EP1983083B1 - Method and device for applying plane material pieces and embroidery machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves arranging a material layer i.e. synthetic fibre fabric, over an embroidery base i.e. natural fibre fabric, and controlling a relative movement between a cutting device and the material layer by a program of an embroidery machine. A plane material piece of the desired shape is cut from the material layer, where the cutting takes place via a heatable tip (47). An intermediate layer e.g. foil, is inserted between the embroidery base and the material layer, where the intermediate layer is dissolvable in a solvent. An independent claim is also included for a device for applying a plane material piece on an embroidery base.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for applying flat pieces of material of desired shape to an embroidery base by means of an embroidery machine. The invention further relates to an embroidery machine with at least one such device.

Under embroidery machines are here in accordance with the work of Beautiful / Fricker "embroidery techniques", Leipzig 1982, p. 18/20 Stitch-making machines capable of freely varying the direction and, as a rule, the size of each individual stitch within the technical limits. This makes it possible to produce decorative patterns. However, embroidery machines have also been used for some time to produce patterns with technical functions. Most embroidery machines in use today operate on the two-thread system, and the production of the embroidery patterns on the embroidery base is program-controlled. Essentially, a distinction is made between large embroidery machines and small knitting machines. As a large embroidery machine, the shipping knitting machines are the most widely used. In shipping knitting machines, the needles are arranged linearly in a row. Less widely used are the surface embroidery machines, which are mainly produced by Pfaff, in which the needles are distributed over the entire embroidery field. According to Schöner / Freier, p. 100, they serve the production of large-area goods such as tablecloths, curtains, embroidery quilted goods, etc. Also so-called quilting machines are technically large embroidery machines. They also work with boats, but in contrast to surface embroidery machines, which can also be used to produce embroidery quilted goods, they only have a number of needles. As a small knitting machines in particular single and multi-head embroidery machines are known.

In the work of Schöner / Freier, p. 310 f. The term "application" is understood to mean the sewing of other materials or articles, in the narrower sense of cut fabric parts, or fabric figures or shapes of other material such as leather, paper, felt and the like. It goes on to say: "Application work in the embroidery industry is understood to mean working with different stitched fabrics, either before or after sewing Sewing certain parts for the purpose of pattern formation weg- or be cut out. The substances to be applied must - if they are to fulfill the ornamental tasks - in terms of their color or texture differ, they must either material or otherwise by opposites, such as dullness and shine, stand out from each other. "Beautiful / Freier distinguish two groups of applications, namely those in which already cut-out moldings are embroidered as figures and those in which two or more together embroidered fabrics, from which after fastening, or after embroidering parts are cut out.

In addition to the embroidery of flat pieces of material, it has long been known to embroider other objects. In the literature, a distinction is made between so-called soutache and pearl or bauble embroidery. In the Soutachestickerei cord or band-shaped material is embroidered in the desired decorative form on the embroidery floor. The pearl and bauble embroidery is about the embroidery of small objects, such as sequins, beads or the like. For this type of embroidery there have been various devices for a long time. Regarding new devices can on EP-A-1 764 434 and EP-A-1 764 435 to get expelled.

In the work of Schöner / Freier, p. 312, it is further mentioned that the connection embroidery between the two fabrics can be carried out differently. So it is possible to sew the outlines of the figure with stitches and then cut out the fabric and again to embroider the edges tight. Furthermore, it is said that in all work, whether manual or machine embroidery on the careful cutting out of the substance should be paid attention. Use a fine embroidery scissors with the wider blade pointing to the bottom. If you cut with the tip pointing downwards, there is a risk of being cut into the embroidery floor.

In the already published in 1995 DE 44 26 817 For example, a method for embroidering is described in which a frame in which two material layers are clamped is moved according to the shape to be cut out of the upper material layer. The upper material layer is cut by a laser beam. Subsequently, the needle bar is moved for an embroidery process and the embroidery is created along the cutting edge. Also on based on the 1995 priority US 5,915,316 shows a multi-head embroidery machine with a laser head for the production of applications. Cutting with laser has considerable disadvantages. There are the extraordinarily high costs for the laser system. As a rule, this rules out the possibility of arranging a large number of such systems on one machine. Another disadvantage is that a laser system requires a lot of space in the machine environment. Furthermore, protective measures must be taken so that operators can not be injured by the laser beam. Since flue gases are produced during laser cutting, suction devices are necessary. Particularly disadvantageous are also the high cutting temperatures, which can violate the material layer underlying the application material. Nevertheless, until today was held on laser cutting. So shows the DE 10 2005 050 482 a Schifflistickmaschine with a longitudinally positionable by a spindle drive on the front of the machine laser cutting head. This also has the aforementioned disadvantages.

From the JP-A 05261187 is a sewing machine with embroidery and a cutting device known. The sewing machine has a cutting frame, which can be moved in one plane like an embroidery hoop. A heater and a heated tip are installed in the head part of the sewing machine. The heater and the heated tip are movable up and down. With the heated tip, letters or images can be cut out of a piece of fabric, paper or the like stretched on the cutting frame.

From the JP-A 0509071 Another sewing machine with an embroidery function and a cutter is known. According to this document, the cutting device, which also consists of a heating device and a heated tip, is not integrated in the head part of the sewing machine, but is arranged on a device for moving the cutting device in all three coordinates. The cutting frame, however, is fixed to the sewing machine.

Both documents describe that with the heated tip of the present on the cutting frame fabric is cut out and the resulting letter or the image obtained or the plaque thus obtained from the fabric piece and the cutting frame is released.

The JP 62-266094 shows a sewing machine with a tool that cuts in the manner of a punch. The cutting tool penetrates the substance completely and protrudes during the cutting process into a through hole, which is provided on a support plate. The cutting tool is interchangeable with a branding stamp, which can be imprinted in leather or imitation leather characters. The cutting tool or the branding stamp penetrates a fabric presser, which serves to hold down the material to be cut.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus which makes it possible to apply by means of an embroidery machine surface pieces of material, for example in the form of figures made of textile material or other suitable material, on an embroidery bottom without manual cutting or a Cutting with expensive laser systems and all their disadvantages is necessary.

According to the invention, this is achieved by a method according to claim 1.

After long trials and test runs, it was found that the cutting of the material layer by the heatable tip can be done quite reliably. Concern that this will damage the underlay of the material layer due to the heat, have proved largely unfounded. Prerequisite, however, is the correct choice of material and the correct feed rate, as well as the correct temperature of the heated tip. Experience can be determined by trial runs. It has proved to be expedient to use a woven fabric of natural fibers as the embroidery base and a woven fabric of synthetic fibers as the material layer use. At the correct feed rate and heat of the heated tip, cutting is accomplished by melting the synthetic fibers.

If the embroidery floor is relatively sensitive to heat, it is recommended for thermal insulation between the embroidery floor and the material layer to insert an intermediate layer, which can be dissolved by means of a solvent. It can then be removed after completion of the embroidery and application work, the liner by inserting the embroidery in a solvent bath.

As a liner, a fabric can be used. For particularly heat-sensitive adhesive floors, an intermediate layer which has a heat-reflecting coating is suitable.

The invention is not limited to the application of tissue pieces. Other materials are also suitable, such as plastic films or nonwovens.

The invention also relates to a device for an embroidery machine to apply on the embroidery bottom flat pieces of material, for example, figures made of a different material and / or a different color than the material of the embroidery floor by stitching. According to the invention, the device is characterized by a support for fastening the device to the embroidery machine, a heatable tip for cutting the material layer serving the application, and means for bringing the heatable tip from the rest position to the cutting position, and vice versa. The heating of the tip is advantageously an electric heating cartridge. The advantages of such a heatable tip have already been described above. Conveniently, the heated tip cutting instrument is mounted on a slide reciprocable by an actuator, for example a pneumatic cylinder. This allows the cutting instrument, controlled by the program of the embroidery machine in the cutting position, or to move rest position. It has proven to be particularly recommendable to provide a spacer at the heated tip. This spacer pushes in the working position of the cutting instrument against the fabric layers and ensures that the tip can penetrate only in the material layer to be cut, but not in the embroidery floor. Conveniently, The spacer is adjustable to determine the penetration depth of the heated tip in the material layer.

Because the device with a heatable tip compared to laser systems is extremely inexpensive, it is recommended to equip embroidery machines with a variety of such devices.

The invention also relates to an embroidery machine with at least one device, which is designed as described above. Conveniently, an embroidery machine, for example Schifflistickmaschien, a over the length of the machine extending support on which in certain rapports the devices are arranged for application.

It is possible to arrange on the said carrier not only devices for application, but also devices for embroidering sequins and devices for embroidering cords. This gives a great deal of flexibility for the production of embroidery.

The carrier may include threaded holes for attachment and pilot holes for receiving guide pins of the devices. This makes it possible to place the devices accurately. For attachment can serve a quick-release device to allow a quick replacement. For easy replacement of the devices can be provided connections for the electrical and pneumatic connections.

Conveniently, the embroidery machine has an over the length of the machine extending energy supply rail for the devices for applying sheet material.

In the following description, the device for applying flat pieces of material will be referred to briefly as the application head. This is done in analogy to the devices for attaching sequins, or for attaching strings, which are referred to briefly as sequin heads, or Soutacheköpfe.

Fig. 1

eine Anzahl von auf einer Schifflistickmaschine montierten Applikationsköpfen in Kombination mit Paillettenköpfen und Soutacheköpfen,

Fig. 2

Eine Seitenansicht eines Applikationskopfes,

Fig. 3

den Applikationskopf von Figur 2 von der Schiffliseite her betrachtet,

Fig. 3a

einen vergrösserten Ausschnitt aus Figur 3,

Fig. 4

den Applikationskopf von Figur 2 von der Nadelseite her betrachtet,

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht des Applikationskopfs von Figur 4 in Ruhestellung,

Fig. 6

den Applikationskopf von Figur 4 in der Arbeitsstellung und

Fig. 7

eine Spitze zum Schneiden in starkvergrösserter Darstellung.

Fig. 8

die Anordnung von Applikationsköpfen bei einer Kleinstickmaschine,

Fig. 9

die Anordnung von Applikationsköpfen bei einer sogenannten Steppmaschine, und

Fig. 10

die Maschine von Fig. 9 mit den Applikationsköpfen in Ausser-Betrieb-Stellung

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a number of application heads mounted on a shuttle embroidery machine in combination with sequin heads and soutacheads,

Fig. 2

A side view of an application head,

Fig. 3

the application head of FIG. 2 viewed from the ship's side,

Fig. 3a

an enlarged section FIG. 3 .

Fig. 4

the application head of FIG. 2 viewed from the needle side,

Fig. 5

a side view of the application head of FIG. 4 at rest,

Fig. 6

the application head of FIG. 4 in the working position and

Fig. 7

a tip for cutting in greatly magnified representation.

Fig. 8

the arrangement of application heads in a small stitch machine,

Fig. 9

the arrangement of application heads in a so-called quilting machine, and

Fig. 10

the machine of Fig. 9 with the application heads in out-of-service position

FIG. 1 shows two application heads 11 together with sequin heads 13 and Soutacheköpfen 15. The sequin heads 13 are as in the above-mentioned EP-A-1 764 434 trained and the Soutacheköpfe 15 as in the above-mentioned EP-A-1 764 435 , All of these application, sequin and Soutacheköpfe 11, 13,15 are easily interchangeable attached to a support 17 of the embroidery machine, which has threaded holes 19 for screws 21 and guide holes 23 for guide pins 25 for this purpose. This allows accurate placement of the application, sequin and base heads 11, 13, 15. A rail 27 also extends the length of the machine. In this runs the power supply for the Application heads 11. From the connection and fuse box 29, the power cable 31 and the pneumatic hoses 33, 34 extend to the application head 11. The reference numeral 35 designates coils for sequin tapes. The drawing also shows needles 37.

The arrangement of the application head 11 on the carrier 17 is also off FIG. 2 seen. Furthermore, parts of a sequin head are still visible in this figure, but which are not important for the understanding of the present invention. Parts of the sequin head 13 are the feed shaft 39, the return cylinder 41 and the gripper 43 for switching off the feed for the sequins. The sequin ribbon is not shown, but the coil 35 for the sequin ribbon.

The FIGS. 2 to 4 show the application head 11 in details. The application head 11 has a support 45 with which it is fastened by means of the screws 21 on the carrier 17. As a cutting instrument serves a replaceable tip 47 of good heat conducting material which is heated by an electrically heatable cartridge 49. An apron 50 protects against touching the hot immersion heater. The heating cartridge 49 can be connected via the line 31 and the plug 51 to the connection and fuse box 29, which has a fuse 53. The use of a heatable with an electric heating element 49 tip 47 is particularly inexpensive and very reliable in operation. At the tip 47, a spacer 55 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) intended. The spacer 55 has in front a disc-shaped part 56 with an opening 58 from which the tip 47 projects slightly. This spacer 55 presses in the cutting position against the fabric layers, ie against the material layer to be cut 44 above the embroidery bottom 42 (FIG. Fig. 6 ), and ensures that the tip 47 only penetrates into the material layer 44 to be cut. The heating cartridge 49 with the tip 47 and the spacer 55 are mounted on a carriage 57 which is movable by an actuator 59 back and forth, namely from the rest position to the cutting position and vice versa. As actuator 59 is a pneumatic cylinder. But it would also be possible, for example, the use of a solenoid. A guide rod 60 serves to guide the carriage 57th

In order to carry out application work, the embroidery bottom 42, together with the application material 44, for example a fabric made of synthetic fibers, is stretched onto the gate of the embroidery machine. By embroidering the two tissues are then connected to each other at different application sites. As mentioned in "embroidery techniques", for example, the outline of the figure to be applied can be embroidered. The cut out of the figure is done programmatically. By the start signal, the tip 47 is in the cutting position

( Fig. 6 ), whereupon the program generates a relative movement between the tip 47 and the material layer 44 which is embroidered on the embroidery base 42 and cuts out the desired figure.

After cutting out the figures, the superfluous material layer can be removed. Hereupon further embroidery can be made. For example, the edges of the figures can be fastened with seam stitches. It would also be possible to surround the edges by sewing cords by means of the Soutacheköpfe 15 ( Fig. 1 ). Finally, other embroidery could be made, be it on the applied material or outside of it on the embroidery floor. If required, 13 sequins can also be embroidered by the sequin heads.

Fig. 7 shows a tip 47 'which does not require a heating cartridge 49. The tip 47 'consists of a piece of wire 61 made of a high melting point material, for example nickel or tungsten, and is encased by a tube 63 or a layer of ceramic. A metal layer 65 also having a high melting point, for example tungsten, surrounds the tube 63 in front and outside such that an electrical connection exists between the front end of the wire piece 61 and the metal layer 65. The tube 63 with the metal layer 65 is further surrounded by a relatively thick metal shell 66, for example made of copper, but leaves the cutting area 67 free. The metal jacket 66 is insulated by an insulating layer 69. Rear electrical terminals 71, 72 on the wire piece 61 and the metal shell 66 are arranged.

During operation, the current flow causes the cutting region 67 to be heated. Thus, the heat is generated by electrical resistance heating in the cutting area. It is It is possible to rapidly change the heat because the mass of the heating metal layer in the heating area 67 is very small. This is of particular advantage when cutting out jagged contours.

The small stitching machine according to the example of Fig. 8 has one or more groups of needles 75 having a number, for example eight, needles 37. Each needle group 75 is associated with an application head 11, one (left) in working position and one (right) in out of operation position. Normally, however, both application heads 11 are in the same position. There are a variety of small knitting machines on the market. Schon Schöner / Freier, pp. 39-41, shows machines with 1 to 24 needles. Such machines can be equipped with one or more application heads 11.

In the quilting machine according to FIGS. 9 and 10 For example, four application heads 11 are disposed on a downwardly pivotable beam 77. This one is in Fig. 9 in working position and in Fig. 10 in out-of-service position. A similar arrangement would also be possible with surface embroidery machines.

In summary, the following can be stated:

The device (11) can be used for application work on an embroidery machine. On a support (45) is a carriage, with a heatable tip (47) which can be brought from a rest position into the illustrated cutting position. In the cutting position, a spacer (55) presses on the application of the material layer, which is embroidered on the embroidery bottom, the heatable tip (47) penetrates a predetermined depth in the material layer, preferably a plastic fiber fabric. Controlled by the program of the embroidery machine, a relative movement takes place between the heatable tip (47) and the material layer so that it is cut. The cutting is done by melting the synthetic fibers.

Claims (16)

1. Method for applying flat pieces of material of any desired form onto an embroidery base (Fig. 6: 42) by means of an embroidery machine, wherein
   at least one material layer is arranged above the embroidery base (42) and, controlled by the program of the embroidery machine, a relative movement is produced between a cutting device (47) and the material layer (Fig. 6: 44), and, as a result, a flat piece of material of the desired form is cut out of the material layer (44), characterised in that the cutting is carried out by a heatable tip (47) and the penetration depth of the heatable tip (47) into the material layer (44) is determined by a spacer (55) provided at the tip (47), such that the tip only penetrates into the material layer (44) which is to be cut.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of flat pieces of material are cut out simultaneously by a plurality of heatable tips (47).
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that an intermediate layer which can be dissolved in a solvent is inserted between the embroidery base (42) and the material layer (44), and in that, after the embroidery and application work has ended, the intermediate layer is removed in a solvent bath.
4. Method according to Claim 3, characterised in that a fabric or a film is used as the intermediate layer.
5. Method according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the intermediate layer has a heat-reflecting coating.
6. Method according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterised in that a fabric made of natural fibres is used as the embroidery base and a fabric made of artificial fibres is used as the material layer.
7. Device for an embroidery machine, for applying flat pieces of material onto the embroidery base (42), for example figures made of another material (44) and/or of another colour than the material of the embroidery base, by embroidering in place, comprising

   - a support (45) for securing the device to an embroidery machine,

   - a heatable tip (47) for cutting the material layer (44) used for the application

   - and means (57, 59) for bringing the heatable tip out of the inoperative position into the cutting position and vice-versa,

   characterised in that
   a spacer (55) is provided at the heatable tip (47), which is adjustable in order to determine the penetration depth of the tip (47) into the material layer (44), such that the tip only penetrates into the material layer (44) which is to be cut.
8. Device according to Claim 7, characterised in that the heatable tip (47) is mounted on a slide (57) which can be moved back and forth by means of an actuator (59), for example a pneumatic cylinder.
9. Device according to Claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the spacer (55) at the front has a disc-shaped part (56) with an aperture (58), through which the heatable tip (47) projects.
10. Device according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the tip (47) can be heated by means of a heating cartridge (49).
11. Device according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the tip (47') has electrical resistance heating in the cutting area (67).
12. Device according to Claim 11, characterised in that the tip (47') has a wire piece (61) in a tube (63) made of ceramic material, surrounded at the front and on the outside by a metal layer (65), which in the cutting area (67) acts as electrical resistance heating.
13. Embroidery machine having at least one device (11) according to any one of Claims 7 to 12.
14. Embroidery machine according to Claim 13, characterised in that it has a carrier (17) spanning the length of the machine, on which are arranged the devices (11) for the application and, where appropriate, also devices (13) for embroidering on sequins and devices (15) for embroidering on cords in specific repeating patterns.
15. Embroidery machine according to Claim 14, characterised in that the carrier (17) has threaded holes (19) for securing the devices (11, 13, 15) and guide holes for accommodating guide pins to position the devices (11, 13, 15) precisely.
16. Embroidery machine according to any one of Claims 13 to 15, characterised in that it has an energy supply rail (27), spanning the length of the machine, for the devices (11) for applying flat material.

Images