ITAN960017A1 - ELECTRONIC FINGER SAFETY SYSTEM THAT ENORMOUSLY RAISES THE LEVEL OF SAFETY IN ELECTRIC SEWING MACHINES - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention entitled: "Finger-safe electronic system" which greatly increases the degree of safety in electric sewing machines.

Description text.

The present invention relates to a system which, while maintaining the most absolute freedom of movement and integrating itself into the most elementary protection systems envisaged by the regulations, essentially raises the safety for operators of electric sewing machines.

These machines, in the industrial versions, are powered by electric motors driven by one or more pedals with accelerator and brake function.

The operator's hands, while working, are in the immediate vicinity of the moving needle. A moment of distraction can lead to very serious consequences especially when, more frequently, the needle breaks while continuing its motion.

The operator can stop the machine by acting on the pedal but this act is a reasoned movement that comes too late.

In reality, the needle must be protected by a metal "finger guard" ring which should prevent the operator from getting too close to the dangerous area.

There are rings of various sizes that must be adapted to different work situations, but they constitute an impediment to the correct execution of the work and in addition they are not totally safe because it is possible for the finger to enter the dangerous area,

or to realize a device which, once the presence of the hand is detected in the dangerous area, causes the immediate stop of the needle, saving the operator's fingers. After removing the hand from the ring, after a few moments, normal operating conditions are restored.

The block condition can act simultaneously on the clutch that detaches the transmission shaft, and on the brake that blocks its rotation.

The sensor is made up of the "finger guard". who can maintain the forms required by the regulations and the type of work to be performed.

The ring is electrically isolated from the surrounding metal parts and it is sufficient for a person's finger to touch it to activate the stop of the needle within a few tens of milliseconds.

The common fabrics or leathers used for the garments do not create the aforementioned coedition.

In fact, the human body constitutes a potential connection to earth being constituted by a mass, only the simple contact of the finger or any other part of the body activates the sensor.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to allow the realization of a system capable of eliminating the darra caused by the needle on the operator's fingers. - The aim is also to increase productivity by ensuring the greatest freedom of movement for the operator, allowing the use of less and less bulky protection rings.

- And also reduce the costs to the entrepreneur who previously, in addition to ajja loss of working days! with the increase in the number of accidents, the insurance premium increased. The aim is to reduce costs for the community due to the frequent hospitalizations caused by these injuries.

It is also an object to allow the application of the invention to existing systems which are already operative, in a very short time, without particular technical knowledge, by following the simple instructions supplied. Everything necessary can be supplied in "KIT", allowing the entrepreneur to carry out the installation without suspending the production.

Not least object of the present invention is to provide a device of high reliability and relative easy construction at competitive costs.

This aim, as well as the aforesaid objects and others which will become clearer hereinafter, are accomplished by the system object of the present invention which is characterized in that it comprises sensor means, detection means and actuation means. Said sensor means adapted to feel the contact with the operator activate said detection means adapted to send a control signal to said actuation means.

The characteristic and the advantages of the invention can be better highlighted by the following description and by the attached table which illustrate, by way of example, but not limiting, in a schematic way, a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention.

In figure 1 we find the sensor means (block 1) constituted by the safety ring isolated from the frame of the sewing machine. The shielded connection cable (block 21 joins the sensor means to the detection means constituted by a first comparator (block 3) of high input impedance with the possibility of adjusting the sensitivity 1 (block A). detection is transferred to the actuation means constituted by a second comparator (block 6), to a timer (block 5) and to a relay (block 7).

With the sensor means (1) activated by contact with the operator, the first comparator (3) changes state by triggering, also the second comparator (6) which controls the relay (7) and through the plug (8) and the socket ( 9) it acts on the existing brake and clutch in the electric sewing machine.

As soon as the contact ceases, the first comparator (3) returns to the rest position on the detection point and automatically starts the timer which keeps the relay (7) active for a few seconds.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

Cositi, for example ,. we could have machines without clutch with the braking system performed directly by the engine, or machines where the braking is only mechanical. The details may therefore be replaced by others with equivalent functions and, in theory, the materials used, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be varied according to requirements, without thereby departing from the scope of the protection of the following claims.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS 1. Device for protecting the operator's fingers in electric sewing machines, characterized in that it comprises sensor means, detection means and actuation means; said sensor means adapted to detect contact with a part of the operator's body, said detection means adapted to translate the contact into an electrical signal and said actuation means adapted to act on existing braking systems. 2. Device ,. according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said sensor means consist of the insulated finger ring which detects the presence of a part of the operator's body with only contact. 3, Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said sensor means can be constituted with infrared systems. 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said sensor means can be constituted by capacitive systems. 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said sensor means can be constituted by electromechanical systems 6. Device according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that said detection means have a variable sensitivity. 7. Device according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation means are adapted to condition the operation of the machine. 8. Device according to one or more preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a relay for interfacing with the machine. 9. Device according to one or more claims above, characterized in that it comprises a pin for interlocking at the inlet, with the machine. 10. Device according to one or more preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a socket for interfacing in output with. the car. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it takes the feeds directly from the machine. 12. Device, according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the relay can be advantageously replaced by solid state systems. 13, Device according to the claims above, characterized in that it comprises one or more of the characteristics described and / or illustrated.