KR910001941B1 - Automated seam joining apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

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Description

Automated sewing equipment

1 is a cross-sectional view of the encapsulation material forwarding device.

2 is a plan view showing a composite material contact surface of the object of FIG.

3A and 3B are cross-sectional views showing controllable belt members of a pair of belt assemblies in the FIG. 1 device.

4 is a top view of the FIG. 1 device without the bar head.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

8: controller 10: sewing device

12: sewing head 13: needle

14 bobbin assembly 18: sealed material passage

20: first base assembly 22: contact surface of the encapsulated material

30: second base assembly 32: contact surface to be sealed

40 plate member 42 sealing material contact surface

44: annular slot 50, 60: belt assembly

52, 62: belt surface 54, 64: belt

70, 72, 74, 76: Roller 80: Positioning device

90: spacing

The present invention relates to an apparatus for sewing a flexible fabric, and more particularly, to an apparatus useful for automated or computerized sewing of fabric.

The classic manufacturing line for flexible fabric products consists of a series of manually controlled device stages. The drawback of this classic manufacturing technique is that it is labor intensive. In other words, most of the manufacturing costs are spent on labor. Automated or computer controlled manufacturing techniques have been tried to reduce costs. One such method is described in US Patent Application No. 231,381, filed February 4, 1981.

In general, automated manufacturing techniques for flexible fabrics are limited to the problem that the fabric is not accurately sewn on the seam. This problem is a cause of failure for most automation devices where the fabric must be controlled sufficiently near the needle or bar. In manual control devices, local alignment devices have been used so that precise fabric control is at the finger pressure of the operator, or a limited example is applied. In recent years, however, mechanical devices such as local alignment devices have not been suited to automatic devices for the construction of complex bar patterns.

The present invention consists of a device for automatic sealing of a workpiece, in particular a flexible fabric, which is kept under precise control and alignment for optimum seam construction. The apparatus of the present invention consists of means for advancing along the first axis and for positioning the workpiece to ensure accurate orientation and control. The apparatus of the present invention is also composed of a sewing machine head and bobbin which move along a second axis transverse to the advancing direction of the workpiece to allow a substantial rod of the workpiece to be made. The position of the sewing machine head and bobbin along the second axis is determined by a controller that issues a command to the material advancing device. The to-be-enveloped apparatus includes a first base assembly and a second base assembly to allow frictional movement of the encapsulated material. In addition, the apparatus of the present invention is composed of a plate body formed with an annular slot which is connected to the workpiece contact surface of the base assembly to form a continuous composite contact surface forming one side of the workpiece passage. A plurality of pairs of belt assemblies oppose the composite contact surface to form a second side of the encapsulant passageway. These pairs of belts are disposed along the axis of the device parallel to the first axis. Each belt assembly includes a belt adapted to frictionally engage the workpiece. The at least one pair of belt assemblies includes a controllable belt, at least four rollers, and a belt controller. The belt controller selects the position of the roller through a mechanical connection so that the belt is advanced or retracted so as not to overlap the gap portion of the composite contact surface extending along the second axis. The controller for selecting the position of the sewing apparatus also controls the belt controller so that one or both sides of the pair adjacent to the sewing apparatus while the other pair of belts are not retracted when the sewing apparatus is positioned along the second axis. The belt is adapted to be retracted. Each belt assembly may issue a separate command.

The plate member is connected to the bobbin assembly of the bar device. The annular slot laid in this plate member is sized so that the needle of a sewing machine can fully pass. The workpiece contact surface of the base assembly is formed by a planar slide in which a plurality of slots are formed and through which the belts are frictionally engaged with the workpiece. In addition, the present invention may independently control all the belts constituting the passage of the material to be sealed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automated sewing apparatus. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a bar article controlled by an external programmable device.

Referring to the present invention in more detail based on the accompanying drawings as follows.

The present invention provides an apparatus for improved automatic sewing of encapsulated materials, such as flexible fabrics. The device is particularly useful in the context of a method of making a continuous wave shaped bar article as described in US Patent Application No. 231,381. The device provides a means for accurate orientation and control of the flexible fabric near the seam sewing device so that the fabric can be sewn without the need for manual manipulation steps. By using this apparatus, even complicated patterns such as embroidery can be processed without requiring manual operation. The apparatus also provides a means for feeding and controlling the fabric to a location remote from the sewing machine head, thereby reducing the problem of wrinkles or uneven sewing on the fabric. Furthermore, when used in connection with the above-mentioned citation system, the encapsulation can easily be oriented in a direction that allows for the seam of several seams.

1 shows a cross section of the whole device including the connected controller 8. The encapsulated material is advanced along the first axis 1-1 to reach the correct bar position. Seam sewing device comprising a sewing machine head 12 including a bobbin assembly 14 on one side of the sealed material passage 18 and a bobbin assembly on the other side of the sealed material passage 18 ( 10) is capable of restrictive movement on the track 16 which is important for the second axis 2-2 transverse to the first axis 1-1. The sewing device 10 is positioned along the track 16 in response to a control signal from the controller 8.

The encapsulated material advancement and positioning portion of the apparatus includes a first base assembly 20 having an encapsulated material contact surface 22 which enables the encapsulated material to move frictionally in the direction of the first axis 1-1. The second base assembly 30 having the encapsulated material contact surface 32, which allows the encapsulated material to move frictionally in the direction of the first axis 1-1, is the same as the first base assembly 20. 18) on the same side. The plate member 40 connected to the bobbin assembly 14 having the planar to-be-sealed material contact surface 42 is on the same side of the to-be-sealed material passage 18 as the first base assembly 20 and the second base assembly 30. Lies in. The plate member 40 has an annular slot 44 through which the needle 13 of the sewing machine 12 can pass (see FIG. 4). Means are provided for placement of the workpiece contact surfaces 22, 32, and 42 to form a continuous composite workpiece contact surface that forms one side of the workpiece passage 18.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the device of FIG. 1, where it can be seen that the workpiece contact surfaces 22 and 32 consist of the upper surface of a plurality of belts in which movement can be controlled in the direction of axis 1-1. The belts 22 and 32 are defined by the slide plates 22a and 32a in which the sealed material is substantially supported without friction in the sealed material passage 18.

The opposing side of the encapsulated material passage 18 with respect to the encapsulated composite contact surface consists of a lower portion of a plurality of pairs of belt assemblies on an opposing side of the device 10. Each pair of belt assemblies is disposed along an axis parallel to axis 1-1. In FIG. 1 only the belt assemblies 50 and 60 of the distal pair are shown. The belt assemblies 50 and 60 have belts 54 and 64 opposed to the encapsulated composite contact surface and having belt surfaces 52 and 62 which are moved in the direction of the first axis 1-1. Belts 54 and 64. The belt surfaces 52 and 62 together with the material contact surfaces 22 and 32 and 42 constituting the material path 18 allow the material to be frictionally engaged.

3A and 3B show cross-sections of embodiments of the first belt assembly 60. The belt 64 of the first belt assembly 60 is a controllable belt disposed around four rollers 70, 72, 74, 76. The rollers 70 and 74 are movable while the rollers 72 and 76 are fixed. In the best form, the rollers 76 are driving rollers, while the rollers 70, 72 and 74 are configured as idle rollers. The controller of the first belt assembly 60 controls the position of the positioning device 80, preferably the compressed air cylinder, with the connector 81 movable in the direction of axis 1-1.

In this embodiment, the cylinder is of model 8-DP-11 / 2, manufactured by Humphreys, Kalamazo, Mich., For example, and includes a dual action compressed air piston. Each cylinder is supplied with high pressure compressed air controlled by the movement and assistance of the sewing machine along axis 2-2 to retract the belt adjacent to the sewing machine, and the low pressure compressed air is pressurized to allow other cylinders to be filled. To supply. In other embodiments, an electronic controller can be used under the control of the controller 8.

The movable connector 81 is connected to the rigid positioning frame 84 in which movable rollers 70 and 74 are arranged at both ends from the movable roller 74 through the spring 82. The positioning device 80 receives the command from the belt controller and moves the movable connector 81 so that the positioning frame 84 is moved. The movement of the positioning frame 84 moves the rollers 70 and 74 to change the shape of the controllable belt 54 without changing the belt speed relative to the material path 18. In the first step shown in FIGS. 1 and 3a, the belt 64 is advanced to approach its opposite belt 54. In the second step shown in FIG. 3B, the belt 64 is retracted so that a gap 90 is formed between the belt 54 and the belt 64 so that the needle 13 can pass therethrough. Spacing 90 is a space portion formed between each pair of belt assemblies when the belt is in its second or retracting stage. The controller for the first belt assembly 54 is connected to the controller for the sewing device 10 so that the sewing device 10 and the positioning device 80 move simultaneously. A single computer can be used as the controller for the sewing device 10 and the positioning device 80.

4 is a plan view showing a number of belt assemblies in which the spacing 90 is clearly shown. A second axis 2-2 is shown extending transverse to the first axis 1-1.

In FIG. 4, belt assemblies 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d and 50e are retractable (ie, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b), while belt assembly 60a ( All of 60b) 60c, 60d and 60e have a fixed shaft roller. The needle 13 can pass between the belt assemblies 50e and 60e when the belt assembly 50e is in its retracted position. The other retractable belt assembly is in a non-retracted position. In the illustrated embodiment only one belt of each pair is retractable, while in other embodiments both belts may be retractable.

In one embodiment, as in FIG. 1, the plate member 40 is mounted to the bobbin assembly 14 so that the plate member 40 and the bobbin assembly 14 move simultaneously. In some embodiments, the rotatable feed tooth plate may extend through the plate member 40 to facilitate positioning of the workpiece.

In operation, the encapsulation, in particular the flexible fabric, is advanced in the encapsulation passage 18 to reach the correct positioning for the encapsulation. The material to be sealed is frictionally driven by the drive belts constituting the material to be contacted surfaces 22 and 32 and the belt surfaces 52 and 62. All friction surfaces are capable of promoting the movement of the workpiece through the passage 18 of the workpiece. As commands are sent to the sewing device 10 from the controller, the sewing device moves along the track 16 at any particular position. At the same time a command is transmitted to each belt assembly by the belt controller. The belt assembly whose axis is coincident with the position of the sewing apparatus 10 is transmitted to the belt assembly to be moved from the first position to the second position, so that the belt is retracted so that the gap 90 is formed so that the sewing apparatus 10 is spaced. It is located at (90). At the same time, other belt assemblies will also be directed to move or stay in the first position, thereby effectively holding the flexible fabric for accurate control. When a new command is sent to the sewing device 10, a new command will also be sent to the belt assembly.

In various embodiments, the encapsulation in passage 18 may be folded to have a double thickness and the belt may be controlled to move the encapsulation to obtain a seam having a curved seam. The loosening can be achieved by instructing the belt assembly to give special instructions. In particular, the apparatus is suitable for methods such as the method of sewing prior to cutting of continuous webs as described in US Patent Application No. 231,381. All commands are issued by the controller and precise control is achieved through the use of a retracting and advancing belt, thus minimizing operator intervention. A complex pattern of rods, including embroidery, can be made by a precisely programmed controller.

Claims (8)

A sewing device having a device for advancing a workpiece along a first axis, the sewing device responsive to a control signal to selectively move along the second axis, the second axis extending transverse to the first axis The sewing apparatus includes a rod head on one side of the sealed material in the sealed material passage and a bobbin assembly on the other side of the sealed material passage, wherein the device for advancing the sealed material includes: A first base part positioned on one side and including an encapsulated material contact surface to frictionally couple and move the encapsulated material in a direction of the first axis; A second base portion positioned on the first side of the encapsulated material and including an encapsulated material contact surface to which the encapsulated material moves frictionally in a direction of the first axis; A plate member having a planar encapsulant contact surface and including an annular slot through which a needle of the encapsulation head can pass; The position of the first base and the second base assembly is selected such that the contact surface of the encapsulated material of the first and second base assemblies and the surface of the encapsulation material of the plate member form a continuous encapsulated composite contact surface forming one side of the encapsulated material passage. Means for doing so; A plurality of pairs of belt assemblies opposed to the composite contact surface and constituting a second side of the encapsulated material passage, wherein each belt assembly has a belt having a belt surface opposed to the composite contact surface and moved in the first axial direction; Wherein said belt surface is in frictional engagement with an encapsulant adjacent thereto, wherein each pair of belt assemblies is disposed along an axis thereof, the axis being parallel to said first axis, and at least one belt assembly of each pair And a controllable belt disposed at at least four roller circumferences, two of the rollers being positioned so that the outer surface of the belt is positioned against a portion of the composite contact surface, and the predetermined one of the rollers is positioned. The composite contact in which the belt extends along the second axis at a first position, including belt control means for selectively controlling the position. A plurality of pairs of belt assemblies overlapping a portion of the spacing of the tactile surface, the belt being retracted at a second position and not overlapping with the spacing; Means for responding to the control signal to selectively control the belt control means, the controllable belt being in the second position when the sewing apparatus is in one position along the second axis and otherwise in the second position. Automated sewing apparatus, characterized in that consisting of a controller to be in. The automated sewing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate member is connected to the bobbin assembly. The planar slide member according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulant contact surfaces of the first and second base assemblies have a plurality of slots extending in the first axial direction, and a plurality of slides extending through the respective slots. Automated sewing apparatus, characterized in that consisting of a portion of the belt outer surface. The belt movement of claim 1, comprising control means for each belt, wherein the controller provides a selectively controlled movement of the workpiece and the workpiece moves frictionally to each belt constituting the workpiece passage. Automated sewing apparatus comprising a means for controlling the. The automated sewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate member is partially surrounded by straight and parallel edges. An apparatus for selecting a direction of an object to be subjected to a rod head which is movable in a linear direction, the apparatus comprising: at least two sets of belts opposed to both sides of the bar head and a support structure coupled thereto, the belts facing each other A first support structure in two positions, the surface of which is frictionally engaged with an adjacent surface of the encapsulated material, the one or more support structures including means for responding to a control signal, the first overlapping part of the bar head; Means for selectively controlling the belt to be in position or to a second position outside of the bar head, and including a controller adapted to generate the control signal, wherein each of the two position support structures is Along with this, when positioned outside the belt, the rod is controlled to come in a first position and the rod head is at least partially raised. Automated sewing device when positioned in the part, it characterized in that the control so that in the second position. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein each support structure comprises at least four rollers supporting a belt coupled thereto, wherein at least two non-adjacent rollers are fixed and the other two rollers are selectively movable. Automated sewing apparatus, characterized in that. 7. The compressed air cylinder according to claim 6, wherein each support structure comprises a selectively controllable compressed air cylinder adapted to move the other two rollers in order for the belt to be positioned in the first and second positions. Automated sewing machine.

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