WO2006016790A1

WO2006016790A1 - Apparatus for processing the solid embroidery

Info

Publication number: WO2006016790A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/002656
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong-Won Kim
Original assignee: Jong-Won Kim
Priority date: 2004-08-13
Filing date: 2005-08-13
Publication date: 2006-02-16
Also published as: KR100583759B1; KR20060015041A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern that is capable of forming a solid embroidery pattern of skill-embroidery on a generally flat embroidery object. The apparatus includes: a body having a mounting plate for disposing a work piece embroidered thereon; an upper pressurizing roller rotatably mounted to the upper side of the body; a lower pressurizing roller rotatably mounted at the lower side of the upper pressurizing roller; a roller driving unit for driving the upper and roller pressurizing rollers at the same rotating speed; a first rotating and supporting part for rotatably supporting both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller in such a manner as to move the upper pressurizing roller upwardly and downwardly; a second rotating and supporting part for rotatably supporting both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller in such a manner as to adjust the height of the lower pressurizing roller; and a cutter part disposed at the rear sides of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers and moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the work piece moved by the rotation of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers, for cutting the insertion body by the given thickness.

Description

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING THE SOLID EMBROIDERY

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern on an embroidery object, and more particularly to, an apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern that is capable of forming a solid embroidery pattern of skill- embroidery type on a generally flat embroidery object. Background Art

[2] Generally, embroidery is the activity of stitching a variety of patterns of trademarks, letters, numerals, drawings, and so on onto a flat or curved object like cloth, leather, resin, sheet, etc. by using different colors of threads, thereby providing sophisticated beauty to the object.

[3] As well known, there are presented various types of embroidery machines for forming the stitching of desired designs onto a specific object.

[4] Such the embroidery machine stitches the embroidery pattern or design as designated in a pattern card diskette on the object like leather, cloth, and so on with a variety of colors of threads, and before doing the embroidery, it selects a needle operated in the pattern card diskette, depending upon the intervals (for example, 4/4, 8/4, 12/4, 16/4, ..., etc.) among a plurality of equally spaced apart needles disposed on a needle-fixing stand thereof.

[5] The embroidery machine consists of one or hundreds of embroidery units disposed side by side, each having a shuttle and a needle, thereby forming a much larger area of embroidery pattern at a time.

[6] However, the embroidery pattern that is stitched by the conventional embroidery machine looks remarkably flat, which gives a simple and plain feeling to a purchaser and also provides a much boring appearance to him or her.

[7] To overcome these problems, recently, there are provided a variety of structures or processing methods for providing a better solid effect to the embroidery pattern.

[8] As one of the prior arts, there is disclosed Korean Patent Application No.

10-2004-0049050 (hereinafter, referred to as 'the prior art') entitled "a method for processing the solid embroidery pattern and the embroidery article" as filed by the same applicant as this invention.

[9] According to the prior art, the method for processing the solid embroidery pattern includes the steps of: stitching a predetermined embroidery pattern through an embroidery machine, in a state where an insertion body having elasticity and softness is mounted on one surface of an embroidery object like cloth, leather, sheet, soft synthetic resin, and so on; coating the back surface of the embroidery object on which the predetermined embroidery pattern is stitched; pressurizing the top and bottom surfaces of the embroidery object and the insertion body by means of upper and lower pressurizing rollers to move the embroidery object and the insertion body to a pre¬ determined position; disposing a cutter to a position opposite to the conveying direction of the embroidery object and the insertion body and cutting the insertion body into which embroidery threads are rooted by a predetermined thickness by means of the cutter; and separating only the insertion body remaining attached to the embroidery object.

[10] FlG.1 shows the embroidery article obtained through the method for forming a solid embroidery pattern embodied according to the prior art as filed by the same applicant as this invention, wherein a plurality of embroidery threads 1 Id are rooted on the surface of an embroidery object lib like cloth, leather, sheet, soft synthetic resin, and so on, thereby forming a given desired solid embroidery pattern.

[11] It can be appreciated that such the solid embroidery pattern that is obtained through the prior art as filed by the same applicant as this invention provides better solid and visual effects.

[12] On the other hand, if the method for processing the embroidery pattern according to the prior art is embodied by manual processing, the productivity and processing quality could be greatly deteriorated, and thus, there is a need for the development of an apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern, for improving the processing capability and productivity of the solid embroidery pattern by making the method according to the prior art embodied in a much easier way.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[13] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern that is capable of forming the solid embroidery pattern at a tense density on the surface of an embroidery object like cloth, leather, sheet, soft resin, and so on, preventing the deviation of embroidered threads such that the embroidered threads are rigidly rooted on the embroidery object, and having excellent processing capability and productivity thus to enable an embroidery article to be produced in large quantities. Technical Solution

[14] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, according to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern of skill- embroidery type on a work piece, in a state where a given embroidery pattern is formed on the work piece having an insertion body and an embroidery object, by cutting the insertion body by a given thickness, the apparatus comprising: a body having a mounting plate for disposing the work piece embroidered thereon; an upper pressurizing roller rotatably mounted to the upper side of the body; a lower pressurizing roller rotatably mounted at the lower side of the upper pressurizing roller; a roller driving unit for driving the upper and roller pressurizing rollers at the same rotating speed; a first rotating and supporting part for rotatably supporting both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller in such a manner as to move the upper pressurizing roller upwardly and downwardly; a second rotating and supporting part for rotatably supporting both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller in such a manner as to adjust the height of the lower pressurizing roller; and a cutter part disposed at the rear sides of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers and moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the work piece moved by the rotation of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers, for cutting the insertion body by the given thickness.

[15] Preferably, the roller driving unit may include a driving motor and a gear mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the driving motor to the upper and lower pressurizing rollers, the gear mechanism having a wrapping connector mounted from an output shaft of the driving motor, a gear box connected to the wrapping connector, and first and second rotary shafts connected to the gear box in engagement with the gear box.

[16] More preferably, the first rotary shaft may be connected to one side of the gear box at one end portion thereof by means of a first universal joint and connected to one side end portion of the upper pressurizing roller at the other side end portion thereof by m eans of a second universal joint, and the second rotary shaft is connected to the other side of the gear box at one end portion thereof by means of a third universal joint and connected to one side end portion of the lower pressurizing roller at the other side end portion thereof by means of a forth universal joint.

[17] Preferably, the first rotating and supporting part may include a pair of first rotating and supporting members for rotatably supporting both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller, a pair of ascending/descending members connected to the upper sides of the pair of first rotating and supporting members, a pair of guide blocks for guiding the upward and downward movements of the pair of ascending/descending members, and an ascending/descending actuator for ascending/descending one side ascending/descending member.

[18] More preferably, the ascending/descending actuator may be adapted to actuate one side ascending/descending member, including: a vertical cylinder member rotatably mounted to a predetermined position at the inside of the body; a first rotary shaft connected at one side end portion thereof to the end portion of a rod of the cylinder member by means of hinge-coupling; a pair of second rotary shafts disposed over the first rotary shaft; a pair of wrapping connectors mounted along first and second pulleys formed on both side end portions of the first rotary shaft and one side end portion of each of the second rotary shafts; and a pair of rotary discs fixedly coupled to the other side end portions of the second rotary shafts.

[19] Each of the pair of rotary discs comprises an eccentric protrusion formed ec¬ centrically by a given distance from a center point thereof at one side thereof, the eccentric protrusion being inserted into a sliding slit formed at one side of the ascending/descending member in such a manner as to eccentrically rotated to be slid within the sliding slit, as the rotary disc is rotated.

[20] Preferably, the second rotating and supporting part may include: a pair of rotating and supporting members for rotatably supporting both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller; a height-adjusting rod connected to the lower sides of the pair of rotating and supporting members; a pair of conveying screws operated in an individual engagement with female screw portions formed at both end portions of the height- adjusting rod; and an adjusting actuator for rotating one side conveying screw.

[21] More preferably, the adjusting actuator may include: a horizontal cylinder member disposed at a predetermined position at the inside of the body; a rack gear fixedly coupled to the end portion of the rod of the cylinder member in such a manner as to be movable forwardly and backwardly; a pinion gear operated in engagement with the rack gear; an actuating pulley provided at the lower side of the pinion gear; a wrapping connector mounted on a driven pulley of one side conveying screw; an adjusting screw portion supported by a bracket at a position facing the rack gear; and an adjusting knob coupled to one side of the adjusting screw portion in such a manner as to be exposed to the outside of the body.

[22] Preferably, the cutter part may include a pair of wheels disposed at the rear inner side of the body and an electric cutter mounted between the pair of wheels in such a manner as to carry out a given tracking motion, the electric cutter being adapted to carry out the given tracking motion as the pair of wheels are rotated by a driving motor (which is not shown), thereby moving in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the work piece.

[23] Preferably, the electric cutter may include a pair of rotary guiding members mounted at predetermined positions of the left and right sides thereof for guiding the tracking movement thereof, each of the pair of rotary guiding members being freely rotated.

[24] Preferably, the electric cutter may further include a cutter holder disposed at a portion adjacent to the upper and lower pressurizing rollers for holding the cutting edge thereof in such a manner as to orient the cutting edge toward the upper and lower pressurizing rollers, the cutter holder having an elastic member provided at the inside thereof for pressurizing the electric cutter against the upper and lower pressurizing rollers. [25] Preferably, the electric cutter may further include a pair of grinding rolls formed on one side surface thereof for grinding the cutting edge thereof.

Advantageous Effects [26] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern is capable of forming the solid embroidery pattern at a tense density on the surface of an embroidery object like cloth, leather, sheet, soft resin, and so on, preventing the deviation of embroidered threads such that the embroidered threads are rigidly rooted on the embroidery object, and having excellent processing capability and productivity thus to enable an embroidery article to be produced in large quantities.

Brief Description of the Drawings [27] Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [28] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the solid embroidery pattern on an embroidery object formed by using an apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to the present invention;

[29] FIG.2 is a view showing the principles of the apparatus of this invention;

[30] FIG.3 is a perspective view showing the apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [31] FIG.4 is a front sectional view of the apparatus of this invention;

[32] FIG.5 is a back sectional view of the apparatus of this invention;

[33] FIG.6 is a plane view showing the structure of an adjusting actuator of the apparatus of this invention; [34] FIG.7 is a partly exploded view showing the structure of an ascending/descending member, a rotary disc, and a guide block of the apparatus of this invention; and [35] FIG.8 is a side view showing the structure of an ascending/descending actuator of the apparatus of this invention.

Mode for the Invention [36] Now, an explanation on a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be in detail given with reference to attached drawings. [37] Referring first to a work piece used by the apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern, a predetermined embroidery pattern is formed by an embroidery machine in a state where an insertion body 1 Ia is placed on an embroidery object 1 Ib. [38] In this case, the embroidery object 1 Ib is made of a substantially thin material like knitted fabric, cloth, leather, sheet, soft resin, and so on.

[39] Also, the insertion body 1 Ia is made of a soft and elastic material like ethylene- vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), urethane rubber, polyurethane, and so on, thereby serving to maintain the solid embroidery pattern formed with an embroidery thread from the embroidery machine.

[40] In the state where the insertion body 1 Ia is placed on the embroidery object 1 Ib, the embroidery needle is passed through the insertion body 11a and the embroidery object lib, thereby forming a given embroidery pattern like trademarks, letters, designs, and so on.

[41] Besides, an auxiliary cover may be further provided on the top surface of the insertion body 11a, and otherwise, the cover plate may be provided on the top surface of the embroidery object 1 Ib except the insertion body 1 Ia on the embroidery object 1 Ib. An explanation of the structure of a work piece having the embroidery object and the insertion body and the embroidering process is given in detail in the afore¬ mentioned prior art Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0049050.

[42] The apparatus for forming the solid embroidery pattern according to the present invention is embodied by using a flat work piece 11 that is provided with the insertion body 11a and the embroidery object 1 Ib, and as the work piece 11 is conveyed pressurized against the upper and lower sides thereof, a cutter is disposed at the opposite side to the conveying direction of the work piece 11, thus to cut the insertion body 1 Ia by a given thickness.

[43] FIGS.3 to 8 show the apparatus for forming the solid embroidery pattern according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[44] As shown, the apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern comprises: a body having a mounting plate 14 for disposing the work piece 11 provided with the insertion body 11a and the embroidery object 1 Ib and having a specific embroidery pattern formed thereon on the top surface thereof; an upper pressurizing roller 21 rotatably mounted to the upper side of the body 10; a lower pressurizing roller 22 rotatably mounted at the lower side of the upper pressurizing roller 21 ; a roller driving unit 30 for driving the upper and roller pressurizing rollers 21 and 22 at the same rotating speed; a first rotating and supporting part 40 for rotatably supporting both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller 21 in such a manner as to move the upper pressurizing roller 21 upwardly and downwardly; a second rotating and supporting part 50 for rotatably supporting both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller 22 in such a manner as to adjust the height of the lower pressurizing roller 22; and a cutter part 60 disposed at the rear sides of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22 and moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the work piece 11 moved by the rotation of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22, for cutting the insertion body 1 Ia by a given thickness.

[45] The body 10 includes, as shown in F1G.3, the mounting plate 14 being flat at the front side thereof and having the work piece 11 provided with the embroidery object 1 Ib and the insertion body 11a spread on the top surface thereof.

[46] The upper pressurizing roller 21 is rotatably mounted to the upper side of the body

10, thereby serving to convey the work piece 11, while pressurizing the top side of the work piece 11.

[47] The lower pressurizing roller 22 is rotatably mounted at the lower side of the upper pressurizing roller 21, thereby serving to convey the work piece 11, while pressurizing the bottom side of the work piece 11.

[48] The roller driving unit 30, which drives the upper and roller pressurizing rollers 21 and 22 at the same rotating speed, comprises, as shown in FlG .4, a driving motor 31 and a gear mechanism 32 for transmitting the driving force of the driving motor 31 to the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22.

[49] The gear mechanism 32 has a wrapping connector 32a mounted from an output shaft of the driving motor 31, a gear box 32b connected to the wrapping connector 32a, and first and second rotary shafts 32c and 32d connected to the gear box 32b in engagement with the gear box 32b.

[50] In this case, the first rotary shaft 32c is connected to one side of the gear box 32b at one end portion thereof by means of a universal joint 32e and connected to one side end portion of the upper pressurizing roller 21 at the other side end portion thereof by means of a universal joint 32f, such that the first rotary shaft 32c can have free flexibility in every direction at a time of transmitting the driving force to the upper pressurizing roller 21.

[51] The second rotary shaft 32d is connected to the other side of the gear box 32b at one end portion thereof by means of a universal joint 32g and connected to one side end portion of the lower pressurizing roller 22 at the other side end portion thereof by means of a universal joint 32h, such that the second rotary shaft 32d can have free flexibility in every direction at a time of transmitting the driving force to the lower pressurizing roller 22.

[52] The first rotating and supporting part 40, which rotatably supports both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller 21 in such a manner as to move the upper pressurizing roller 21 upwardly and downwardly, comprises a pair of first rotating and supporting members 41 for rotatably supporting both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller 21, a pair of ascending/descending members 42 connected to the upper sides of the pair of first rotating and supporting members 41, a pair of guide blocks 43 for guiding the upward and downward movements of the pair of ascending/descending members 42, and an ascending/descending actuator 45 for ascending/descending one side ascending/ descending member 42.

[53] The pair of first rotating and supporting members 41, which are disposed on both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller 21, may have a bearing disposed at the inside thereof for rotatably supporting both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller 21 gently.

[54] Each of the pair of ascending/descending members 42 which is connected to the top side of each rotating and supporting member 41, comprises, as shown in FIG.7, a guide protrusion 42a protruded from the free end portion thereof and a sliding slit 42b formed on one side of the guide protrusion 42a for inserting an eccentric protrusion 45h formed on a rotary disc 45g of the ascending/descending actuator 45 as will be discussed below thereinto.

[55] Each of the guide blocks 43 is fixedly mounted on the upper side of the body 10, as shown in FIG.7, comprises a guide groove 43a formed at a portion contacted with the ascending/descending member 42 thereof, the guide groove 43a having the rotary disc 45g of the ascending/descending actuator 45 rotated thereon.

[56] As shown in FIGS.4 and 8, the ascending/descending actuator 45, which actuates one side ascending/descending member 42, comprises: a vertical cylinder member 45a rotatably mounted to a predetermined position at the inside of the body 10; a first rotary shaft 45b connected at one side end portion thereof to the end portion of a rod of the cylinder member 45a by means of hinge-coupling; a pair of second rotary shafts 45c disposed over the first rotary shaft 45b; a pair of wrapping connectors 45f mounted on first and second pulleys 45d and 45e formed on both side end portions of the first rotary shaft 45b and one side end portion of each of the second rotary shafts 45c; and a pair of rotary discs 45g fixedly coupled to the other side end portions of the second rotary shafts 45c.

[57] Each of the pair of rotary discs 45g is provided, as shown in FIG.7, with an eccentric protrusion 45h formed eccentrically by a given distance from a center point thereof at one side thereof, the eccentric protrusion 45h being inserted into the sliding slit 42b formed at one side of the ascending/descending member 42 in such a manner as to eccentrically rotated to be slid within the sliding slit 42b, as the rotary disc 45g is rotated.

[58] Under the above construction, if an air pressure is supplied to the forward or backward port side of the vertical cylinder member 45a of the ascending/descending actuator 45, the rod of the cylinder member 45a is moved forwardly or backwardly, and thereby, the first rotary shaft 45b that is connected to the rod end portion of the cylinder member 45a by means of hinge-coupling starts to rotate. At this time, the driving force of the first rotary shaft 45b is transmitted to the wrapping connector 45f and the second rotary shaft 45c, such that the second rotary shaft 45c starts to rotate in a given direction.

[59] As the second rotary shaft 45c is rotated, the rotary disc 45g is rotated, and thereby, the eccentric protrusion 45h is eccentrically rotated, sliding along the sliding slit 42b of each of the ascending/descending members 42. By the sliding and eccentric movement of the eccentric protrusion 45h, each ascending/descending member 42 is ascended and descended along the guide groove 43a of the guide block 43, and each rotating and supporting member 41 connected to each ascending/descending member 42 is ascended and descended.

[60] The second rotating and supporting part 50 rotatably supports both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller 22, minutely adjusting the height of the lower pressurizing roller 22.

[61] The second rotating and supporting part 50 is provided, as shown in FIGS .4 and 6, with a pair of rotating and supporting members 51 for rotatably supporting both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller 22, a height-adjusting rod 52 connected to the lower sides of the pair of rotating and supporting members 51, a pair of conveying screws 53 and 54 being in individual engagement with female screw portions 52a formed at both end portions of the height-adjusting rod 52, and an adjusting actuator 55 for rotating one side conveying screw 53.

[62] The pair of second rotating and supporting members 51, which are disposed on both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller 22, may have a bearing disposed at the inside thereof for rotatably supporting both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller 22 gently.

[63] The height-adjusting rod 52 is connected to the lower sides of the pair of second rotating and supporting members 51, having the female screw portions 52a formed at both end portions thereof, each of the female screw portions 52a engaging with one side conveying screw 53 as will be discussed in detail.

[64] The pair of conveying screws 53 and 54 are rotatably supported at the inside of the body 10, engaging with the female screw portions 52a formed at both end portions of the height-adjusting rod 52, one side conveying screw 53 provided with a driven pulley 53a formed at the lower side thereof.

[65] The adjusting actuator 55 is provided, as shown in F1GS.4 to 6, with a horizontal cylinder member 55a disposed at a predetermined position at the inside of the body 10, a rack gear 55b fixedly coupled to the end portion of the rod of the cylinder member 55a in such a manner as to be movable forwardly and backwardly, a pinion gear 55c operated in engagement with the rack gear 55b, an actuating pulley 55d provided at the lower side of the pinion gear 55c, a wrapping connector 55e mounted on the driven pulley 53a of one side conveying screw 53, an adjusting screw portion 55f supported by a bracket at a position facing the rack gear 55b, and an adjusting knob 55g coupled to one side of the adjusting screw portion 55f in such a manner as to be exposed to the outside of the body 10.

[66] The cylinder member 55a is horizontally mounted to the predetermined position at the inside of the body 10 and fixedly coupled to one side end portion of the rack gear 55b at the rod end portion thereof.

[67] The rack gear 55b is fixedly coupled to the rod end portion of the cylinder member

55a at one side end portion thereof, and as the rod of the cylinder member 55a is moved forwardly and backwardly, the rack gear 55b is moved forwardly and backwardly, guided by the guide member 57 fixedly coupled to the body 10.

[68] The pinion gear 55c is coupled to the tooth of the rack gear 55b, having the driving pulley 55d disposed at the lower side thereof.

[69] The wrapping connector 55e is mounted on the driving pulley 55d of the pinion gear 55c and on the driven pulley 53a of one side conveying screw 53 for transmitting the rotary force of the pinion gear 55c to one side conveying screw 53.

[70] Under the above construction, if an air pressure is supplied to the forward port side of the horizontal cylinder member 55a of the adjusting actuator 55, the rod of the cylinder member 55a is moved forwardly, and thereby, the rack gear 55b is moved forwardly, such that the free end portion of the rack gear 55b comes in contact with the free end portion of the adjusting screw portion 55f.

[71] In this state, if the adjusting knob 55g is turned, the adjusting screw portion 55f and the rack gear 55b are moved forwardly and backwardly.

[72] As the rack gear 55b is moved forwardly and backwardly by the operation of the adjusting knob 55g, the pinion gear 55c is rotated in a given direction, and thereby, the wrapping connector 55e is actuated.

[73] As the wrapping connector 55e is actuated, the driven pulley 53a of one side conveying screw 53 is rotated, and at the same time, one side conveying screw 53 is rotated.

[74] As one side conveying screw 53 is rotated, the pair of conveying screws 53 and 54 start to move along the female screw portions 52a of the height-adjusting rod 52, and the height-adjusting rod 52 and the pair of second rotating and supporting members 51 are minutely adjusted in the height thereof.

[75] The second rotating and supporting part 50 rotatably supports both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller 22 and minutely adjusts the height of the lower pressurizing roller 22, thereby making the height of the insertion body 11a adjustably cut by the electric cutter 62 as will be discussed below. This makes the height of the solid embroidery pattern formed on the surface of the embroidery object lib ap¬ propriately adjusted. [76] Preferably, the vertical cylinder member 45a of the ascending/descending actuator

45 and the horizontal cylinder member 55a of the adjusting actuator 55 have the respective forward and backward ports connected by means of T-shaped or Y-shaped connector (which is not shown) thereto.

[77] This enables the forward movement of the vertical cylinder member 45a and the forward movement of the horizontal cylinder member 55a to be at the same time carried out, such that the ascending movement of the first rotating and supporting members 41 and the height-adjusting operation of the second rotating and supporting members 51 are achieved at a time.

[78] The cutter part is, as shown in F1G.5, disposed at the rear sides of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22, moves in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the work piece 11, thereby cutting the insertion body 1 Ia by a predetermined thickness.

[79] The cutter part 60 comprises a pair of wheels 61 disposed at the rear inner side of the body 10 and an electric cutter 62 mounted between the pair of wheels 61 in such a manner as to carry out a given tracking motion, the electric cutter 62 adapted to carry out the given tracking motion as the pair of wheels 61 are rotated by a driving motor (which is not shown), thereby moving in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the work piece 11.

[80] The electric cutter 62 is provided with a pair of rotary guiding members 64 mounted at predetermined positions of the left and right sides thereof for guiding the tracking movement thereof.

[81] Each of the rotary guiding members 64 is, as shown in FIGS .5 and 6, of a cylindrical shape, and has a rotary shaft 64a provided at the middle portion thereof in such a manner as to be freely rotated in the body 10 and a guide groove (which is not shown) formed in a circumferential direction on the outer surface thereof, having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the rear side surface of the electric cutter, for stably guiding the rear side of the electric cutter 62.

[82] Preferably, the electric cutter 62 is further provided with a cutter holder 63 disposed at a portion adjacent to the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22 for holding the cutting edge thereof therein in such a manner as to orient the cutting edge toward the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22, the cutter holder 63 having an elastic member 63a provided at the inside thereof for pressurizing the electric cutter 62 against the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22.

[83] Also, the electric cutter 62 is further provided with a pair of grinding rolls 67 formed on one side surface thereof for periodically grinding the cutting edge thereof. The grinding rollers 67 are rotated by means of a driving motor (which is not shown), grinding the cutting edge of the electric cutter 62, thereby making the cutting edge sharp.

[84] As a result, the insertion body 1 Ia of the work piece 11 that is conveyed by means of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22 is cut by the predetermined thickness by means of the given tracking motion of the electric cutter 62.

[85] Under the above construction, an explanation of the operation of the apparatus of this invention is given in detail.

[86] First, as disclosed in the prior art filed by the same applicant as this invention, a desired embroidery pattern is formed on the work piece 11 provided with the embroidery object 1 Ib and the insertion body 1 Ia by using a general embroidery machine.

[87] Next, the work piece 11 on which the embroidery pattern is formed is spread on the mounting plate 14 of the body 10 and then interposed between the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22.

[88] After that, the ascending/descending actuator 45 of the first rotating and supporting part 40 is operated thus to make the pair of first rotating and supporting members 41 and the upper pressurizing roller 21 descended, such that the work piece 11 is pressurized between the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22.

[89] The descending movements of the pair of first rotating and supporting members 41 are implemented as follows:

[90] If an air pressure is supplied to the backward port side of the vertical cylinder member 45a of the ascending/descending actuator 45, the rod of the cylinder member 45a is moved backwardly, and thereby, the first rotary shaft 45b that is connected to the rod end portion of the cylinder member 45a by means of hinge-coupling starts to rotate. At this time, the driving force of the first rotary shaft 45b is transmitted to the wrapping connector 45f and the second rotary shaft 45c, such that the second rotary shaft 45c starts to rotate.

[91] As the second rotary shaft 45c is rotated, the rotary disc 45g is rotated, and thereby, the eccentric protrusion 45h is eccentrically rotated, sliding along the sliding slit 42b of each of the ascending/descending members 42. By the sliding and eccentric movement of the eccentric protrusion 45h, each ascending/descending member 42 is descended along the guide groove 43a of the guide block 43, and each rotating and supporting member 41 connected to each ascending/descending member 42 and the upper pressurizing roller 21 are descended, such that the work piece 11 is pressurized between the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22.

[92] Next, if the height of the lower pressurizing roller 22 is to be minutely adjusted, the adjusting actuator 55 of the second rotating and supporting part 50 is operated thus to adjust the height of the pair of second rotating and supporting members 51 rotatably supporting both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller 22. [93] The adjustment of the height of the lower pressurizing roller by the pair of second rotating and supporting members 51 is implemented as follows:

[94] If an air pressure is supplied to the forward port side of the horizontal cylinder member 55a of the adjusting actuator 55, the rod of the cylinder member 55a is moved forwardly, and thereby, the rack gear 55b is moved forwardly, such that the free end portion of the rack gear 55b comes in contact with the free end portion of the adjusting screw portion 55f.

[95] In this state, if the adjusting knob 55g is turned, the adjusting screw portion 55f and the rack gear 55b are moved backwardly.

[96] As the rack gear 55b is moved backwardly by the operation of the adjusting knob

55g, the pinion gear 55c is rotated in a given direction, and thereby, the wrapping connector 55e is actuated.

[97] As the wrapping connector 55e is actuated, the driven pulley 53a of one side conveying screw 53 is rotated, and at the same time, one side conveying screw 53 is rotated.

[98] As one side conveying screw 53 is rotated, the pair of conveying screws 53 and 54 start to move along the female screw portions 52a of the height-adjusting rod 52, and the height-adjusting rod 52 is minutely adjusted in the height thereof.

[99] After the upper pressurizing roller 21 is descended and the lower pressurizing roller

22 is adjusted to a desired height thereof, the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22 are rotated.

[100] As power is applied to the driving motor 31 of the roller actuator 30, the driving force of the driving motor 31 which is generated through the gear mechanism 32 is transmitted to the first and second rotary shafts 32c and 32d via the gear box 32b, and the first and second rotary shafts 32c and 32d rotate the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22 at the same rotating speed.

[101] Simultaneously, if the wheels 61 of the cutter part 60 are rotated, the electric cutter

62 that is mounted between the pair of wheels 61 starts to carry out the predetermined tracking motion, moving in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the work piece 11, thereby cutting the insertion body 1 Ia of the work piece 11 by a pre¬ determined thickness.

[102] If the insertion body 1 Ia is cut by the predetermined thickness, the insertion body

11a and a part of the upper portion of the embroidery thread 1 Id stitched into the insertion body 11a are at the same time cut, and if the insertion body 1 Ia is separated from the embroidery object 1 Ib after the cutting process of the work piece 11, the desired embroidery pattern on the embroidery object 1 Ib is formed in a rooted shape.

[103] As set forth in the foregoing, according to the apparatus for forming the solid embroidery pattern of this invention, after the embroidery pattern is formed on the embroidery object 1 Ib and the insertion body 1 Ia of the work piece 11 by an embroidery machine, the work piece 11 is conveyed, pressurized by means of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers 21 and 22, and at this time, the electric cutter 62 is operated to cut a part of the insertion body lla, thereby forming the solid embroidery pattern on the surface of the embroidery object 1 Ib. In this case, the solid embroidery pattern looks better in the solid and visual effects thereof.

[104] Furthermore, according to the apparatus for forming the solid embroidery pattern of this invention, the insertion body 1 Ia of the work piece 11 is cut in very rapid and precise ways, thereby making the working personals, the number of working processes, and the working time greatly reduced, which gives some advantages in that the whole production costs are low and the productivity is excellent thus to manufacture the product in large quantities.

[105] Additionally, according to the apparatus for forming the solid embroidery pattern of this invention, the height of the lower pressurizing roller 22 is easily adjusted, such that the height of the solid embroidery pattern formed on the surface of the embroidery object 1 Ib can be freely adjusted.

[106] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular il¬ lustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

[107]

Claims

[1] An apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern of skill-embroidery type on a work piece, in a state where a given embroidery pattern is formed on the work piece having an insertion body and an embroidery object, by cutting the insertion body by a given thickness, the apparatus comprising: a body having a mounting plate for disposing the work piece embroidered thereon; an upper pressurizing roller rotatably mounted to the upper side of the body; a lower pressurizing roller rotatably mounted at the lower side of the upper pressurizing roller; a roller driving unit for driving the upper and roller pressurizing rollers at the same rotating speed; a first rotating and supporting part for rotatably supporting both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller in such a manner as to move the upper pressurizing roller upwardly and downwardly; a second rotating and supporting part for rotatably supporting both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller in such a manner as to adjust the height of the lower pressurizing roller; and a cutter part disposed at the rear sides of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers and moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the work piece moved by the rotation of the upper and lower pressurizing rollers, for cutting the insertion body by the given thickness.

[2] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 1, wherein the roller driving unit comprises a driving motor and a gear mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the driving motor to the upper and lower pressurizing rollers, the gear mechanism having a wrapping connector mounted from an output shaft of the driving motor, a gear box connected to the wrapping connector, and first and second rotary shafts connected to the gear box in engagement with the gear box.

[3] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 2, wherein the first rotary shaft is connected to one side of the gear box at one end portion thereof by means of a first universal joint and connected to one side end portion of the upper pressurizing roller at the other side end portion thereof by means of a second universal joint, and the second rotary shaft is connected to the other side of the gear box at one end portion thereof by means of a third universal joint and connected to one side end portion of the lower pressurizing roller at the other side end portion thereof by means of a forth universal joint.

[4] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first rotating and supporting part comprises a pair of first rotating and supporting members for rotatably supporting both end portions of the upper pressurizing roller, a pair of ascending/descending members connected to the upper sides of the pair of first rotating and supporting members, a pair of guide blocks for guiding the upward and downward movements of the pair of ascending/descending members, and an ascending/descending actuator for ascending/descending one side ascending/descending member.

[5] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 4, wherein the ascending/descending actuator is adapted to actuate one side ascending/descending member, the ascending/descending actuator comprising: a vertical cylinder member rotatably mounted to a predetermined position at the inside of the body; a first rotary shaft connected at one side end portion thereof to the end portion of a rod of the cylinder member by means of hinge-coupling; a pair of second rotary shafts disposed over the first rotary shaft; a pair of wrapping connectors mounted on first and second pulleys formed on both side end portions of the first rotary shaft and one side end portion of each of the second rotary shafts; and a pair of rotary discs fixedly coupled to the other side end portions of the second rotary shafts, each of the pair of rotary discs comprising an eccentric protrusion formed eccentrically by a given distance from a center point thereof at one side thereof, the eccentric protrusion being inserted into a sliding slit formed at one side of the ascending/descending member in such a manner as to eccentrically rotated to be slid within the sliding slit, as the rotary disc is rotated.

[6] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 1, wherein the second rotating and supporting part comprises a pair of rotating and supporting members for rotatably supporting both end portions of the lower pressurizing roller, a height-adjusting rod connected to the lower sides of the pair of rotating and supporting members, a pair of conveying screws operated in an individual engagement with female screw portions formed at both end portions of the height-adjusting rod, and an adjusting actuator for rotating one side conveying screw.

[7] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 6, wherein the adjusting actuator comprises a horizontal cylinder member disposed at a predetermined position at the inside of the body, a rack gear fixedly coupled to the end portion of the rod of the cylinder member in such a manner as to be movable forwardly and backwardly, a pinion gear operated in engagement with the rack gear, an actuating pulley provided at the lower side of the pinion gear, a wrapping connector mounted on a driven pulley of one side conveying screw, an adjusting screw portion supported by a bracket at a position facing the rack gear, and an adjusting knob coupled to one side of the adjusting screw portion in such a manner as to be exposed to the outside of the body.

[8] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cutter part comprises a pair of wheels disposed at the rear inner side of the body and an electric cutter mounted between the pair of wheels in such a manner as to carry out a given tracking motion, the electric cutter being adapted to carry out the given tracking motion as the pair of wheels are rotated by a driving motor, thereby moving in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the work piece.

[9] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 8, wherein the electric cutter comprises a pair of rotary guiding members mounted at predetermined positions of the left and right sides thereof for guiding the tracking movement thereof, each of the pair of rotary guiding members being freely rotated.

[10] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 9, wherein the electric cutter further comprises a cutter holder disposed at a portion adjacent to the upper and lower pressurizing rollers for holding the cutting edge thereof therein in such a manner as to orient the cutting edge toward the upper and lower pressurizing rollers, the cutter holder having an elastic member provided at the inside thereof for pressurizing the electric cutter against the upper and lower pressurizing rollers.

[11] The apparatus for forming a solid embroidery pattern according to claim 10, wherein the electric cutter further comprises a pair of grinding rolls formed on one side surface thereof for grinding the cutting edge thereof.