermost position, thus being with in the cutting operation process of expecting when stopping, allowing bridge portion to sew downwards.

When using different eedle to combine sewing different pattern between difference material block, or when combining the different piece of material to be sewn block with different eedle, controller can control eedle and runs or stop.

Fig. 8 represents a kinematic system 20, the other selection of the system that can illustrate as Fig. 6 and describe.The vertical detent mechanism 30 in bridge portion that the kinematic system of this embodiment utilizes band to drive lifter or lifting subassembly 31 to be formed, quantity is four, on frame 11 4 angles near the angle being positioned at bridge portion 21,22.Each lifting subassembly 31 comprises independent lifter for each bridge portion 21,22 or lifter.In the illustrated embodiment, referring to Fig. 8 B and 8C, these lifters comprise in each assembly 31 the upper bridge portion lifter 34 vertically driving and vertically drive upper bridge portion 22 in the lower bridge portion lifter 33 in lower bridge portion 21 and each assembly 31.Lower bridge portion lifter 33 and upper bridge portion lifter 34 all link together unified operation, make four angles in corresponding bridge portion in same horizontal plane maintenance level.Upper lifter 34 can be controlled by controller 19, and separate with lower bridge portion lifter 33 and independence, vice versa.Servomotor 35 connects lifter 33 and is started by controller 19, makes lower bridge portion 21 rise and decline; And servomotor 36 is connected to lifter 34 and started by controller 19, bridge portion 22 is made to rise and decline.The design of lifter can make each bridge portion 21,22 need on the material block sized fraction of band material 12 quilting pattern to be in quilting plane 16 to the vertical moving range of required size.In the illustrated embodiment, this size is 36 inches.

Each lifter assembly 31 of the mechanism 30 of this embodiment comprises the vertical rail 40 being rigidly connected to frame 11.Each bridge portion 21,22 is supported on a set of 4 supports 41, and each support is vertically contained on a sleeve-bearing, or as shown in the figure, on 4 rollers 42 of a corresponding track 40.Each support 41 has T-shaped key, is integrally formed on the side contrary with track 40, and extends towards quilting plane 16, as shown in Figure 8 A.The front and rear side element 23 and 24 in each bridge portion 21,22 forms keyway 44, from quilting plane 16 towards track 40 in its corresponding front and rear side.Key 43 vertically slips in keyway 44, is supported on track 40 in bridge portion, thus bridge portion 21,22 is parallel to quilting plane 16 slides along track 40 transverse horizontal.

Each bridge portion 21,22 can separate and independent transverse shifting under controller 19 controls.This motion is driven by servomotor 45 and 46, controlled by controller 19, drive lower bridge portion 21 and upper bridge portion 22 to move respectively by rack and pinion, rack and pinion drives and comprises the gear 47 on the axle of servomotor 45 or 46 and the tooth bar 48 on bridge parts 23 or 24.Keyway 44 and track 40 can be designed to relative to the position of bridge portion 21,22 lateral end, and each bridge portion 21,22 needs on the material block sized fraction of band material 12 quilting pattern to be in quilting plane 16 to the horizontal cross moving range of required size.In the illustrated embodiment, track 40 is apart from the distance of lateral end position, bridge portion 21,22, and make bridge portion when quilting machines 10 center, the stroke of key 43 in keyway 44 is 18 inches.This makes the lateral separation of bridge portion 21,22 stroke from side to opposite side, be 36 inches.

Bridge portion detent mechanism 30 represents in Fig. 8 C and 8D in detail.The lifter 33 in lower bridge portion 21 comprises the band 51 of the every side of quilting machines 10, the Part I 51a walking around drive pulley 52 is comprised with 51, belt pulley 52 is contained on the transverse horizontal driving shaft 53 that servomotor 35 drives, and immediately below two tracks 40 of quilting plane 16 downstream or rear side or looper side.Band portion 51a connects counterweight 54, and counterweight 54 is contained on roller 55, moves at this track 40 of the every root outside upright relative with quilting plane 16.Band 51 comprises Part II 51b, walks around the belt pulley 56 at the top of corresponding rear track 40 from counterweight 54, arrives its position connecting the support 41 in lower bridge portion 21 downwards along track 40.Part III 51c with 51 from then on support 41 starts to walk around the belt pulley 57 of respective rail 40 lower end and the belt-like wheel 57 bottom the track 40 extending around quilting plane 16 upstream side, front side or eedle side below, walk around the loose pulley 58 of bridge portion servomotor 36 horizontal cross axle 59 below, upwards arrive along respective rail 40 position that it is connected to another counterweight 54 of vertical movement on this track 40.Band 51 has Part IV 51d, walks around the belt pulley 56 at this track 40 top from counterweight 54, and arrives the support 41 of its front side connecting lower bridge portion 21, upstream side or eedle side downwards along track 40.This support 41 is connected to Part I 51a one end of band 51, and as mentioned above, the belt pulley 57 of this track 40 end walked around above by the belt pulley 57 being with the Part I 51a of 51 to extend in track 40 respective downstream side below, and walks around drive pulley 52.

The lifter 34 in upper bridge portion 22 is included in the band 61 of the every side of quilting machines 10, is similarly connected to corresponding support 41 and counterweight 54.Particularly, band 61 comprises the Part I 61a walking around drive pulley 62, and drive pulley 62 is contained in the transverse horizontal driving shaft 59 that servomotor 36 drives, and immediately below two tracks 40 of quilting plane 16 upstream side or front side or eedle side.Band portion 61a connects counterweight 54, and counterweight 54 is also contained on roller 55, moves at this track 40 of the every root outside upright relative with quilting plane 16.Band 61 comprises Part II 61b, walks around the belt pulley 56 at the top of corresponding front track 40 from counterweight 54, arrives its position connecting the support 41 in upper bridge portion 21 downwards along track 40.Part III 61c with 61 from then on support 41 starts to walk around the belt pulley 57 of respective rail 40 lower end and the belt-like wheel 57 bottom the track 40 extending around quilting plane 16 downstream, rear side or looper side below, walk around the loose pulley 68 of lower bridge portion servomotor 35 horizontal cross axle 53 below, upwards arrive along respective rail 40 position that it is connected to another counterweight 54 of vertical movement on this track 40.Band 61 has Part IV 61d, walks around the belt pulley 56 at this track 40 top from counterweight 54, and arrives the support 41 of its rear side connecting lower bridge portion 21, downstream or looper side downwards along track 40.This support 41 is connected to Part I 61a one end of band 61, and as mentioned above, the belt pulley 57 of this track 40 end walked around above by the belt pulley 57 being with the Part I 61a of 61 to extend in track 40 respective downstream side below, and walks around drive pulley 62.

In order to counterweight balance and safety, provide the redundancy band 70 of a set of parallel every band 51 and 61.This also represents in Fig. 8 D and 8E.

Persons skilled in the art it should be understood that the present patent application is here change, and the present invention illustrates by preferred embodiment, and can make increase and amendment when not departing from principle of the present invention.

Claims (27)

1., by a method for multi-needle quilter quilting matrix, described multi-needle quilter has at least two row quilting element, and described method comprises:

When the quilting element of often going in described at least two row starts, utilize quilting element quilting first pattern of each row, between quilting element and matrix, form relatively vertically moving along clean forward direction simultaneously;

Then, first group on matrix final lengthwise position stops the first row quilting element;

Then, when the quilting element of the first row stops, with the second row quilting element further quilting first pattern, between quilting element and matrix, form extra relatively the vertically moving along clean forward direction, displacement is the first given fore-and-aft distance simultaneously;

Then, the second group of final lengthwise position having a predetermined relationship with first group of final lengthwise position on matrix stops the second row quilting element;

Then, the quilting element of the first row is remained on first group of initial lengthwise position;

Then, first group on matrix initial lengthwise position starts the first row quilting element;

Then, when the first row quilting element starts, with the first row quilting element quilting second pattern, between quilting element and matrix, form extra relatively the vertically moving along clean forward direction, displacement is second to set a distance simultaneously;

Then, the second group of initial lengthwise position having a predetermined relationship with first group of initial lengthwise position on matrix starts the second row quilting element;

Then, when the first and second row quilting element start, utilize the quilting element of each row further quilting second pattern, between quilting element and matrix, form relatively vertically moving along clean forward direction simultaneously;

Thus, the interval between the first and second final lengthwise positions of the first pattern is less than the first given fore-and-aft distance, and the interval between first and second of the second pattern the initial lengthwise positions is less than the second given fore-and-aft distance.

2., by a method for multi-needle quilter quilting matrix, described multi-needle quilter has at least two row quilting element, and described method comprises:

When the quilting element of described at least two row starts, utilize quilting element quilting first pattern of each row, between quilting element and matrix, form relatively vertically moving along clean forward direction simultaneously;

Then, first group on matrix final lengthwise position stops the first row quilting element;

Then, when the quilting element of the first row stops, with the second row quilting element further quilting first pattern, between quilting element and matrix, form extra relatively the vertically moving along clean forward direction, displacement is the first given fore-and-aft distance simultaneously;

Then, the second group of final lengthwise position having a predetermined relationship with first group of final lengthwise position on matrix stops the second row quilting element;

Then, when the first and second row quilting element stop, relatively vertically moving along clean backward directions is formed between quilting element and matrix, until the quilting element of the first row is in first group of initial lengthwise position, first group of initial lengthwise position distance, first group of final lengthwise position is less than given fore-and-aft distance;

Then, first group on matrix initial lengthwise position starts the first row quilting element;

Then, when the first row quilting element starts, with the first row quilting element quilting second pattern, between quilting element and matrix, form extra relatively the vertically moving along clean forward direction, displacement is second to set a distance simultaneously;

Then, the second group of initial lengthwise position having a predetermined relationship with first group of initial lengthwise position on matrix starts the second row quilting element;

Then, when the first and second row quilting element start, utilize the quilting element of each row further quilting second pattern, between quilting element and matrix, form relatively vertically moving along clean forward direction simultaneously;

Thus, the interval between first and second patterns of matrix being sewed is less than given spacing distance.

3. method as claimed in claim 2, also comprises:

When stopping its quilting element, to sew a series of tack stitches with a line quilting element.

4. method as claimed in claim 2, also comprises:

There is provided the first bridge portion of it being equipped with the first row quilting element and it is equipped with the second bridge portion of the second row quilting element, each bridge portion is relative to frame and relative to each other can move separately;

With each row suture element sew the first pattern be static in bridge portion, simultaneously make matrix phase for frame formed carry out under the state relatively vertically moved of clean forward direction;

With the second row suture element sew further the first pattern be static at matrix, simultaneously by bridge portion relative to frame along clean backward directions move form the extra state relatively vertically moved under carry out;

Form along clean backward directions that relatively to vertically move be carry out under the state that matrix is static and bridge portion moves along clean forward direction relative to frame;

Carry out under the static and matrix phase in bridge portion to form the state additionally relatively vertically moved along clean forward direction for frame with the first row suture element the second pattern of sewing;

Be static in bridge portion with each row suture element the second pattern of sewing further and matrix phase is carried out for frame under the state relatively vertically moved of clean forward direction.

5., by a method for multi-needle quilter quilting matrix, described multi-needle quilter has at least two groups can the quilting element of individually actuating, and described at least two groups comprise first group and second group, and often group comprises multiple quilting element, and described method comprises:

When often group quilting element in described at least two groups starts, quilting first pattern on matrix, wherein use the First Series stitching of multiple quilting element quilting first patterns of first group, and the second series stitching of multiple quilting element quilting first patterns with second group;

Then, stop first group of quilting element, and the second series stitching of multiple quilting element further quilting first pattern with second group;

Then, stop second group of quilting element to complete quilting first pattern on matrix; And

After stopping first group of quilting element, start first group of quilting element, and start quilting second pattern on matrix, wherein use the First Series stitching of multiple quilting element quilting second patterns of first group;

Then, at stopping second group of quilting element to complete on matrix after quilting first pattern, and to start on matrix after quilting second pattern at startup first group of quilting element, start second group of quilting element and on matrix further quilting second pattern, wherein use the second series stitching of multiple quilting element quilting second patterns of second group.

6. method as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

Start before on matrix, quilting second pattern occurs in stopping second group of quilting element.

7. method as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

Start quilting second pattern on matrix to implement after stopping second group of quilting element.

8. method as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

Stop in first and second groups, often organizing quilting element to comprise: with the quilting element sewing tack-stitch sequence of each group, then, at least cut the top line extended from it.

9. method as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

Stop at least some second group of quilting element to betide at least some first group of quilting element on substantial transverse aligning matrix and the position stopped occurs; And

Start at least some second group of quilting element and betide the position that on substantial transverse aligning matrix, at least some first group of quilting element generation starts.

10. method as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

Quilting first and second pattern comprises makes matrix form only vertically moving forward relative to the quilting element often organized in first and second groups; And

When first and second groups of these quilting element of two groups stop, matrix is formed and vertically moves backward relative to the clean of at least one group of quilting element.

11. methods as claimed in claim 10, also comprise:

Keep the fixing longitudinal pitch between first group of quilting element and second group of quilting element.

12. methods as claimed in claim 11, also comprise:

With longitudinal separation distance quilting first and second pattern, this longitudinal separation distance is less than the fixing longitudinal pitch between the quilting element of different group;

Described only vertically moving backward is less than described fixing longitudinal pitch.

13. methods as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

The described fore-and-aft distance amount only vertically moved backward than separating between the little pattern of fixing longitudinal pitch.

14. methods as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

Each group of quilting element is arranged on relative on Long-stitch sewing-machine frame longitudinally one or more horizontal bridge portion moveable;

Matrix is formed vertically move forward to comprise at least partly relative to the quilting element often organized in first and second groups clean to make matrix along advancing relative to the downstream direction of Long-stitch sewing-machine frame; And

Matrix is formed comprise it will be equipped with the bridge portion of respective sets quilting element along moving relative to the downstream direction of Long-stitch sewing-machine frame relative to clean the vertically moving backward of at least one group of quilting element in each group.

15. methods as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

During quilting second pattern, make matrix be formed comprise it will be equipped with the bridge portion of respective sets quilting element along moving relative to the updrift side of Long-stitch sewing-machine frame relative to clean the vertically moving forward of the quilting element often organized in first and second groups.

16. methods as claimed in claim 10, also comprise:

First and second bridge portions keep each group of quilting element, and described first and second bridge portions can vertically move separately with relative to each other removable between minimum longitudinal pitch and maximum longitudinal pitch.

17. methods as claimed in claim 16, also comprise:

To be less than longitudinal separation distance quilting first and second pattern of minimum longitudinal pitch;

The clean distance vertically moved backward is less than minimum longitudinal pitch.

18. methods as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

The fore-and-aft distance amount of the clean distance vertically moved backward pattern separation less of minimum longitudinal pitch.

19. 1 kinds of multi-needle quilters, comprising:

Can at least two group quilting element of individually actuating, described at least two groups comprise first group and second group, the multiple quilting element often in group and other quilting element longitudinal subdivision organized;

Material driver, it optionally operates and forms relatively vertically moving between matrix and each group quilting element;

Horizontal driver, it can operate and form the relative transverse shifting between matrix and each group quilting element;

Quilting element driver, its can operate and or carry out sewing with first group and need not second group sew, or carry out sewing with second group and need not first group sew, or to sew with two groups simultaneously;

Controller, its can operate and the operation controlling material driver, horizontal driver and quilting element driver to sew selected pattern, wherein matrix is sewed by two groups of quilting element simultaneously, or optionally sews with one group of quilting element and sew without another quilting element organized;

Controller is programmed and goes out pattern by the quilting on matrix of sewing of the quilting element often organized in described at least two groups simultaneously, wherein use the First Series stitching of multiple quilting element quilting patterns of first group, with the second series stitching of multiple quilting element quilting patterns of second group, the First Series stitching of second series stitching and quilting is separated by fore-and-aft distance; And

Controller need not be sewed by first group of quilting element with the second series stitching of multiple quilting element sewing patterns of second group by programming further, thus the quilting of the first and second serial stitchings is started or at the end of distance shorter than described fore-and-aft distance.

20. quilting machiness as claimed in claim 19, also comprise:

Frame;

One group of quilting element each bridge parts is equipped with relative to moveable at least two the bridge parts of frame.

21. quilting machiness as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

Two groups of quilting element relative to each other can vertically move separately.

22. quilting machiness as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

Material driver can operate and in perpendicular vertical feeding matrix;

Two groups of quilting element can vertically movement;

Quilting element comprises the pin perpendicular to perpendicular horizontal orientation respectively;

Described multiple quilting element comprises the quilting element optionally operated relative to other quilting element.

23. quilting machiness as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

Material driver can operate and in perpendicular vertical feeding matrix;

Described at least one group of quilting element can vertically movement; And

Each quilting element comprises the pin perpendicular to perpendicular horizontal orientation.

24. quilting machiness as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

Material driver can operate and matrix phase is reverse for the longitudinal direction of quilting element movement; And

Controller is programmed and the quilting element of two groups is sewed simultaneously, is wherein moved relative to the longitudinal direction forward of quilting element on matrix edge; And with second group of quilting element along sewing relative to the contrary longitudinal direction of quilting element, to start or to terminate quilting.

25. quilting machiness as claimed in claim 19, also comprise:

Frame;

One group of quilting element each bridge parts is equipped with relative to moveable at least two the bridge parts of frame;

Two bridge parts are respectively relative to frame with relative to each other can vertically move separately.

26. quilting machiness as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

Controller is programmed and the quilting element of two groups is sewed simultaneously, is wherein moved relative to a longitudinal direction of frame at least one bridge parts edge; And sew with second group of quilting element, wherein along moving at least one bridge parts relative to the contrary longitudinal direction of frame, to start or to terminate quilting.

27. quilting machiness as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

Material driver can operate and in relative to the perpendicular of frame vertical feeding matrix;

Two bridge parts can relative to frame vertically movement;

Each quilting element comprises the pin perpendicular to perpendicular horizontal orientation;

Described multiple quilting element comprises the quilting element optionally operated relative to other quilting element; And

Each quilting element comprises the pin perpendicular to perpendicular horizontal orientation.