Machine for attaching pockets or the like with two templates or multiple templates and the related sewing method

Abstract

 Sewing machine using a sewing head (2) movement unit that travels on rails (6) placed on an upper bridge (8) for traverse movement and a lower multiple loading system including at least one double feed unit composed of a pair of templates (4, 5) in a "tandem" arrangement wherein the fabric to be processed, such as the pockets to sew on quarter pants, is positioned. The system also provides for removal of the templates from the work surface. In this case all available space can be used for sewing and/or embroidering on tablecloths, drapes or similar large pieces of fabric that can be processed over their entire surface area.

Description

[0001] This industrial invention patent proposes a machine for attaching pockets or the like with two templates and a sewing system including a pocket attaching machine with pairs of templates in a "tandem" arrangement or with multiple templates and double (or multiple) sewing stations.

[0002] This solution calls for creating a conceptually new sewing system as it exploits a sewing head movement unit along rails placed on an upper bridge for traverse movement and a lower multiple loading system including at least one double feed unit composed of a pair of templates in a "tandem" arrangement wherein the fabric to be processed, such as the pockets to sew on the quarter pants, is positioned.

[0003] The system involved, compared to known solutions, is conceptually entirely new to the sector and proposes improving sewing procedures by adopting practical solutions that amplify possibilities for intervening in sewing processes by using a pocket-attaching machine with double templates and multiple sewing stations.

[0004] As is well-known there are many sewing machines in the sewing sector made in various models and with various concepts both to meet the needs of private parties and those of persons primarily involved in the industrial sector.

[0005] In both cases the sewing machines are generally composed of an upper part that includes the drive and needle control unit and a lower part that includes the crochet unit that collaborates with the needle to generate the various stitches.

[0006] The upper part is placed on a fixed support, generally an arm-type support, and is connected to the lower crochet unit by mechanical and cinematic transmission parts that achieve perfect synchrony in the various sewing operations.

[0007] Other devices are also known regarding template-loading devices placed in the vicinity of the upper loading level that permit automatic loading of the edges to be sewn onto a base fabric. These devices are extremely helpful when, for example, sewing pockets on a quarter pants or in all cases where it is necessary to apply labels or inserts on garments in general.

[0008] Both traditional sewing machines and template-loading devices are limited in their use, however, when we consider that template loading mechanisms are effective when assembling the pieces to be sewn but create down time in the sewing process when the loading device is below the sewing tools, actually preventing the worker from performing continuous loading operations.

[0009] Traditional sewing machines as they are currently conceived, in addition, do not permit sewing nor, even moreso, embroidery on edges of large size pieces of fabric and in fact for these cases it is usual to turn to much more complex and costly machines as are generally assigned this task.

[0010] The object of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems by using an innovative sewing system that uses a traversing sewing unit and multiple loading stations, preferably composed of two "tandem" stations on which the edges to be sewn can be positioned and used in rapid sequence.

[0011] The immediate advantage of the newly proposed system primarily regards increased production capacity compared to traditional sewing methods because the operator can use multiple loading stations and totally eliminate down time since the machine is able to perform the sewing process on a loading station already loaded with the fabric while the fabric is being loaded onto the other station.

[0012] Another advantage proposed by the invention is that the new sewing system can use large work surfaces so that sewing and embroidery can be performed on very large edges of fabrics such as on tablecloths, drapes or the like.

[0013] As a general rule the invention involved is highly versatile and offers working possibilities much greater than those currently known, making it possible to forecast many developments in procedures up to today permitted only by using specifically designed machines.

[0014] The result is that work costs are substantially decreased because extremely varied types of tasks can all be performed using the same machine.

[0015] The above-mentioned objects and advantages are all achieved, according to the invention, by a machine and related sewing method including mechanisms for moving the sewing head and mechanisms for positioning the fabric, characterized by the fact that the working head, equipped with sewing components and the related crochet, is positioned on a bridge-type traversing support equipped with guides on which it can slide and by the fact that the work surface includes multiple fabric loading stations, preferably double or in a "tandem" arrangement", composed of templates and/or elements for positioning and retaining the edges of the fabric being processed and designed to collaborate with the traversing sewing head.

[0016] Other characteristics and special features of the invention can be better understood by the following description which is given as a non-limited example and which refers to the attached drawings where:

fig. 1 gives a schematic front view of the sewing system according to the invention;

fig. 2 gives a schematic plan view;

fig. 3 gives a schematic side view of the sewing device according to the invention;

fig. 4 gives a schematic axonometric view of the overall sewing device according to the invention;

fig. 5 gives a detailed schematic axonometric view of the devices that move the sewing head and its crochet;

fig. 6 gives a schematic axonometric illustration of the double or tandem template loading station and its related actuating mechanisms.

[0017] In the attached illustrations 1 indicates the overall whole of mechanisms that represent the sewing system according to the invention.

[0018] The sewing system involved basically consists of a mobile working head indicated by 2 which includes the sewing components and which is synchronized with its related lower crochet 3 and of a multiple station fabric loading system which is composed of loading templates which, in the case being illustrated, are two in number and are indicated by 4 and 5.

[0019] In the first place one of the peculiarities of the invention comes from the fact that both working head 2 and its related lower crochet 3 slide on two parallel rails 6 and 7, respectively placed on an upper beam or bridge 8 and a lower beam 9 applied one above the other and retained by the columns 10 of support frame.

[0020] Note that the sewing components are installed on vertical sliding guides 2' which permit them to move vertically towards the work surface in order to perform the sewing procedure.

[0021] The slide mechanisms for the head unit and the crochet unit consist of recirculating ball skids while the drive mechanisms consist of belts 11 and 12 powered by lateral shaft 13 (fig. 5) which is in its turn powered by motor 14.

[0022] This drive system permits the two head - crochet work units to traverse from one side of the structure to the other, moving from one loading station (4) to the other (5).

[0023] More specifically loading stations 4 and 5 permit, as stated, to position the fabric on work surface 15 according to precise position references and to load above and inside it the edges of fabric to be sewn such as pockets, labels or any other subject.

[0024] In this regard the two loading stations or templates 4 and 5 rest on work surface 15 and can move on this thanks to the special sliders on which they are mounted.

[0025] In particular, as can be seen in figure 2, templates 4 and 5 are mounted on pairs of rear shafts 16 and 17 which slide along the "X" axis on supports 18 and 19 powered by motors 20 and 21.

[0026] In their turn supports 18 and 19 slide along the "Y" axis on other pairs of shafts 22, actuated by motors 23 placed in the central part of the work surface. In fact each of these supports 18 and 19 has on its top, a base 24 to which belt 25 is fastened, placed between suitable transmissions and powered by motors 23.

[0027] Templates 4 and 5 can lift up and lower down by rocking on the work surface because they are hinged on their rear support 26 (fig. 6) and actuated by pneumatic pistons 27 placed on their sides.

[0028] And, finally, these same templates 4 and 5 contain, inside, a plate 28, which may be made with suitably shaped openings and/or slots, which permits sewing procedures to be performed within the profile or along its outline.

[0029] Each of the plates 28 that acts inside the templates 4 and 5, as is clearly visible in figure 6, is supported by an arm 29 which can lift up or lower down with respect to the outer profile of the related template in order to permit the edge of applied fabric to be loaded and introduced above the base fabric.

[0030] Note that the first and second loading station can contain different plates inside, for example mirror profiles, particularly useful when applying asymmetric pockets on pants or any other applied part which is different on the right side and the left side of a garment.

[0031] We shall now briefly describe an example of operation of the system according to the invention.

[0032] At the start of the work cycle the worker moves near to one of the templates, for example the first on the left when looking at the machine from the front, and when this is in its lifted position and the sewing head is moved to the right, the worker introduces the base fabric, such as a quarter pants or the like.

[0033] At this point the outer part of the template is lowered by actuating pistons 27 and the fabric to be sewn is introduced inside the template itself so that it can be held in place by plate 28 which is in its turn lowered by intervention of support 29.

[0034] Once the fabric has been positioned in the template the sewing device can intervene and head 2 and its related crochet 3 traverse on the horizontal guides, powered by motor 14, until they are above template 4 at the first sewing station.

[0035] The working head, once it arrives vertical over the work point of the first sewing station, starts sewing while the worker can move to the right towards the second loading station and start a new work cycle while the other station is performing sewing.

[0036] Another advantage is the provision that all the templates be removed from the work surface. In this case all the space that is available can be used such as when performing sewing and/or embroidery procedures on tablecloths, drapes or similar large size pieces of fabric which can be processed over their entire length without any difficulties.

[0037] As can be seen, and as we have already stated previously, the advantage of the new system that is proposed regards its clear versatility and increased production capacity with respect to traditional sewing machines because the worker can use multiple loading stations and totally eliminate down times because the machine is able to work on a loading station that has already been loaded with fabric while fabric is being loaded into the other station.

[0038] It is also evident that the loading stations, in the example described, are two in number but can also be any even larger number depending on job requirements.

[0039] A technician in the sector can subsequently make several modifications and variations on what has been described and illustrated, obtaining solutions which are to be held as included within the area of protection of the invention, further defined in its particular characteristics by the following claims.

Claims

1. Machine and related sewing method including mechanisms for moving the sewing head and mechanisms for positioning the fabric, characterized by the fact that the working head, equipped with sewing components and the related crochet, is positioned on a traversing support equipped with guides on which it can slide and by the fact that the work surface includes multiple fabric loading stations, preferably double, composed of templates and/or elements for positioning and retaining the edges of the fabric being processed and designed to collaborate with the traversing sewing head.

2. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claim, characterized by the fact that it is composed of a working head (2) which includes the sewing components and which is synchronized with its related lower crochet (3) and of a multiple station fabric loading system which is composed of loading templates (4, 5).

3. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that both the working head (2) and its related lower crochet (3) slide on parallel rails (6, 7) respectively placed on upper beam or bridge (8) and a lower beam (9), applied one above the other and retained by the columns (10) of the support frame.

4. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the sewing components are installed on vertical sliding guides (2') which permit the sewing components themselves to move vertically towards the work surface in order to perform the sewing procedure.

5. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said slide mechanisms for the head unit and the crochet unit consist of recirculating ball skids or the like while the drive mechanisms consist of belts (11, 12) or the like powered by a lateral shaft (13) which is in its turn powered by motor (14).

6. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said templates (4, 5) are mounted on pairs of rear shafts (16, 17) which slide along the "X" axis on supports (18, 19) powered by motors (20, 21) while supports (18, 19) slide along the "Y" axis on other pairs of shafts (22), powered by motors (23) placed in the central part of the work surface.

7. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that each of these supports (18, 19) has, on its top, a base (24) to which belt (25) is fastened, placed between suitable transmissions and powered by motors (23).

8. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said templates (4, 5) can lift up and lower down by rocking on the work surface because they are hinged on their rear support (26) and actuated by pneumatic pistons (27) placed on their sides.

9. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said templates (4, 5) contain, inside, a plate (28) which may be equipped with suitably shaped openings and/or slots and which permits sewing procedures to be performed inside the profile or along its outline.

10. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that each of the plates (28) that acts inside the templates (4, 5) is supported by an arm (29) which can lift up or lower down with respect to the outer profile of the related template in order to permit the edge of applied fabric to be loaded and introduced above the base fabric.

11. Machine and sewing method according to the previous claims, characterized by the fact that it can perform the following operating phases: at the start of the work cycle the worker moves near to one of the templates, for example the first on the left when looking at the machine from the front, and when this is in its lifted position and the sewing head is moved to the right, the worker introduces the base fabric, such as a quarter pants or the like; the outer part of the template is lowered by actuating pistons (27) and the fabric to be sewn is introduced inside the template itself so that it can be held in place by plate (28) which is in its turn lowered by intervention of support (29); once the fabric has been positioned in the template the sewing device can intervene and in this case head (2) and its related crochet (3) traverse on the horizontal guides, powered by motor (14), until they are above template (4) at the first sewing station; the working head, once it arrives vertical over the work point of the first sewing station starts sewing while the worker can move to the right towards the second loading station and start a new work cycle while the first station is performing sewing.

Drawing