MACHINE FOR SPREADING FABRIC

Abstract

 Machine (1) for spreading fabric comprising:
- a spreading surface (2);
- a carriage (3) that is movable on the spreading surface (2) with forward-backward motion for spreading a pile of fabric on the spreading surface (2) along a spreading direction (4) parallel to the spreading surface (2);
- a command-and-control electronic control unit (100) of the machine (1);
- an interface (200) for an operator comprising a digital screen (201) with rectangular shape comprising two long sides (202, 202') and two short sides (203, 203'),
wherein the electronic control unit (100) is connected to the digital screen (201) and it is programmed for displaying onto the digital screen (201) an image (400) representative of the pile of fabric;
wherein a projection of each of the long sides (202, 202') on the spreading surface (2) forms with the spreading direction (4) a first acute angle (302) greater than or equal to - 20° and less than or equal to 20°.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine for spreading fabric or other material in flexible sheets (e.g., leather, synthetic leather, polymeric sheets, etc.).

State of the art

[0002] Machines for spreading fabric are known which are able to automatically spread on a spreading surface a pile of fabric pieces, or several piles in sequence, unwinding the fabric from a fabric roll or from a lapped fabric.

[0003] The term "pile" (in the jargon "lay") means one (in the case of single-layer spreading) or more overlapping fabric pieces, regardless of whether the piece is separated (for example by cutting) from any overlying and underlying pieces, or is continuous with them.

[0004] Examples of known machines for spreading fabric are disclosed in Italian patents 102015902351463 and 102016000035768 belonging to the same Applicant.

[0005] Figure 1 shows an example of a known type machine 1 for spreading fabric, as disclosed and shown in the aforesaid patent 102016000035768.

[0006] Typically, the machine 1 comprises a carriage 3 movable on the spreading surface 2 with forward-backward motion for spreading a fabric on the spreading surface 2 along a spreading direction 4 parallel to the spreading surface. Typically, the carriage 3 comprises a platform 5 integral with the carriage itself for the support of an operator.

[0007] Typically, the carriage 3 comprises an unwinding system 6 comprising one or more rotation members for rotating a roll of fabric (not shown) for unwinding a fabric tract. Typically, the carriage 3 comprises a cutting system 11 of the fabric arranged downstream of the unwinding system 6.

[0008] Typically, the machine 1 comprises a command-and-control electronic control unit 100 of the machine 1 connected to an interface 200 for an operator comprising a digital screen 201 on which the control unit 100, in use, displays an image (typically in top or "in plan" view) representative of the pile to be spread on the spreading surface of the machine 1. Typically, the pile in plan has rectangular shape, with the long side parallel to the spreading direction and the short side parallel to the dimension perpendicular to the spreading surface and therefore also the image has rectangular shape. Since both the digital screen and the image have rectangular shape, it is advantageous viewing this image of the pile oriented with the long side arranged parallel to the long sides of the screen. In this way, the screen surface is optimally exploited.

[0009] The image displayed on the digital screen can show, superimposed to the pile of fabric to be spread, the positioning (in the jargon "panel template" or "marker") of the panels to be printed and/or to be cut in a manufacturing step subsequent to the spreading. In addition, a cursor can also be displayed (in the form of a rectilinear segment arranged perpendicular to the long side of the image and superimposed to the image) which, during the spreading, slides along the image parallelly to its long sides in synchrony with the current position of a physical reference of the carriage along the spreading direction. In this way, when the operator notices a defect localized on the fabric just spread, he can perform a defect management procedure, which involves the stop of the spreading, the cut of the fabric, the return of the carriage to the position in which the physical reference is at the defect and the spread of a new strip of fabric overlapping the strip of fabric comprising the defect. While doing so, he can identify by the position of the cursor with respect to the marker which panel/s is/are affected by the defect and/or by the cut, for ensuring that this panel/s is/are not entirely comprised in the overlapping strip of fabric.

Summary of the invention

[0010] In the field of the automatic spreading of fabrics or other materials in flexible sheets, the Applicant has made the following considerations.

[0011] The terms "horizontal" and "vertical" refer to a normal installation of the machine wherein the spreading surface lies on the horizontal plane.

[0012] "Spreading direction" means any straight line parallel to the trajectory of the rectilinear motion of the carriage.

[0013] The Applicant has observed that in the known machines for spreading fabric, as shown for example in figure 1, the digital screen 201 is positioned so that each of the long sides is horizontal and also forms with the spreading direction 4 (taken incident to the long side) an acute angle 250 of about 60°.

[0014] According to the Applicant, such positioning of the digital screen can lead to a difficulty for the operator when the latter has to compare the image of the pile represented on the digital screen with the real pile, since the operator must perform a mental rotation (equal to about the aforesaid angle) for making the mental image acquired by the visualization on the digital screen and the real pile being spread spatially concordant. This mental operation can make the aforesaid comparison non-ergonomic (and therefore being tiring) and/or slow down the aforesaid defect management procedure and/or generate mistakes by the operator.

[0015] The Applicant has therefore faced the problem of increasing the ergonomics of the spreading machine and/or reducing the mistakes of the operator and/or making the defect management procedure on the newly spread fabric faster and/or more reliable.

[0016] According to the Applicant, this problem is solved by a machine for spreading fabric according to the present invention.

[0017] According to an aspect the invention relates to a machine for spreading fabric comprising:

• a spreading surface;
• a carriage that is movable on the spreading surface with forward-backward motion for spreading a pile of fabric on the spreading surface along a spreading direction parallel to the spreading surface;
• a command-and-control electronic control unit of the machine;
• an interface for an operator comprising a digital screen with rectangular shape comprising two long sides and two short sides,

wherein the electronic control unit is connected to said digital screen and it is programmed for displaying onto said digital screen an image representative of said pile of fabric;
wherein a projection of each of said long sides on the spreading surface forms with said spreading direction a first acute angle greater than or equal to -20° and less than or equal to 20°.

[0018] According to the Applicant, the positioning of the digital screen such that a projection of each of the long sides on the spreading surface forms with the spreading direction of the pile of fabric an acute angle greater than or equal to -20° and less than or equal to 20° allows the operator who is using the machine to mentally compare in an intuitive and quick way the image representative of the pile of fabric in plan, when displayed on the digital screen with the spreading direction represented parallel to the long sides of the digital screen, and the real pile of fabric spread or being spread on the spreading surface. In fact, these features allow that the space orientation of the digital image of the pile in plan is consistent with the space orientation of the real pile.

[0019] In this way, the risk that the operator may experience disorientation in the transition from the image represented on the digital screen to the view of the real pile is reduced, if not completely avoided, increasing the overall ergonomics of the machine and/or strongly reducing the risk of operator's mistakes.

[0020] The present invention in one or more of the aforesaid aspects can have one or more of the following preferred features.

[0021] Preferably said first acute angle is greater than or equal to -10°, more preferably greater than or equal to -5°, even more preferably greater than or equal to -2°, and less than or equal to 10°, more preferably less than or equal to 5°, even more preferably less than or equal to 2°. Preferably said first acute angle is equal to 0° (i.e., the projection of each of said long sides on the spreading surface is parallel to said spreading direction). In this way, the disorientation risk for the operator in the transition from the image represented on the digital screen to the view of the real pile is further reduced.

[0022] Preferably each of said long sides of the digital screen forms with said spreading surface a second acute angle greater than or equal to 0°, more preferably greater than or equal to 10°, even more preferably greater than or equal to 20°, and less than or equal to 80°, more preferably less than or equal to 60°, even more preferably less than or equal to 50°. In this way the digital screen is oriented with respect to the operator for allowing an ergonomic displaying of the image on the screen.

[0023] Preferably each of said short sides forms with a plane parallel to the spreading surface a third acute angle greater than or equal to -20° and less than or equal to 20°, more preferably greater than or equal to -10° and less than or equal to 10°, even more preferably equal to 0° (i.e., horizontal short sides). In this way the ergonomics of the platform in terms of operator's position is favoured.

[0024] In one embodiment said machine comprises an adjustment system structured for moving said digital screen for adjusting said first acute angle and/or said second acute angle within a respective range of values (preferably having an amplitude of at least 20°, more preferably of at least 30°). Preferably said adjustment system is structured for rotating said digital screen respectively around a vertical axis and/or a horizontal axis and perpendicularly to the spreading direction.

[0025] In this way it is possible adjusting the first and/or second acute angle, and therefore the inclination of the digital screen, according to the needs and the preferences of the operator.

[0026] Preferably said digital screen has a shape ratio, defined as a ratio between a long side and a short side, greater than or equal to 1.3, more preferably greater than or equal to 1.5, and/or less than or equal to 3, more preferably less than or equal to 2.5. In this way the plan visualization of the pile is optimized.

[0027] Preferably each long side has a length greater than or equal to 20 cm, more preferably greater than or equal to 30 cm, and/or less than or equal to 60 cm, more preferably less than or equal to 50 cm. In this way, the physical encumbrance of the interface is limited.

[0028] Preferably said carriage comprises a support, more preferably having box-like shape, for said interface, with said support positioned outside an encumbrance of said spreading surface. In this way, the digital screen is integral with the carriage and in a position so that it can be comfortably viewed by the operator without obstructing the spreading.

[0029] Preferably said digital screen is a digital touch screen. In this way the interface is simplified and more ergonomic.

[0030] Preferably said interface comprises a keyboard operable by the operator through an object for sending commands to the command-and-control electronic control unit. Typically said object is a finger of the operator or an external pointing device (as a "mouse").

[0031] In one embodiment said keyboard comprises a virtual keyboard, i.e., a keyboard displayed (by the control unit) on the digital screen.

[0032] In one embodiment said keyboard comprises a physical keyboard distinct from the digital screen.

[0033] In one embodiment said keyboard comprises both said virtual keyboard and said physical keyboard.

[0034] Typically, said carriage comprises a platform integral with the carriage itself for the support of an operator.

[0035] Typically, the carriage comprises an unwinding system comprising one or more rotation members for rotating a roll of fabric for unwinding a fabric tract and a cutting system of the fabric arranged downstream of the unwinding system.

[0036] Preferably said command-and-control electronic control unit of the machine is connected to said carriage and it is programmed for commanding a movement of said carriage along said spreading direction and for commanding said unwinding system and said cutting system of the fabric

[0037] Preferably said command-and-control electronic control unit of the machine is connected to said interface for receiving a command signal from the operator, more preferably entered through said keyboard, and it is programmed for commanding, as a function of said command signal, an operation selected in the group: cutting, starting/blocking spreading of the pile of fabric, winding/unwinding of the fabric, etc. Preferably said image is representative of said pile of fabric in plan (i.e., seen from above). In this it is possible managing the defects detected on the fabric spread. Preferably said image has rectangular shape having respective long sides and short sides.

[0038] Preferably said image is oriented so that a dimension of said pile of fabric parallel to said spreading direction is represented parallelly to said long sides of the digital screen. In this way the shape similarity between the pile of fabric in plan (typically rectangular) and the rectangular screen is exploited.

[0039] Preferably the electronic control unit is programmed for displaying a cursor superimposed to said image (more preferably a segment arranged parallel to the short sides of the image and having length equal to the short sides of the image), wherein an instantaneous position of said cursor onto the image corresponds to a current position of said carriage (e.g., of a physical reference on said carriage) with respect to said pile of fabric. In this way the operator is informed of the advancement of the spreading and/or he can verify the advancement of the spreading

[0040] Preferably the electronic control unit is programmed for displaying superimposed to said image a marker of a plurality of panels to be printed and/or to be cut subsequently to the spreading of the pile of fabric. In this way the operator can perform the above-described defects management procedure.

Brief description of the drawings

[0041] 

Figure 1 shows a schematic and partial perspective view of a known machine for spreading fabric;

Figure 2 shows a schematic and partial perspective view of a machine for spreading fabric according to the present invention;

Figures 3A-B schematically show a perspective view of the digital screen in two different embodiments;

Figure 4 schematically shows a screen shot of the digital screen.

Detailed description of some embodiments of the invention

[0042] The features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by the following detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention, presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached figures. Figure 2 shows a machine 1 for spreading fabric according to the present invention. The machine 1 comprises a carriage 3 movable on a spreading surface 2 with forward-backward motion to spread a pile of fabric on the spreading surface 2 along a spreading direction 4 parallel to the spreading surface 2.

[0043] The carriage 3 typically comprises a platform 5 integral with it for the support of an operator.

[0044] The carriage 3 comprises an unwinding system 6 comprising one or more rotation members for rotating a roll of fabric (not shown) to unwind a fabric strip and a cutting system 11 of the fabric arranged downstream of the unwinding system and comprising a cutting head.

[0045] The carriage, the unwinding system, the cutting system and their respective operation will not be described and illustrated in detail as they may for example be of the type known to the skilled in the art (e.g., as described in the aforesaid patents 102015902351463 and 102016000035768).

[0046] Exemplarily the carriage 3 comprises a support 50, exemplarily having box-like shape, positioned outside an encumbrance of the spreading surface 2. Exemplarily the carriage 3 comprises a command-and-control electronic control unit 100 of the machine itself. The support 50 has, for example on an external surface facing the platform 5, a user-machine interface 200 comprising a digital screen 201, exemplarily a digital touch screen.

[0047] Preferably the digital screen 201 has a rectangular shape comprising two long sides 202 and two short sides 203 (Figures 3A-B).

[0048] Exemplarily the long side 202 has a length of 40 cm and the short side 203 has a length of 20 cm (shape ratio equal to 2).

[0049] With reference to figures 2 and 3A, the digital screen 201 is schematically shown in a first embodiment wherein a projection of each of the long sides 202 on the spreading surface 2 forms with the spreading direction 4 a first acute angle equal to 0°. Figure 2 shows that the projection of the long side 202 on the spreading surface 2 develops along the dashed line 300, parallel to the spreading direction 4.

[0050] With reference to Figure 3B, the digital screen 201 is schematically shown in a second embodiment wherein the projection of each of the long sides 202 onto the spreading surface 2 forms with the spreading direction 4 a first acute angle 302 equal to about 10°. Figure 3B schematically shows that the projection of the long side 202 on the spreading surface 2 develops along the dashed line 300, which forms with the spreading direction 4 (taken incident to this projection) the first acute angle 302 equal to 10°.

[0051] Exemplarily (as shown in Figure 2, 3A-B) each of the long sides 202 of the digital screen 201 forms with the spreading surface 2 a second acute angle 301 equal to 45°. It should be noted that in figures 3A-B the value of the second acute angle 301 is the same (e.g., 45°) while the value of the first acute angle 302 is different, as explained above.

[0052] Exemplarily each of the short sides 203 is horizontally arranged, i.e., it forms with a plane parallel to the spreading surface 2 a third acute angle equal to 0°.

[0053] Exemplarily the machine 1 can comprise an adjustment system (not shown) for example connected to the support 50 of the digital screen 201 to allow the movement of the whole box-shaped body of the support 50 and the adjustment of the first 302 and/or of the second acute angle 301 within a respective range of values. For example, the range of values for the first acute angle 302 goes from a minimum of - 15° to a maximum of 15°, while the range of values for the second acute angle 301 goes from a minimum of 20° to a maximum of 50°. As schematically shown in Figures 3A-B, the adjustment system has for example two rotational degrees of freedom having a respective rotation axis 350 and 351 for adjusting the inclination of the digital screen respectively for the first 302 and the second acute angle 301. Preferably, the command-and-control electronic control unit 100 of the machine 1 is connected to the digital screen 201 and it is programmed for displaying (as schematically shown in Figure 4) on the digital screen 201 a rectangular image 400 representative of the pile of fabric to be spread on the spreading surface 2, in top view (i.e., a plan image of the pile).

[0054] Preferably a mobile cursor 402 (e.g., a segment as long as the short sides of the image 400) superimposed to the image represents instant by instant the current position of the carriage 3 (e.g., the position of a physical reference on the carriage) with respect to the pile of fabric. In other words, the cursor 402, during the spreading, slides along the image 400 parallelly to the long sides 202 along a sliding direction representative of the spreading direction 4.

[0055] Preferably, as schematically shown in Figure 4, the marker (positioning of a plurality of panels 450) is displayed superimposed to the image 400. In one not shown embodiment, the marker may not be displayed.

[0056] Exemplarily as schematically shown in Figure 4, the interface 200 comprises a keyboard 500, exemplarily of the virtual type, operable by the operator through an object, for example an operator's finger. Alternatively, or in addition, the virtual keyboard can be operated by an external pointing device such as a mouse (not shown).

[0057] The keyboard can also comprise physical buttons (as shown in figure 2) incorporated on the surface of the support 50.

[0058] Exemplarily the keyboard 500 comprises a first plurality of buttons B1-B6 which can be operated by the operator to select an operation selected in the group: cutting, starting/blocking spreading of the pile of fabric, winding/unwinding of the fabric and a second plurality of buttons A1-A3 which can be operated by the operator to select a control operation of the spreading parameters and/or to set the parameters relating to the processing of the fabric (material, density, thickness, type of fabric - e.g., lapped fabric, non-woven fabric, knitted fabric - etc.).

[0059] Exemplarily the command-and-control electronic control unit 100 is connected to the carriage 3 and it is programmed to command a movement of the carriage 3 along the spreading direction 4. Exemplarily the command-and-control electronic control unit 100 is also connected to the interface 200 for receiving a command signal entered by the user through the keyboard 500 and for performing one of the operations selected using the buttons.

Claims

1. Machine (1) for spreading fabric comprising:

- a spreading surface (2);

- a carriage (3) that is movable on the spreading surface (2) with forward-backward motion for spreading a pile of fabric on the spreading surface (2) along a spreading direction (4) parallel to the spreading surface (2);

- a command-and-control electronic control unit (100) of the machine (1);

- an interface (200) for an operator comprising a digital screen (201) with rectangular shape comprising two long sides (202) and two short sides (203),

wherein the electronic control unit (100) is connected to said digital screen (201) and it is programmed for displaying onto said digital screen (201) an image (400) representative of said pile of fabric;
wherein a projection of each of said long sides (202) on the spreading surface (2) forms with said spreading direction (4) a first acute angle (302) greater than or equal to -20° and less than or equal to 20°.

2. Machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first acute angle (302) is greater than or equal to -10°, preferably greater than or equal to -5°, and less than or equal to 10°, preferably less than or equal to 5°.

3. Machine (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said first acute angle (302) is greater than or equal to -2° and less than or equal to 2°, preferably it is equal to 0°.

4. Machine (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein each of said long sides (202) of the digital screen (201) forms with said spreading surface (2) a second acute angle (301) greater than or equal to 0°, preferably greater than or equal to 20°, and less than or equal to 80°, preferably less than or equal to 50°.

5. Machine (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein each of said short sides (203) forms with a plane parallel to the spreading surface (2) a third acute angle greater than or equal to -20° and less than or equal to 20°, preferably equal to 0°.

6. Machine (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said image (400) is representative of said pile of fabric in plan, and wherein said image (400) is oriented so that a dimension of said pile of fabric parallel to said spreading direction (4) is represented parallelly to said long sides (202) of the digital screen (201).

7. Machine (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the electronic control unit (100) is programmed for displaying a cursor (402) superimposed to said image (400), wherein an instantaneous position of said cursor (402) onto the image (400) corresponds to a current position of said carriage (3) with respect to said pile of fabric.

8. Machine (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the electronic control unit (100) is programmed for displaying superimposed to said image (400) a marker of a plurality of panels (450) to be printed and/or to be cut subsequently to the spreading of the pile of fabric.

9. Machine (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said digital screen (201) is a digital touch screen, wherein said digital screen (201) has a shape ratio, defined as a ratio between a long side and a short side, greater than or equal to 1,3 and/or less than or equal to 3, and wherein each long side (202) has a length greater than or equal to 20 cm and/or less than or equal to 60 cm.

10. Machine (1) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein said interface (200) comprises a keyboard (500) operable by the operator through an object for sending commands to the command-and-control electronic control unit (100), wherein said command-and-control electronic control unit (100) of the machine (1) is connected to said carriage (3) and it is programmed for commanding a movement of said carriage (3) along said spreading direction (4) and for commanding an unwinding system (6) and a cutting system (11) of the fabric belonging to the machine (1), and wherein said command-and-control electronic control unit (100) of the machine (1) is connected to said interface (200) for receiving a command signal from the operator entered through said keyboard (500) and it is programmed for commanding, as a function of said command signal, an operation selected in the group: cutting, starting/blocking spreading of the pile of fabric, winding/unwinding of the fabric, etc.

Drawing