Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1041837
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.
Field of the Invention: Where a number of
,pieces of material of the same configuration are
'I ' .
¦to be stitched, it is desirable to make the loca- . .
tions of the stitches in those pieces of material
as uniform as possible; and hence guidance mechanisms
have been proposed which are supposed to guide pieces
of material beneath the needles of sewing machines.
3~
In addition, it is desirable to automatically cut the
stitches which trail from the trailing edges of the
stitched pieces of material; and hence it has
been proposed to locate automatically operated
stitch-cutting mechanisms rearwardly of sewing
machines. Moreover, it is desirable to automati-
cally move the stitched and cut pieces of material
away from the sewing machines; and and hence
delivery mechanisms for stitched and cut pieces of
material have been proposed. -
Summary of the Present Invention: The
present invention provides a guiding, stitching :
and delivering system which continuously constrains
a piece of material while it guides that piece ~ . .
of material beneath the needle of a sewing machine .
during the stitching of that piece of material, -.
while that piece of material is stationary during :~
the period of time b~ween the completion of the - -. -:
stitching of that piece of material and the start
of the sitching of the next-succeeding piece of : - -
material, while the stitches between the trailing
edge of that piece of material and the leading
edge of that next~succeeding piece of material
are being cut, and while that piece of material is
being movèd to a delivery area. More particularly, --
the present invention provides a guiding, stitching i -:
and delivering system which constrains a piece
~3~ 3'~
of material as it moves that piece of material
beneath the needle of a sewing machine while
maintaining a predetermined distance between the
stitches formed by that needle and one edge of .-
that piece of material, applies constraining
forces to that piece of material while that piece
of material is being stitched, continues to apply
constraining forces to that piece of material
while the sewing machine comes to rest as the
stitching of that piece of material is completed,
continues to apply restraining forces to the stitched
piece of material while the sewing machine remains -:-
at rest, continues to apply restra.ining forces to `.
the stitched piece of material as the sewing machine
starts stitching a further piece of material which : -
is moved into position adjacent the needle of the
sewing machine, continues to apply restraining
forces to the stitched piece of material and
thereby maintains the stitches between the trailing
edge of the stitched piece of material ana the
leading edge of the further piece of material taut :~
as that further piece of material i9 being stitched, ~ -
and applies constraining delivering forces to the :-
~titched piece of material as the stitches between
; the trailing edge of the stitched piece of material
and the leading edge of the further piece of
material are cut. It is, therefore, an object
, " . , ,,,.,, , ,, . ,, . , , , ,: . ;, . .....
37
of the present invention to provide a guiding,
stitching and delivering system which continuou~ly
constrains a piece of material as that piece of
material is stitched, as that piece of material
is held stationary after being stitched, and as
that piece of material is being moved toward a
delivery area after it has been cut away from a
next-succeeding piece of material.
The guiding, stitching and delivering
system of the present invention includes a guidance
mechanism which coacts with the presser foot of the
sewing machine to apply constraining forces to a
piece of material while that guidance mechanism is
guiding that piece of material beneath the needle
of the sewing machine. That system also includes a --
delivering mechanism which coacts with that preEer
foot to apply constraining forces to that piece
of material while that piece of material i9 being ~
stitched, and also while that piece of material is ~-
being held stationary after it has been stitched
and before the stitching of a further piece of material
is begun; and that delivering mechanism continues
to apply constraining forces to that piece of
material while it moves that piece of material to
a delivery area. It is, therefore, an object of -
the present invention to provide a guiding,
~titching and delivering system which utilizes a
guidance mechanism, the presser foot of a sewing
machine, and a delivering mechanism to continu-
_0 ou~ly apply constraining forces to a piece of material.
~ 4.
37
This invention consists of a material-
handling system which comprises a sewing machine
that can form stitches in a piece of material,
braking means for the sewing machine that
selectively permits the sewing machine to form
stitches or holds the sewing machine against
forming stitches, means to sense the position
of the trailing edge of a piece of material when ~`
that trailing edge is closely adjacent to the
needle of the sewing machine, the sensing means
coacting with the braking means to actuate the
braking means when the trailing edge of a piece
of material is sensed by the sensing means,
the braking means permitting the momentum of
the sewing machine to cause the sewing machine
to form a l~mited number of stitches after
the braking means has been actuated, at least
some of the limited number of stitches forming
a thread chain that trails behind the trailing
edge of the piece of material, the braking means ~ :
holding the sewing machine at rest until a further
piece of material is introduced into the sewing
machlne and thereby enabling the thread chain ~: -
to define a finite but short gap between the ~ .
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trailing edge of the first piece of material
and the leading edge of the next-succeeding piece
of material, the braking means releasing the
sewing machine to form stitches in the further
piece of material upon the introduction of the
further piece of material into the sewing
machine, the stitches which form the trailing
thread chain providing the finite but short
gap between the trailing edge of the first piece
of material and the leading edge of the next- ~.
succeeding piece of material, a stitch-severing
device which is disposed beyond the sewing --
machine in position to cut the thread chain, ~ ...... ..
and means to enable the stitch-severing device - .
to cut the thread chain intermediate the ends
of the thread chain and thereby form very short
lengths of thread chain extending from the
trailing edge of the first piece of material and
from the leading edge of the next-succeeding
piece of mQterial, whereby no trimming of the
resulting short lengths of thread chain is
requiredO
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37
This invention consi~ts of a material-
handling system which compri~es a sewing machine
that can form stitches in a piece of material,
braking means for the sewing machine that
selectively permits the sewing machine to form
stitches or holds the sewing machine against
forming stitches, means to sense the intro- -
duction of the leading edge of a piece of --
material into a position adjacent the needle
~-
of the sewing machine to make it possible for
the braking means to permit the sewing machine
to form stitches and also to sense the position
of the trailing edge of the piece of material
when that trailing edge is closely adjacent to ~;
the needle of the sewing machine, the sensing
means coacting with the braking means to cause
the braking means to hold the sewing machine
against forming stitches until the leading edge
of the piece of material has been introduced
into the position adjacent the needle of the .: .
sewing machine, whereby the sewing machine will .: -
.not form needless and undesired stitches, the :~ ~
- .
sensing means coacting with the braking means to . .-.
. - . .
actuate the braking means when ~he trailing edge :-of the piece of material is sensed by the sensing .`.- -
mean~, and thereby halt the forming of additional ~
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i 1(~ 37
stitches as the trailing edge of the piece of material
moves beyond the sensing means and hence beyond
and away from the needle of the sewing machine,
the braking means permitting the momentum of
the sewing machine to cause the sewing machine
to form a limited number of stitches after the
braking mean~ has been actuated, at least some
of the limited number of stitches forming a
thread chain that trails behind the trailing - .
edge of the piece of material and that will
connect a next-succeeding piece of material to
the first piece of material while providing
a short gap therebetween, the braking means
holding the sewing machine at rest until a
further piece of material is introduced into the :
sewing machine and thereby enabling the thread
chain to define a finite but short gap between
the trailing edge of the first piece of material
and the leading edge of the next-succeeding piece . .: -
of material, the braking means releasing the -.-,
sewing machine to form stitches in the further ~ .
piece of material upon the introduction of the ; :.
further piece of material into the sewing machine
: . :" `'
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i~41~37
and the movement of the leading edge of the
further piece of material into the position
adjacent the needle of the sewing machine, the
some limited number of stitches providing the
finite but short gap between the trailing edge
of the first piece of material and the leading
edge of the next-succeeding piece of material,
a stitch-severing device which is disposed
beyond the sewing machine in position to cut
the thread chain, and means to enable the
stitch-severing device to cut the thread chain
intermediate the ends of the thread chain and
thereby form very short lengths of thread . -
chain extending from the trailing edge of the
first piece of material and from the leading
edge of the next-succeeding piece of material, ::
whereby no trimming of the resulting short
lengths of thread chain is required, the enabling
means including a counter which is "enabled" . -.-
as the trailing edge of the piece of material -~
movQs out from under the sensing means, the .. --
'' '' ;''' `"
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~ 4E~
37
counter counting the limited number of stitches
which the sewing machine forms after the braking
means has been actuated, the counter thereafter
counting stitches that are formed in the
next-succeeding piece of material, and the
counter actuating the stitch-severing device
after the braking means has freed the sewing
machine to form stitches in the next-succeeding
piece of material and when the sum of the
limited number of stitches which the sewing
machine forms plus the number of stitches
which the sewing machine forms in the next-
succeeding piece of material reaches a pre- . -
determined value, the predetermined value .
causing the stitch-severing means to sever ~ ;
the thread chain intermediate the ends of the -~
thread chain.
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lS~ 3 7
This invention consists of a material-
handling system which comprises a sewing machine
that can form stitches in a piece of material,
braking means fox the sewing machine that
selectively permits the sewing machine to form
~titches or holds the sewing machine against
forming stitches, means to sense the introduction
of the leading edge of a piece of material into
a position adjacent the needle of the sewing
machine to make it possible for the braking
means to permit the sewing machine to form ~ :
stitches and also to sense the position of the
trailing edge of the piece of material when .
that trailing edge is closely adjacent to the : -
needle of the sewing machine, the sensing means
coacting with the braking mean~.to cause the .
braking mean~ to hold the sewing machine against .-
forming stitches until the leading edge of the
piece of material has been introduced into the
position adjacent the needle of the sewing machine,
whereby the sewing machine will not form
: . .
needless and undesired stitches, the sensing ~ ~ -
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means coacting with the braking means to
actuate the braking means when the trailing
edge of the piece of material is sensed by
the sensing means, and thereby halt the forms-
ing of additional stitches as the trailing edge
of the piece of material moves beyond the sensing
means and hence beyond and away from the needle
of the sewing machine, the braking means
permitting the momentum of the sewing machine
to cause the sewing machine to form a limited
number of stitches after the braking means has . ;:.
been actuated, at least some of the limited
number of stitches forming a thread chain that - : .
trails behind the trailing edge of the piece
of material and that will connect a next-succeed- .
ing piece of material to the first piece of .;
material while providing a short gap there- . : -
between, the braking means holding the sewing
machine at rest until the sensing means senses `:~
that a further piece of material is introduced
into the sewing machine and has the leading
edge thereof closely adjacent the needle of
the sewing machine and thereby enabling the - -
4H.
37
thread chain to define a finite but short gap
between the trailing edge of the first piece
of material and the leading edge of the next-
succeeding piece of material, the braking means
releasing the sewing machine to form stitches
in the further piece of material upon the intro-
duction of the further piece of material into
the sewing machine and the movement of the
leading edge of the further piece of material
into the position adjacent the needle of the
sewing machine, the so~e limited number of
stitches providing the finite but short gap between
the trailing edge of the first piece of material
and the leading edge of the n~t-succeeding ~: -
piece of material, a stitch-severing device ~:
which is disposed beyond the sewing machine - .
in position to cut the thread chain, and means . ~ .:
to enable the stitch-severing device to cut -.
the thread chain intermediate the ends of the
thread chain and thereby form very short
~ ~ 4I~
,, ~ , . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83~7
leng~ of thread chain extending from the
trailing edge of the first piece of
material and from the leading.edge of the
next-succeeding piece of material, whereby
no trimming of the res~ting short lengths
of thread chain is required, the thread : ;
chain having a leng.th~ which i~ only a
fraction of an inch 90 hand trimming of the - : .
thread chain i9 unnece88aryO ;; ~:
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Other and further objects and advantages
of the present invention should become apparent from
an examination of the drawing and accompanying ;~
description.
In the drawing and accompanying description,
two preferred embodiments of the present invention
are shown and described; but it is to be under- -
stood that the drawing and accompanying description
are for the purpose of illustration only and do
not limit the invention and that the invention ~;
will be defined by the appended claims.
Brief Description of the Drawing: In
the drawing, Fig. 1 is a partially broken-away
plan view of one preferred embodiment of guiding,
stitching and delivering system which is made in
accordance with the principles and teachings of the
present invention. -
Fig. 2 i9 a front elevational view, on
a smaller scale, of the guiding, stitching and
delivering sy~tem of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is an elevational view, on the scale
of Fig. 1, of theleft-hand side of the rear portion
of the guiding, stitching and delivering system of -
Fig. 1,
'''"''
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: ~:
Fig. 4 i9 a sectional view, on a still
larger scale, through the guiding, stitching and
delivering system of Fig. 1, and it i9 taken
along the plane indicated by the line 4-4 in
Fig. 2,
Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on the scale
of Fig. 4, through the guiding, stitching and
delivering system of Fig. 1, and it is taken
along the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in
Fig. 4,
Fig. 6 is another sectional view, on the
scale of Fig. 4, through the guiding, stitching
and delivering system of Fig. 1, and it is taken -~ -
along the plane indicated bythe line 6-6 in Fig. -
5, ,
Fig. 7 is a sectional view, on an-even
larger scale, through the guiding, stitching and
delivering system of Fig. 1, and it is taken ~-
along the plane indicated by the line7-7 in
Fig. 4,
Fig. 8 is a sectional view, on the scale ~-
of Fig. 7, through the guiding, stitching and
delivering system of Fig. 1, and it is taken along ~;
the plane indicated by the line 8-8 in Fig. 4,
6.
- . . . . .
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Fig. 9 is a partially-sectioned side
elevational view, on the scale of Fig. 7, through
the portion of the guiding, stitching and delivering
system which is shown in Fig. 8, but it shows the
presser foot in its raised position,
Fig. 10 is a sectional view, on the scale
of Fig. 3, through the guiding, stitching and
delivering system of Fig. 1, and it is taken along
the plane indicated by the line 10-10 in Fig. 3,
Fig. 11 is a sectional view, on the
scale of Fig. 3, through the guiding, stitching
and delivering system of Fig. 1, and it is taken
along the plane indicated by the line ll-ll-in
Fig. 10,
Fig. 12 is a vertical section, on the
scale of Fig. 3, through the mounting block for
the guiding portion of the guiding, stitching and
delivering system of Fig. 1, ~-
Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing the
: ~ . . .. .
electrical circuit for the guiding, stitching and
delivering system of Fig. 1,
Fig. 14 is a view showing one form of sub-
circuit which could be used in each of the Solenoid
Driver blocks of Fig. 13, ~ -
Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of
a mounting block which is used in a second pre-
ferred embodiment of guiding, stitching and
7.
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3 ~
delivering system which i9 made in accordance
with the principles and teachings of the present
invention, and
Fig. 16 is a block diagram sh~wing the
electrical circuit for the second preferred embodiment
of guiding, stitching and delivering system.
Detailed Description of Components of
Preferred Embodiment of Fig. 1-14 Referring to
Figs. 1-14 in detail, the numeral 20 denotes a
platform which constitutes the sewing surface of
a commercially-available industrial-type sewing
machine 58. The numeral 21 denotes a hardened
steel insert which is disposed within a recess in
the platform 20, as indicated particularly by
Fig. 4, 8 and 9. The leading edge of that hardened -~
steel insert i9 disposed forwardly of the leading
edge of the presser foot 98 of the sewing machine
58, and the trailing edge of that hardened steel
insert i9 located rearwardly of the trailing edge
of that presser foot; all as shown by Fig. 9.
The hardened steel insert 21 extends laterally ~ ~;
beyond both ~ides of the presser foot 98, as shown
by ~ig. 8. That hardened steel insert ha~ a
slot, not shown, therein which accommodates the
needle 106 of the sewing machine 58: and that
hardened ~teel insert also has further 810ts, not
~hownJ which accommodate the feed dogs~ not shown,
t;~
of that sewing machine. The upper surface of the
hardened steel insert 21 is flush with the upper
surface of the platform 20, as shown by Figs. 4,
8 and 9. A support 23 underlies and reinforces
the platform 20; and legs 25 extend vertically
downwardly from that support to hold that platform
at a convenient height above the floor.
The numeral 72 denotes a pivot at the
rear of the sewing machine 58; and an elongated
10 lever 74 is rotatably mounted on that pivot. A
connecting rod 78 has a clevis-like connector
76 at the upper end thereof; and the right-hand
end of the elongated lever 74 is disposed within
that clevis-like connector -- as that elongated
lever is viewed in Fig. 2. A pin 75 passes through , ~ -
the clevis-like connector 76 and through the right- - ~ -
hand of the elongated lever 74 to interconnect - -
the connecting rod 78 with that elongated lever. -
A link 84 connects the other end of the elongated ~ -
20 lever74 to interconnect the connecting rod 78 with
that elongated lever. A link 84 connects the
other end of the elongated lever 74 to the mechanism ~
of the sewing machine 58 which can selectively - -
rai~o and lawar tho pre~3or foot 98. ~ ~
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The numeral 86 denotes a stationary sleeve
which extends downwardly from the sewing machine 58,
as indicated particularly by Fig. 6, 8 and 9;
and that stationary sleeve surrounds the vertically-
movable support 88 for the presser foot 98.
The numeral 102 denotes the vertically-
movable support for the needle 106 of the sewing
machine 58. A chuck 104 is provided at the lower
end of that vertically-movable support and a screw
105 can selectively cause that chuck to hold or
release the needle 106. The numeral 108 denotes
a thread which extends downwardly from a spool,
not shown, which is associated with the sewing
machine 58; and that thread is threaded through .,-
the eye of the needle 106.
The numeral 110 denotes the brake-clutch ~,'
lever of the motor 64 of the sewing machine 58;
and that brake-clutch lever has an elongated ':
horizontally-directed portion, as shown particularly
by Fig. 2. A connecting rod 126 has the upper end ,.
thereof pivotally secured to the brake-clutch '~
lever 110 by a pin,- 128; and it has the lower end , -,':
thereof pivotally secured to the treadle 122 of
the sewing machine 58 by a pin 130. That treadle ~ -
i~ rotatably supported by an elongated pivot 124 ~ -
which i~ horizontally directed and which is close ~.
to the floor. -
10.
,,,, , , ,, , ~ ; ,
10~1~3~
The sewing machine 58, its platform 20,
its hardened steel insert 21, its angle irons 23,
and its legs 25 are commercially-available items
and are not, per se, parts of the present invention.
Similarly, the pivot 72, the elongated lever 74,
the pin 75, the clevis-like connector 76, the con-
necting rod 78, the link 84, the stationary sleeve
86, the vertically-movable support 88 for the
presser foot 98, that presser foot, the vertically-
movable support 102 for the needle 106, that
needle, the chuck 104 and its screw 105, the brake-
clutch lever 110, the connecting rod 126, and the
pins 128 and 130 are commercially-available
components of the sewing machine 58 and are not, J~
per se, parts of the present invention.
The numeral 22 denotes a pivot block which ; -is secured to the upper surface of the platform 20, --~-
as shown particularly by Fig. 5: and a pivot 24 is
held by that pivot block. ~he pivot 24 rotatably
secures an elongated flat plate 26 to the platform
20. Slotted blocks 28 are secured to the upper
surface of the left-hand end of the elongated flat
plate 26, as that plate is viewed in Fig. 5. Those
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10~3~
slotted blocks are disposed at OppO9 ite 9 ides of anotch 30 in that end of that block, as indicated
particularly by Fig. 1. A connecting rod 32 has
the upper end thereof extending upwardly through the
notch 30 and disposed between the slotted blocks 28;
and a pin 34 connects that upper end of that
connecting rod with those slotted blocks. The
slots in the slotted blocks 28 obviate any binding
of the pin 34 against those slotted blocks when the
plate 26 rotates about the pivot 24. The lower end
of the connecting rod 32 is connected to a piston,
not shown, within a vertically-directed cylinder
36 which is secured to one of the angle irons 23.
The numeral 38 denotes a small pipe or tube which
can supply compressed air to the cylinder 36.
The numeral 40 denotes a motor which has an
output shaft 42 that extends downwardly through an
opening, not shown, in the plate 26. Although
various motors could be usad, an SS25 9:0-SYN
synchronous stepping motor manufactured by the
Superior Electric Company has been found to be
very useful. That motor is part of an open loop,
A.C. control system, as shown by Fig. 13 and 16;
and it operates in both the forward and reverse ~- -
directions at slaw speed but with rapid start and
rapid stop characteristics. Specifically, the SS25
12 .
3~
SLO-SYN motor operates at seventy-two revolutions per
minute, accelerates from zero speed to full speed within
twenty-five milliseconds, and stops within five degrees
of rotation. A crank arm 44 is secured to the lower
end of the output shaft 42, as indicated by Fig. 6;
and a horizontally-directed pivot 46 rotatably secures
a guide wheel 48 to that crank arm. That guide wheel
has a soft tire 50 of rubber or some other elastomeric
material which can engage a cloth object which is to
be stitched. The numerals 52 and 54 denote limit
switches which are secured to the lower surface of the
plate 26, as indicated particularly by Fig. 5 and 6;
and the actuators of those limit switches can be engaged
by the free end of the crank arm.44.
Whenever the cylinder 36 is devoid of compressed
:.: -: .. . .
air, the combined weights of the stepping motor 40, of the
. .. ...
crank arm 44, of the limit switches 52 and 54 and
of the guide wheel 48 will hold the tire 50 of ff~at
guide wheel down against the platform 20. However, ~ - -
:.: -
whenever compressed air is supplied to that cylinder, ~ -
the tire 50 will be raised a short distance, pre-
ferably between twenty thousandths and thirty
. :~.,...,... ~ .. -
thousandths of an inch, above that platform. Although
the re~ulting spacing of that tire above that platform
i~ ~mall, it is large enough to readily accommodate
a piece of cloth which has one edge thereof folded
thereunder.
l()~lh~'7
The numeral 55 in Figs. 1 and 4-6 denotes
a bracket of trapezoidal form which is secured to
the rear edge of the plate 26. Horizontally-directed
slots 57 are provided in that bracket adjacent the
lower edge thereof; and screws 59 extend through
those slots to seat in threaded sockets within the
rear edge of the plate 26. The numeral 56 denotes
a mounting block which i9 secured to the trapezoidal
bracket 55 by screws 61; and that mounting block
can be set at different positions relative to the
output shaft 42 of the stepping motor 40 by loosening
the screws 59 and shifting the trapezoidal bracket
55 relative to the plate 26 before re-tightening
those screws.
The numeral 60 denotes a p~illey which is
mounted on the shaft of the sewing machine 58; and a
belt 62 passes around that pulley and also around
a pulley 66 which is mounted on the output shaft of
the motor 64. Whenever the motor 64 is energized
~,'f'~
at a time when the brake-clutch lever.ll10 is in its
'~clutching~ position, the pulleys 66 and 60 and the
belt 62 will cause the needle 106 of the sewing machine
58 to stitch. :-
`;~ '
14.
The numeral 68 denotes a support which
extends upwardly from the platform 20; and the upper
end of that support holds a housing 70 in close
proximity to the pulley 60 of the sewing machine 58.
A Hall Effect Switch 286 is disposed within the
housing 70; and a permanent magnet 284 is mounted
within a socket, not shown, in the pulley 60. Each
time that pulley makes a revolution, the Hall Effect
Switch 286 will develop an output pulse. Although
different Hall Effeet Switches could be used, a
Minneapolis Honeywell lSS 1 Hall Effeet Switch has been
found to be very useful.
The lower end of the eonnecting rod 78
.
in Figs. 2 and 4 extends to a piston, not shown,
within a vertieally-direeted cylinder 80. That
.. . .
eylinder is loeated below the level of the platform -~-
20, as indieated partieularly by Fig. 4; and a pipe
or tube 82 can supply compressed air to that cylinder. -;~
. ,
That eompressed air will aet through the eonnecting --
rod 78, the elongated lever 74, and the link 84 to
raise the vertieally-movable support 88 for the
presser foot 98.
A mounting braeket 90 for the presser foot
98 i~ shown partieularly by Figs. 8 and 9; and -
that mounting bracket i9 releasably seeured to the
vertleally-movable support 88 by a ~erew 92. A
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15.
1~41~7
pivot 94 rotatably secures the presser foot 98
to the vertically-movable support 88, as shown
particularly by Fig. 9. A socket 96 extends up- -
wardly from the bottom surface of the mounting block
90; and a helical compression spring 100 has the
upper end thereof disposed within that socket and
has the lower end thereof bearing against the
rear edge of the presser foot 98. That helical
compression spring will cause that presser foot to
assume the position shown by Fig. 9 whenever
compressed air is admitted to the cylinder 80 to
cause the connecting rod 78, the elongated lever 74,
and the link 84 to raise that presser foot. However,
that helical compression spring will yield to permit
. ,;~,,,
the presser foot 98 to assume the horizontal position
indicated by Fig. 8 whenever the compressed air is
vented from the cylinder 80 to permit that presser
foot to move to its lower position.
An air cylinder 112, which has a clevis-
like upper end, is pivotally secured to a projection
116 on the housing of the motor 64 by a pin 114.
A connecting rod 118 has the upper end thereof
connected to the piston, not shown, within the
cylinder 112: and that connecting rod has the clevis~
l~ke lower end thereof connected to an extension
,
121 on the left-hand end of the brake-clutch lever -
.- :
110 by a pin 120. ~ ~
' "
~, .
16.
The numeral 132 denotes an inclined passage
in the mounting block 56, as sho7n particularly by
Fig. 12; and the upper end of that passage is enlarged
to accommodate a photo transistor 136. Although
different photo transistors could be used, a Fairchild
FPT 102 photo transistor has been found to be very -~
useful. An oppositely--inclined passage 134 also is
provided in the mounting block 56, as shown by Fig.
12: and the upper end of that passage is enlarged
to accommodate a lamp 138. Although a neon lamp
or a light emitting diode could be used as the
lamp 138, a long-lived incandescent lamp is pre- -
ferred; and a Chicago Miniature Filament #2CR in- ~
candescent lamp has been found to be very useful.
The mounting block 56 is spaced above the platform ~ ~
20 a distance which enables the light from the lamp ~ - -
138 to reflect upwardly from that platform and enter '~ -
the passage 132. The numeral 140 denotes a slot
in the upper surface of the mounting block 56 which
accommodate~ the conductors that supply current to
the lamp 138.
The numeral 142 denotes a mounting bracket
which ha~ a vertically-directed cylindrical recess
144 adjacent one end thereof, as shown by Fig. 7.
.. . ..
A ~lot 146 extend~ from that cylindrical recess to -;
the adjacent end of that mounting bracket; and
~crew~ 148 extend through unthreaded openings in ~;
one ~ide o that end of the mounting bracket 142,
..'.:~
17.
. , ,, , ., , - , .. . . .. . . j . .
span the 910t 146, and seat in threaded sockets
in the other 5 ide of that end of that mounting
bracket. Those screws can be tightened to cause the
mounting bracket 142 to be fixedly clamped to the
stationary sleeve 86 which depends downwardly from
the sewing machine 58. A mounting plate 150 is
secured to, and extends downwardly below the level
of and forwardly beyond the leading edge of, the
mounting bracket 142, as indicated particularly
by Figs. 4 and 7. A screw 152 and the screws 148
secure that mounting plate to the mounting bracket
142. A mounting block 154, which can be identical
to the mounting block 56 of Fig. 12, is suitably
secured to the mounting plate 150. The mounting
block 154 has an inclined passage 156 which can
be identical to the inclined passage 132 in the
blocX 56: and it also has oppositely-inclined passage
158 which can be identical to the inclined passage
134 in the mounting block 56. The mounting block
154 has a slot 160 in the upper surface thereof
which can be identical to the slot 140 in the upper
surface of the mounting block 56. A photo transistor
2 93 is mounted in the enlarged upper end of the -~ -
pa~age 156; and a lamp, not shown, is mounted in - -
the enlarged upper end of the passage 158. Although ~--
di4ferent photo transistors could be used, as the
18.
- - : .
3 ~'
photo transistor 293, a Fairchild FPT 102 photo
transistor has been found to be very useful. Although
a neon lamp or a light emitting diode could be used
as the lamp within the enlarged upper end of the
passage 158, a Chicago Miniature Filament #2 CR
incandescent lamp has been found to be very useful.
The mounting block 154 is spaced above the hardened
steel insert 21 a distance which enables the light
from the lamp therein to reflect upwardly from that
hardened steel insert and enter the passage 156 for
the photo transistor 293.
The numeral 162 denotes a cylinder which
has a threaded lower end; and that lower end is
threaded within a threaded socket in the rear end
of the mounting bracket 142, as indicated particularly
by Fig. 4. The piston 164 of that cylinder has a
cutter-holding bracket 166 secured to the lower
end thereof: and screws 170, which are shown
particularly by Fig. 7, releasably secure a cutter
168 to that cutter-holding bracket. A three-way,
spring-return, air-controlling solenoid 172 is ;~
~ecured to the upper end of cylinder 162 by a nipple ~
173, as shown by Fig. 4; and a fitting 174 connects ~ -
a pipe or tube 176 to that air-controlling solenoid.
Whenever compressed air is supplied to the pipe or - -
t~e 176, the pi~ton 164 will force the cutter 168
dawr~ardly against the upper surface o~ the rear
end of the hardened steel insert 21 to cut any stitches
whi¢h may be intermediate that cutter and that
hardened ~teel isl3 ert.
19 . . ..
1~4 ~3 ~
The numeral 178 denotes the legs of a
stacker frame which is located immediately rearwardly
of the frame for the sewing machine 58. Horizontal
braces 180 interconnect the legs 178 of that stacker
frame; and a stacking platform 182 is mounted between
the legs 178 at a level below the upper ends of those
legs, as shown particularly by Figs. 2, 10, and 11.
Guide rods 184, of circular cross section, are dis-
posed adjacent the opposite sides of the stacker
frame, as shown by Figs. 1 and 10: and those guide
rods help rigidify that stacker frame, and also serve
to confine and support sleeve guides 230. The numeral
186 denotes a stationary supporting plate which has
the front edge thereof abutting the rear of the - ~-
platform 20 of the sewing machine, as indicated - -
particularly by Figs. 1 and 4. The upper surfaces - ;
of that supporting plate and of that platform are
flush, 90 the joint therebetween can not constitute
an obstruction to the movement of objects rearwardly
across that platform and onto that supporting plate.
The numeral 188 denotes a vertically-
adjustable bracket which is rectangular in cross -~
~ection, as shown particularly by Fig. 11. Vertically-
directed slots 190 are provided in the opposite ends - -~
of that bracket; and machine screws 194 extend through
wa~her~ 192 and then through the 5 lots 190 to seat
,' .: .-:
20.
in threaded sockets, not shown, within the upper
ends of the two front legs 178 of the stacker frame.
An elongated rod 196 of circular cross section is
secured to, and extends forwardly from, the bracket
188, as indicated particularly by Figs. 1 and 3.
Loosening of the machine screws 194 permits the
bracket 188 to be moved upwardly or d~wnwardly
within a range of three-quarters of an inch; and
thus permits the forward end of the elongated rod
196 to be moved upwardly and downwardly through
that range.
The numeral 197 denotes a brace which is
secured to the upper end of the right-hand front leg
178 of the stacker frame; and that brace is horizon- ~ -
tally-directed and extends rearwardly from that leg,
as shown particularly by Figs. 1 and 11. A supporting
arm 198 extends horizontally inwardly from the brace
197, as indicated particularly by Figs. 1 and 10,
; ~ .-
and that supporting arm has a mounting block 200
secured to the front thereof. That mounting block
can be identical to the mounting block 56; and it
will support a lamp, not shown, and a photo transistor
302.
~he numeral 201 denotes a vertically-directed
brace which has the form of an angle ixon and which is
intermediate the rear legs 178 of the stacker frame,
as ~hown particularly by Fig. 1. A pivot block 202
21 . ' '
37
is secured to the right-hand rear leg 178 of the
stacker frame, and a pivot block 204 is secured to
the brace 201, all as shown by Fig. 1. A shaft
210 is rotatably supportea by the pivot blocks
202 and 204; and a pulley 212 is mounted on that
shaft. A belt 214 connects that pulley to a pulley,
not shown, on the output shaft of a motor 216. A
wide-faced pulley 218 also is mounted on the shaft
210 andthat pulley will rotate in the clockwise
direction in Fig. 11 whenever the motor 216 is
energized.
A wide-faced pulley 220 is mounted on a
pivot 222 which is held by the forward end of the
elongated rod 196, as shown particularly by Figs.
1 and 4. That pivot has the form of a shouldered
bolt; and it is secured to the elongated rod 196 - ~
by a nut 223. The lower surface of the pulley 22 0 ~ ;
will be spaced one-quarter of an inch above the
upper surface of the supporting plate 186 whenever
the verticaUy-adjustable bracket 188 is in its
lowermost position. The pulley 220 is aligned with
the pulley 218; and an endless belt 224, of canvas
webbing, passes around both of those pulleys. That
belt will be driven by the pulley 218, and it will
22. -
: '~
act to drive the pulley 220. A number of flaps 226
are spaced along the length of the belt 224: and
those flaps have the leading edges thereof secured
to the belt 224 by rows 228 of stitching which
extend transversely of that belt. In the said
preferred embodiments of the present invention,
each of the flaps 226 is a section of knitted tube
which has been pressed flat; and the axes of those
sections of knitted tube are transverse to the
direction of movement of the belt 224. Because
the flaps 226 are very flexible, and because only
the leading edges of those flaps are secured to the
belt 224, the intermediate and trailing portions
of those flaps can sag downwardly and away from the
lower "run" of that belt, as shown by Figs. 3, 4
and 11. The belt 224 is about one inch wide, and
hence the flaps 226 project outwardly beyond both
sides of that belt, as shown by Figs. 1 and 10.
The normal, unstressed thickness of any of those
flaps is about one-eighth of an inch.
The numerals 232 and 234 denote pivot blocks
which are secured to one of the horizontal braces
180 of the stacker frame, as show~ particularly by
Fig~. 1 and 3: and the pivot block 232 rotatably
23.
supports a pulley 233 while the pivot block 234
rotatably supports a pulley 235. A cable cylinder
236 is mounted on that one horizontal brace, inter-
mediate the pivot blocks 232 and 234; and that cable
cylinder preferably is a Tol-A-Matic cable cylinder.
The cable 240 of that cable cylinder has the ends
thereof passed around the pulleys 233 and 235 and
secured to a cable bracket 238; and that cable bracket
is secured to the left-hand sleeve guide 230. As
a result, actuation of the piston, not shown, within
the cable cylinder 236 will cause that cable bracket
and that sleeve guide to reciprocate in a direction ; --
parallel to the guide rods 184. A movable platform
242 is secured to the ~eve guides 230, and it ~ - `
interconnects those sleeve guides for conjoint
movement. The forward end of that movable platform -
i8 located just a short distance below the rear
edge of the stationary supporting plate 186, and a
recess 244 is provided beneath the intermediate
portion of that supporting plate to accommodate the
front end of that movable platform, all as shown by ~ -
Fig. 11.
A pipe or tube 239 connects one outlek
port of a fourway, spring-return, air-controlling
~olenoid 310 to one end of the cable cylinder 236; ~ ; ~
and a pipe or tube 237 and a quick-release valve - -
241 connect the other outlet port of that air- -
controlling solenoid to the other end of that cable ~;
cylinder. A rnuffler 243 i9 connected to the venting -
port of the ~uick-release valve 241.
24. ;~ -
f37
The numeral 258 denotes a housing for the
three-way, spring-return, air-controlling solenoid 300,
which selectively permits compressed air to pass to
the cylinders 36, 80 and 112, and for the air-control-
ling solenoid 310, which selectively permits compressed
air to pass to the cable cylinder 236. The housing
258 is located adjacent the front legs 178 of the
stacker frame, as shown particularly by Fig. 3.
The numeral 260 denotes a housing for the major
portion of the electri~al components which are used ~ `
to control the guiding, stitching, and delivering
system of Figs. 1-14. As shown particularly by
Figs. 2 and 3, the housing 260 is smaller than the
housing 258, it i9 disposed rearwardly of thel~using
258, and it i8 displaced to the right of the housing
258.
The numeral 246 denotes a piece of
material which has one edge thereof folded and
pressed, and which has the corners of the opposite ~ -
edge thereof cut away at angles of forty-five degrees.
That piece of material will have the folded and pressed
edge thereof stitched by the guiding, stitching and
delivering system of Figs. 1-14, and then that piece
of material will be made part of a stack 256 by that --
system. Subsequently, that piece of material plus ;-~-
.
. . -
.-. :. .
','~.'':
- ,
1~ 7
the other pieces of material in that stack will be
sewn to garments and will help form pockets for those
garments. The numeral 248 denotes a dotted-line
position which the piece of material 246 will occupy
momentarily after it has been stitched and has had
the stitches 251 -- which trail from the trailing
edge of that piece of material -- severed by the cutter
168. - .
Thé numeral 250 denotes a dotted-line
position through which the piece of material 246
will be moved before it is made a part of the stack :
256; and the numeral 252 denotes a further dotted-
line position through which the piece of material
246 will be moved before it is made a part of the
stack 256. The numeral 254 denotes a position to
which that piece of material will be moved before .~` -`
the m~vable platform 242 has been moved far enough
forwardly to permit that piece of material to move -
downwardly and become part of the stack 256.
The numerals 264 and 266 in Fig. 13 denote ~;
conductors which are connected to a suitable source
of alternating current; and the conductor 266 is :` -
,: .
connected to one terminal of the motor 40. Ano~her : ::
, ,~, . ~
..-. ~;, ,' .
'"' - ' '
i~ .., ., i !' '- "
26. ~ :
1(}~37
terminal of that motor is connected to one output
terminal of a triac 268, and the third terminal of
that motor is connected to one output terminal of -
a triac 270. A capacitor 2 72 and a resistor 2 74
are connected in series between the second and third
terminals of the motor 40; and the conductor 264 is
connected to the other output terminals of both of
thetriacs 268 and 270. Although various triacs
could be used as the triacs 268 and 270, the RCA
40526 triacs have been found to be very useful.
The numeral 2 75 denotes an AND gate which has
the output thereof connected to the gate electrode
of the triac 270; and an operational amplifier
2 76 has the output thereof connected to one input
of that AND gate. The limit switch 54 selectively
connects the other input of AND gate 2 75 to a source
of plus five volts. The numeral 2 77 denotes an AND
gate which has the output thereof connected to the
gate ele~rode of the triac 268; and an operational
amplifier 278 has the output thereof connected to
one input of that AND gate. The limit switch 52
selectively connects the other input of AND gate -~
277 to the source of plus five volts. Although
different AND gates could be used as the AND gates
275 and 277, SN75451 AND gates have been found to ; ~
be very u~eful. Similarly, although different - ~ -
operational amplifiers could be used as the
operational amplifiers 276 and 278, SN747 opera-
tional amplifiers have been found to be very
u~eful.
27.
One input of the operational amplifier
276 is connected to a regulated source of plus one
and one-half volts; and one input of the operational
amplifier 278 is connected to a regulated source
of minus one and one-half volts. The other inputs
of those operational amplifiers are connected together
and to the junction between the emitter of the photo
transistor 136 and the adjacent terminal of an
adjustable resistor 282. The collector of the photo
transistor 136 is connected tothe source of plu8 five
volts, and the other terminal of the adjustable
resistor 282 is connected to the source of minus
five volts. The adjustable resistor 282 can be a
one hundred thousand ohm potentiometer which has the
movable contact thereof connected to one of the
.:. , ,
stationary contacts thereof. ~- -
The numeral 288 denotes a counter which has ~ -
one input thereof connected to the Hall Effect Switch
286; and the output of that counter i9 connected
to the input of a monostable multivibrator 290. -~ ~
The numeral 292 denotes a solenoid~.~driver which -~ -
responds to a signal from the monostable multivibrator
290 to energize the air-controlling solenoid 172 for -~
about fifteen milliseconds. - -
:-... ::'
The photo transistor 293 will have the --
collector thereof directly connected to the source -~
of plu~ five volt~ and will have the emitter thereof
connected to the source of minus five volts by an
. .. ..
".' ~.
28. ~
adjustable resistor 282 -- in the manner in which the
collector and emitter of the photo transistor 136
are connected to those sources of five volts, The
numeral 294 denotes an amplifier which has the input
thereof connected to the emitter of photo transistor
2 93; and the output of that amplifier i9 connected
to the "set" input of a reset-set flip-flop 296
and also to the input of a solenoid driver 298.
A conductor 297 connects the output o:E the mono-
stable multivibrator 290 to the reset input of the
flip-flop 296: and the output of that flip-flop is
connected to a second input of the counter 288.
The numeral 300 denotes an air-controlling solenoid
which can selectively supply compressed air to the ~ -
cylinder 112 via pipe or tube 115, to the cylinder ~:
80 via flow-controlling valve 301 and pipe or tube :.
82, and to the cylinder 36 via that valve and the .-
pipe or tube 38. The numeral 303 denotes a check
valve which is connected in parallel with the flaw- - ~ -
controlling valve 301: and that check valve requires
all of the compressed air which passes to the cylinders :~
36 and 80 to pass through that flow-controlling
valve, but permits the air which vents from those
cylinders to by-pass that flow-controlling valve.
As a result, the check valve 303 coacts with the
-controlling valve 301 to permit the cylinder
29. ~.
l.L~ ~
112, the connecting rod 118, the brake-clutch lever
110, and the extension 121 on that lever to fully
brake the motor 64 before the cylinder 80, the
connecting rod 78, the elongated lever 74, the
link 84, and the vertically-movable support 88 can
raise the leading edge of the presser foot 98 to
the position of Fig. 9.
The photo transistor 302 will have the
collector thereof directly connected to the source
of plus five volts and will have the emitter thereof ..
connected to the source of minus five volts by an : :
adjustable resistor 282 -- in the manner in which :;
the collector and emitter of the photo transistor
136 are connected to thos2 sources of five volt~
The numeral 304 denotes an amplifier which has the
input thereof connected to the emitter of photo ~:
transistor 302; and the output of that amplifier .. ~
is connected to the input of a monostable multivibra- - ~-
tor 306. A solenoid driver 308 i9 connected to the
output of the monostable multivibrator 306: and the ~ .
air-controlling solenoid 310 can respond to a
signal from that solenoid driver to supply compressed
air to the cable cylinder 2-36 via the pipe or tube
239. The monostable multivibrator 306 will not
re~pond to a negative-going signal from the ampli- -
fier 304: but it will respond to a positive-going . .
'~ ~:'''
,'"..'. ~....
3D.
signal from that amplifier to apply a positive
voltage of about fifty milliseconds duration to the
solenoid driver 308~ .
The solenoid drivers 2 92, 298 and 308
can be made in different ways; but each of those
solenoid drivers preferably is made in the manner
shown by Fig. 14. Specifically, each of those
solenoid drivers preferably includes a one hundred
thousand ohm resistor 320 and an NPN transistor
322. one terminal of the resistor 320 will be
connected to a source of plu9 twelve volts, and the
other terminal of that resistor will be connected .~ ~
to one terminal of the appropriate one of the air- . -
controlling solenoids 172, 300 and 310 by a conductor
324. The emitter of the transistor 322 will be
grounded: and the collector of that transistor will
be connected to the other terminal of the appropriate :
one of the air-controlling solenoids 172, 300 or
310 by a conductor 326. The base of the transistor -., ;~-
322 of the solenoid driver 292 will be connected
to the output of the monostable multivibrator 2 90, ~ :
the base of the trans istor 322 of the solenoid
driver 298 will be connected to the output of the
amplifier 294, and the base of the transistor 322
of the solenoid driver 308 will be connected to the
.... . . ... . .
output of the monostable multivibrator 306; and
. "~.
31.
,'' i ', ' : ,. ,, - .. . . . . .
3~7
each of those bases will respond to a positive
pulse to render its tran~istor conductive. The coils
of the air-controlling solenoids 172, 300 and 310
have six volt ratings; but the solenoid drivers 292,
298 and 308 will, whenever the transistors 322 thereof
are rendered conductive, apply voltages to those ~,
coils which are larger than six volts but are smaller
than twelve volts. As a result the plungers of the
air-controlling solenoids 172, 300 and 310 will ;
promptly move to fully actuated positions whenever
the solenoid drivers 2 92, 298 and 308 are actuated.
The counter 288 can be a commercially~
available analog counter or a commercially-available
digital counter. Although different monostable
multivibrators could be used as the monostable -~
multivibrators 2 90 and 306, the two sections of a
74221 dual monostable multivibrator circuit have
, .
been found to be very useful~ The amplifiers
2 94 and 304 are operational amplifiers of standard
and usual design, and they preferably will be parts ~ -
of an integrated circubt. The flip-flop 296 is a
reset-set flip-flop of standard and usual design. ~ -
The motor 216 of Fig. 3 will be energized
whenever the guiding, stitching and delivering system - -
of Figs. 1-14 is "on" -- regardless of whether
that ~ystem is in its "standby" mode or is in its ~ - -
"operating" mode. This means that the wide-faced
pulley~ 218 and 220 will cause the belt 224 to move
'. :"
32~
37
the l~wer "run" thereof in the rearward direction
throughout the entire time that guiding, stitching
and delivering system is'bn". That lower run will
cause each successive flap 226 to move rearwardly
along that "run" and to apply frictional forces
to any object or piece of material which the
trailing edge of that flap engages.
Prior to the time a piece of material 246
is introduced into the guiding, stitching, and deliver-
ing system, the intermediate portions and trailing
edges of the flaps 226 will droop downwardly into
engagement with the upper surface of the support-
ing plate 186 as those flaps move downwardly around
the wide-faced pulley 220; and those intermediate
portions and trailing edges will apply frictional
forces to that upper surface as those flaps move
from right to left in Figs. 1 and 4. As the
intermediate portions and trailing edges of the flaps
226 successively move rearwardly of the rear edge ~ -
of the supporting plate 186, those intermediate
portions and trailing edges will droop downw æ dly
into engagement with the upper surface of the ~"-
movable platform 242; and those intermediate portions
and trailing edges will apply frictional force~ to ~ -
that upper 3urface as those flaps continue to move
from right to left in Figs. 1 and 4. The frictional
33.
3'~
forces which the flaps 226 apply to the upper surface
of the supporting plate 186 and to the upper surface
of the movable platform 242 will be insufficient
to cause the motor 216 to stall; and that motor will
continue to cause those flaps to move from right to
left in Figs. l-tand 4 along the lower `'run" of the
belt 224.
As each piece of material 246 is being
stitched, the leading edge of that piece of material
will move into position where the flaps 226 can
engage that leading edge and can thereby apply
rearwardly-directed frictional forces to that piece
of material. Those rearwardly-directed ~ictional
forces will urge that piece of material toward the ~ ;
dotted-line position 248, but, until the stitching
of that piece of material has been completed and
until the stitches 251 which trail from the trailing
edge of that piece of material have been cut, the
rate at which that piece of material is moved toward
that dotted-line po~ition can not be permitted to ;-
exceed the rate at which the feed dogs of the sewing - -
machine 58 advance that piece of material beneath - `
the needle 106. The present invention makes it -~-
pos~ible to adjust the values of the rearwardly-
' . "
' ~ '
34.
-.,, ' ' '
~(3^~ 7
directed frictional forces which the flaps 226 apply
to the pieces of material 246 90 those frictional
forces can keep each piece of material 246 flat
as it is being stitched, 90 those frictional forces
do not pull any piece of material 246 through the
sewing machine 58 at a rate of speed greater than
that set by the feed dogs of that sewing machine,
90 those frictional forces do not move away piece
of material 246 rearwardly at a time when that
piece of material should be held stationary, 90 those
frictional forces do not affect the form and effectives
of the stitches formed by the sewing machine 58,
and 90 those frictional forces do not affect the
operator's "feel" of the stitching operationA
Specifically, the values of the frictional forces
which the flaps 226 can apply to the pieces of ;
materials 246 can be adjusted by adjusting the :~
distance between the supporting table 186 and the
wide-faced roller 22~--as by adjusting the vertical
position of the vertically-adjustable brac~et 188, ~-
and hence the vertical position of the elongated ~:
rod 196. ~- :
In the preferred embodiment of Figs. 1-14,
the feed dogs of the sewing machine 58 can move
the piece of material 246 beneath the needle 106
at a maximum ~peed of four hundred inches per minute;
and the motor 216 and the wide-faced pulleys 2lB
", " ' ;' ' '
35. :~
~0~3 ~
and 220 will move the flaps 226 rearwardly at a
speed of about six hundred inches per minute. i
This means that the flaps 226 will apply sliding frictiion,
rather than static friction, to any piece of material
246 during the time that piece of material is being
stitched, as well as during the time that piece -~
of material comes to rest when the sewing machine
58 is braked and is thereby brought to rest.
Detailed Description of "Standby" mode
of Preferred Embodiment of Figs. 1-14: In the
"standby" mode of the guiding, stitching and - -
delivering system of Figs. 1-14, each of the photo
transistors 136,293 and 302 will be receiving 90 -~
much reflected light that it will be conducting ~ -
current at the saturation level. As a result, the
. ~ .. ,, - . .
photo transistor 136 will be applying a plus voltage
of about five volts to the lower input of operational
amplifier 2 76 and to the upper input of operational -
amplifier 278; and, similarly, the photo transi~tor
293 will be applying a plus voltage of about five ~ -
volts to the input of amplifier 294, while the photo ~ -
transistor 302 will be applying a plus voltage of
about five volts to the input of amplifier 304.
Operational amplifier 276 will be applying a plus
' ~' '','
: '
''~ ''' ',"' '
36. ~
, ,, ,, ,, , ", , , , , . , , . , . , , , ,~ , .
3 ~
voltage to the lower input of AND gate 2 75; and,
for a short time after the guiding, stitching and
delivering system began operating in its "standby~'
mode, the limit switch 54 was applying a plus voltage
to the upper input of that AND gate. Consequently,
the triac 2 70 was rendered conductive, and caused
the motor 40 to rotate the crank arm 44 in the clock-
wise direction in Fig. 1 -- and hence in the counter-
clockwise direction in jFig. 6. That rotation of t~at
crank arm continued until that crank arm engaged
the actuator of limit switch 54 and thereby opened
that limit switch; and, thereupon, the AND gate 275
stopped supplying a signal to the gate electrode of ,~
triac 270, and that cran~ arm came to rest. All
of this means that whenever the guiding, stitching ~ --
and delivering system is in its "standby" mode, the
guide wheel 48 will be in its most counter clock-
wise position--as that guide wheel is viewed in Fig. 6.
The plus voltage which the photo transistor
293 is applying to the input of the amplifier 294
will be causing that amplifier to apply plus voltages
to the "set" input of flip-flop 296 and to the base
of transistor 322 of the solenoid driver 298. That - -
flip-flop will be applying an "enable" signal to the
counter 288, and hence that counter will be able to
count any pulse~ which the Hall Effect Switch 286 ;~
~libsequently applie~ to it. q~he solenoid driver 298
`'' .'
}37'
will be holding the air-controlling solenoid
300 energized: and the resulting application of
compressed air to the cylinders 36, 80 and 112 will
be holding the guide wheel 48 up out of engagement
with the platform 20, will be holding the leading
edge of the presser foot 98 in the raised position
shown by Fig. 9, and will be holding the brake-clutch
lever 110 in motor-braking position. All of this
means that whenever the guiding, stitching and
delivering system is in its "standby" mode, the - -
needle 106 will be stationary, and the guide wheel
, ~ , .. .
48 and the leading edge of the presser foot 98 will
be in their raised positions to permit a piece of
material to be moved into position therebeneath.
The plus voltage which the photo transistor
302 is applying to the input of the amplifier 304
will be causing that amplifier to apply a plus
voltage to the monostable multivibrator 306; but
that monostable multivibrator will have "timed out",
2~ and hence will be applying a negative voltage to
the base of transistor 322 of the solenoid drive
308. Consequently, that solenoid driver will not be ; -;
. ..- . -
holding the air-controlling solenoid 310 energized,
and the resulting application of compressed air to --,
the left-hand end of the cable cylinder 236, via -
the pipe or tube 237 and the quick-release valve
241, will cause that cable cylinder to hold the
movable platform 242 in the rear position shown by
'' ' .'-'
38.
'.' '
la~l~3 ~ , ,
F igs. 1 and 3. A11 of this means that whenever the
guiding, stitching and delivering system is in its
"standby" mode, the movable platform 242 will be in
position above, and in register with, the supporting
platform 182.
The counter 288 will be in its "enabled"
condition--so it can respond to pulses which the
Hall Effect Switch 286 will subsequently apply -~
to it: and, in that condition, that counter will not
be applying a signal to the monostable multivibrator
290. As a result, that monostable multivibrator will
not be applying a positive voltage to the solenoid
driver 292; and hence that solenoid driver will
permit the air-controlling solenoid 172 to be de-
energized and thereby keep the cylinder 162 devoid
of compressed air. The returning spring within that
cylinder will be holding the cutter 168 out of
engagement with the hardened steel insert 21, as
shawn by Fig. 4.
Detailed Description of Operation of Preferred -
Embodiment of Figs. 1-14: To initiate an operation
of the guiding, stitching and delivering system of
Fig~. 1-14, the operator will lay a piece of material
246 on the platform 20 90 that portion of the
. ~ .
folded edge of that piece of material which is to be -
39.
1~3~3 ~'
stitched will be in register with the needle 106.
That operator then will insert the leading edge of
that piece of material beneath the tire 50 of the
raised guide wheel 48 and will move that leading
edge into position beneath the raised leading
edge of the presser foot 98. A~ that operator moves
the leading edge of that piece of material into
position beneath the leading edge of that presser
foot, she will guide the folded edge of that piece
of material into position to intercept the light
which the platform 20 normally receives from the
lamp 138 in the mounting block 56 and normally
reflects back up to the photo transistor 136 within
that mounting block. As that folded edge intercepts
that light, the amount of light which reaches the
photo transistor 136 will be substantially reduced; - .
and the resulting decrease in conductivity of that . . -
photo transistor will cause the voltage at the :
emitter of that photo transistor to become less :~
positive. The operator will move the folded edge .~ -
of the piece of material 246 far enough to cause the
voltage at that emitter to become more negative than
minus one and one-half volts; and, thereupon~ the
operational amplifier 278 will apply a positive : .
voltage to the lower input of A~D gate 277. That ~:~
40.
3Y~
positive voltage will coact with the positive voltage
which the limit ~witch 52 is applying to the upper
input of that AND gate to cause that AND gate to
apply a signal to the gate electrode of the triac
- 268. That triac will energize the motor 40, and will
cause that motor to start rotating the crank arm 44
in the counter clockwise direction in Fig. 1, and
hence in the clockwise dire~tion in Fig. 6. The
resulting re-closing of the limit switch 54 will
not be effective at this time, because the AND gate
275 must have positive voltages at both inputs thereof
before it can apply a signal to the gate electrode
of the triac 270. The crank arm 44 will start
rotating in the counter clockwise direction in Fig.
1 even before the ~eading edge of the piece of ;- --
material 246 moves into position to intercept the , -~
light which the platform 20 normally receives from -~
the lamp, not shown, within the mounting block
154 and normally reflects back up to the photo
transistor 293 within that mounting block; but that ~ -
rotation will not apply any forces to that piece
of material because the tire 50 of the guide wheel
48 i~ still being held up out of engagement with
that platform.
41.
~ . , , . ,.. ,0., -, , . . , . , , ~, ...... . ... . . . . . . .
1(~4~
As the leading edge of the piece of material
, . .... .. . .
246 approaches the needle 106, that leading edge
will intercept the light which the platform 20
normally receives from the lamp, not shown, within
the mounting block 154 and normally reflects back
up to the photo transistor 293 within that mounting
block; and, thereupon, the voltage at the emitter
of that photo transistor will become negative.
The amplifier 294 will respond to that negative
voltage to remove the positive voltages which it had
been applying to the "set" input of flip-flop 296 ~ -
and to the solenoid driver 298 duri~g the "standby"
. :. .
mode of the guiding, stitching and delivering system
of Figs. 1-14. The removal of the positive voltage ~,
from the "set" input of flip-flop 296 will not have
. -: ,, .
any effect at this time, and that flip-flop will - -~
continue to apply an "enable" signal to the counter
288: but the removal of the positive voltage from
. .: - .
the solenoid driver 298 will cause that solenoid
driver to permit the air-controlling solenoid - -
300 to become de-energized. The check valve 303
and the flow-controlling valve 301 will rapidly
vent the compressed air ~thin the cylinders 36, -
80, and 1~2 to the atmosphere. As a result, the
cylinder 36 will permit the combined weights of ~-
the ~tepping motor 40, of the crank arm 44, o~ -
the guide wheel 48 and of the tire 50 to move that
42.
tire down into engagement with the piece of
material 246, the cylinder 80 will permit the
leading edge of the presser foot 98 to move down
into engagement with the leading edge of that piece
of material, and the cylinder 112 will permit the
brake-clutàh lever 110 to assume whatever position s
the pos.ition of the treadle 122 requires that lever
to assume.
If, at the time the tire S0 of the guide
wheel 48 moves down into engagement with the piece
of material 246, the folded edge of that piece of
material is blocking one-half of the spot of light
which the light from the lamp 138 within the mounting . -
block 56 normally forms on the platform 20, the
crank arm 44 will be in, or will be moving toward, :--
the middle position shown by Figs. 1 and 6. If that - -
folded edge is blocking less than one-half of that
spot of light, that crank arm will be in, or will
be moving toward, a position between that middle
position and the limit switch 54; but if that folded .. :
edge is blocking more than one-half of that ~pot
of light, that crank arm will be in, or will be . .
moving toward, a position between that middle position
and the limit switch 52.
.,
, . . .
43. :` ~
While the operator moves the leading
edge of the piece of material 246 toward the needle
106, she will use her foot to apply a downward force
to the treadle 122; but, until that leading edge
intercepts the light from the lamp, not shown,
within the mounting block 154, the cylinder 112 will
hold the brake-clutch lever 110 in braking position.
~hat cylinder will hold that lever in that position
.. . ..
regardless of the pressure which the operator's
foot applies to that treadle; and hence the sewing ~ ;
machine 58 will not be able to start stitching ~--
until the leading edge of the piece of mater ial 246
i9 in position to be stitched. As the leading
............ .......................................................... .... . . - ,
edge of the piece of material 246 intercepts the
;. .. .
light from the lamp, not shown, within the mounting
block 154, the cylinder 112 will release the brake- - -
clutch lever 112; and, thereupon, the treadle 122 -~
will respond to the pressure from the operator's
- foot to move that brake-clutch lever down to clutching
po~ition. Simultaneously, the leading edge of the - --
presser foot 98 will move down to the position of
Fig. 8, and the guide wheel 48 will move down into
engag~ment with the piece of material 246. That
pre~er foot will coact with the feed dogs, not
shc~wn, of the ~ewing machine 58 to advance the
piece o material 246 pa~t the needle 106; and the
tire 50 on the guide wheel 48 will apply a force
' ' '
,
44.
to that advancing piece of material which will
cause the folded edge of that piece of material to
intercept one-half of the spot of light formed by
the lamp 138 within the mounting block 56.
For example, if the folded edge of the
piece of material 246 is intercepting essentially
one-half of the spot of light formed by the lamp
138 within the mounting block 56, the crank arm '~-
44 will be in the middle position shown by Figs. 1 ;~
and 6; and the tire 50 of the guide wheel 48 will
be parallel to the direction of movement of that
piece of material and will not apply any later~ly- '~- -
directed forces to that piece of material. However,
if the folded edge of the piece of material 246 i9
intercepting appreciably less than one-half of the
spot of lig~t formed by the lamp 138 within the
mounting block 56, the crank arm 44 will be inter- -' ' -
. . .. ..
mediate the limit switch 54 and the middle position -
shown by Figs. 1 and 6; and the tire 50 of the guide
wheel 48 will be applying a dragging force to that '
piece of material which will urge that folded edge
away from that limit switch, and hence toward the
po~ition wherein that folded edge will intercept '-'
es~entiaUy,one-half of that spot of light. On the
other hand, if the folded edge of the piece of material ~' - '
.::.
246 i~ intercepting appreciably more than one-half
of the ~pot of light formed by the lamp 138 within '
45. ,
, . '' ,~ ' ':' ', , ' ' , , ,,', . .' . :, ' .'' , ..
3'7
the mounting ~bck 56, the crank arm 44 will be
intermediate the limit switch 52 and the middle
position shown by Figs. 1 and 6; and the tire 50 .. -:
of the guide wheel 48 will be applying a dragging , -
force to that piece of material which will urge that
folded edge toward the limit switch 54, and hence
toward the position wherein that folded edgewill : -
intercept essentially one-half of that spot of light. ~
The guide wheel 48 will quickly move the folded -
edge of the piece of material 246 into the desired
position -- that guide wheel usually moving that ~' -
folded edge into the desired position before the
sewing machine 58 has made two stitches.
As shown by Figs. 4 and 6, the guide wheel
48 is located between the needle 106 and the output
shaft 42 of the motor 40; and this i9 desirable :::
because it enables the tire 50 of that guide wheel
to apply guiding forces to the portion of the piece
of material 246 which is immediately ahead of the
needle 106. As a result, that guide wheel can
provide guiding forces for short pieces of material,
can maintain the desired spacing between the stitches
and an adjacent edge of that piece of material even :. .
when that ad~acent edge is curved, and can apply - -
guiding forces to each piece of material until shortly ~.
.''. "
46. :
before the trailing edge of that piece of material
reaches the needle 106.
As the presser foot 98 and the feed dogs
of the sewing machine 58 advance the piece of material
246 relative to the needle 106, that needle and the
looper of that sewing machine will respond to each
revolution of the pulley 60 to make a stitch. Each
time that pulley makes a revolution, it moves the
magnet 284 past the Hall Effect Switch 286, and
thereby causes that Hall Effect Switch to apply a
pulse to the counter 288. The speed at which the
feed dogs and presser foot 98 of the sewing machine . ~.
58 will advance the piece of material 246 will be
controlled by the extent to which the operator
depresses the rear edge of the treadle 122. This is
de~irable: because it enables the operator to have
full and complete control over the rate of stitching,
and it also enables the operator to stop the stitching ~ ~ -
if the thread breaks, if the supply of thread is
exhausted, or if some other contingency arises. :~
After the sewing machine has made ~out twelve . ~ -
or thirteen stitches in the folded edge of the piece ;~
of material 246, the counter 288 will apply a negative- -
going ~ignal to the input of the monostable multi- .. . -
vibrator 290; and that monostable multivibrator :-;
will re~pond to that signal to apply a positive ~ -
voltage, of about fifteen millisecond~ duration,
~.f - -...
47.
,, , , , , . , ,-" , .. . . . . . . . . . .
~r~
to the "reset" input of the flip-flop 296 and also
to the input of the ~olenoid driver 292. That
positive voltage will reset that flip-flop, and will
thereby cause that flip-flop to remove the "enable"
signal which that flip-flop had been applying to .
the counter 288. As a result, that counter will
not count any further impulses from the Hall Effect
Switch 287. The duration of the positive voltage, :
which the monostable multivibrator 290 applies to
I~ the "reset" input of the flip-flop 296 and also to
the input of the solQnoid driver 292, can be adjusted
by moving the movable contact of an adjustable
resistor which i9 associated with that monostable -.
multi~ibrator.
The solenoid driver 292 will respond to
the positive voltage from the monostable multivibrator
290 to energize the air-controlling solenoid 172 :.
for about fifteen milliseconds: and, during those :
fifteen milliseconds, compressed air will enter :-
the cylinder 162 via the pipe or tube 173. That :.
,
compressed air will force the cutter 168 downwardly --~
against the hardened steel insert 21 with sufficient
force and speed to enable that cutter to sever any ~ -
stitche~ which would be intermediate that cutter -
and that hardened steel insert. However, if it i9 ....
a~umed that the piece of material 246 is the first
of a ~erie~ of pieces of material to be stitched
by the ~ewing machine 58, the downward movement
of the cutter 168 will not be meaningful at this
t~m~.
48.
:'' " , ', ' , .'.' "' ,, '" ', ', '.' ' ' . ' ' ' ,", ,
At the end of the end of the fifteen
milliseconds, the solenoid driver 292 will permit
the air-controlling solenoid 172 to again become
de-energized. Thereupon, the compressed air within
the cylinder 162 will be vented to the atmosphere;
and the returning spring within that cylinder will
promptly move the cutter 168 back up to the raised
pO9 ition of Fig. 4. The period of time during which
compressed air is supplied to the cylinder 162 is
short enough to keep the cutter 168 from interfering
with the advancement of the piece of material 246 -;
through the sewing machine 58, regardless of the
speed at which that piece of material i9 being
advanced through that sewing machine. --
The sewing machine 58 will respond to
pressure on the treadle 122 to stitch and advance - -
the piece of material 246: and the presser foot 98 -~ -
of that sewing machine will coact with the tire
50 of the guide wheel 48 to constrain that piece ~;
of material. In addition, that tire will apply to
. ..
that piece of material whatever laterally-directed -
guidance forces are needed to keep the folded edge
, .. . .
of that piece of material in position to intercept ~
.. -. .
one-half of the spot of light from the lamp 138
within the mounting block 56. As the sewing machine
58 continue~ to ~titch and advance the piece of
: - ~.
':: ~..
',. ,' "
49. ;
material 246, the trailing edge of that piece of
material will move rearwardly beyond the tire 50
of the guide wheel 48; and hence that tire will no
longer be able to apply constraining forces and
lateràlly-directed guidance forces to that piece of
material. In fact as that trailing edge moves beyond
the guide wheel 48, the photo transistor 136 will
become illuminated: and the resulting triggering of
triac 2 70 will cause the motor 40 to rotate the
crank arm 44 far enough in the clockwise direction
in Fig. 1 to open the limit switch 54. Thereupon,
that crank arm will come to rest; and it will hold
that limit switch open until a further piece of
material 246 has the leading edge thereof moved into
position to intercept the spot of light from the
lamp 138 in the mounting block 56.
Prior to the time the trailing edge of the -
stitched piece of material 246 moves rearwardly
beyond the tire 50 of the guide wheel 48, the -
leading edge of that piece of material will move ~-~
. . . .
into position to be engaged by the flaps 226; and ~ -
those flaps will coact with the presser foot 98 to ~ -
apply constraining forces to that piece of material. ~ -
Further, those flaps will apply forces to that ~-
.,''','~ -
' -
50.
piece of material which will be generally aligned
with the feed dogs of the sewing machine 58; and
hence those flaps will tend to cause that piece of -
material to continue to move along the path into
which it was guided by the tire 50 of the guide
wheel 48. The piece of material 246 will continue
to intercept the light from the lamp, not shown,
within the mounting block 154 until the trailing
edge of that piece of material is immediately .
adjacent the needle 106; and hence, throughout the
time that piece of material is being stitched, the
photo transistor 293, the amplifier 294, the solenoid -:.
driver 298 and the air-controlling solenoid 300 will ;. ~ .
keep the cylinders 36, 80 and 112 devoid of compressed ~
air. Consequently, the tire 50 of the guide wheel . ~ -
48 will be in its lower position, the presser foot
98 will be in the position shc~wn by Fig. 8, and the ~ -:
cylin~er 112 will permit the treadle 122 to control .: . :
the brake-clutch lever 110. However, as the trailing
edge of the piece of material 246 approaches the
needle 106, that trailing edge will move out of
regi~ter with the light from the lamp, not shown, -
within the mounting block 154: and, thereupon, .-
light will reach the photo transistor 293 and will
cause that photo transi~tor and the amplifier 2 94
to apply a positive voltage to the "set" input of the .-
.': " '
51. ' " ' '-
. . .
. , -,,
,, ,~
109t:~3 ~ :
flip-flop 296 and to the solenoid driver 298.
That flip-flop will again apply an "enable" signal
to the counter 288; and that solenoid driver will
again cause the air-controlling solenoid 300 to
supply compressed air to the cylinders 36, 80 and
112,
The compressed air which is intended to
enter the cylinder 112 will promptly and rapidly
flow into that cylinder; but the compressed air
which is intended to enter the cylinder 36 and 80
must pass through the flow-restricting valve 301.
As a result, the cylinder 112 will promptly act
through the connecting rod 118 to raise the brake-
clutch lever 110 and thereby cause that lever to
..~ . . : .
apply braking forces to the motor 64; but the guide
wheel 48 and the presser foot 98 will momentarily - ; - -
remain in the lower positions shown by Figs. 2 and
8, respectively.
The compressed air within the cylinder
112 will force the brake-clutch lever 110 to move
upwardly to braking position even if the operator
maintains an actuating pressure on the treadle -
122. As a result, the guiding, s~itching, and
delivering system of Figs. 1-14 will automatically
and po~itively halt the operation of the sewing machine
58 a~ the trailing edge of each piece of material
246 move~ rearwardly beyond the spot of light
,,~.. :.,, -
., ,~. ,
52.
1(~4;~3~
from the lamp, not shown, within the mounting block
154. It is important to note that the delays in-
herent in the operation of the air-controlling
solenoid 300 and of the actuating circuit therefor
will coact with the momentum of the rotating parts
of the sewing machine 58 to cause the feed dogs
of that sewing machine to advance the trailing edge
of the piece of material 246 rearwardly beyond the
needle 106 a distance corresponding to the lengths
of three or four stitches before that sewing machine
comes to rest. Those stitches make certain that a
finite gap will exist between the trailing edge of the ~ ~-
piece of material 246 and the leading edge of therext-
succeeding piece of material 246: and that finite
~ . 5 . .
gap will enable the cutter 168 to subsequently cut
the stitches between, but not cut any portions of,
that piece of material and that next-succeeding
piece of material. As the sewing machine 58 comes to
. :. .
rest -- approximately forty-five milliseconds after
the photo transistor 293 actuated the amplifier 294 --
the compressed air within the cylinder 36 will cause
the tire S0 of the guide wheel 48 to move upwardly
, . . .
out of engagement with the platform 20, and the
compres~ed air within the cylinder 80 will act
through the connecting rod 78, the elongated lever
74, and the lir~c 84 to raise the leading edge of the
, .. .. .
pre~er foot 98 to the position of Fig. 9. Because
ths pre~er oot 98 will not ove from the position
of Fig. 8 to the po~ition of Fig. 9 until the feed ~` -
53.
~a~
dogs of the sewing machine 58 have come to rest,
that presser foot will coact with those feed dogs
to advance the trailing edge of the piece of material
246 rearwardly beyond the needle 106 the required
three or four stitches.
As the presser foot 98 moves to the position
shown by Fig. 9, the spring 100 will hold the trailing
edge of that presser foot down in holding engagement
with the trailing edge of the stitched piece of
10 material 246; and hence that presser foot will continue
to apply a constraining force to that piece of
material. This is important; because the frictional
forces which the flaps 226 apply to the stitched
piece of material 246 will tend to move that stitched
piece of material rearwardly, and those frictional
forces could be greater than the holding forces,
which the needle 106 and the looping mechanism of
the sewing machine 58, could apply to the stitches
251. EIowever, the constraining forces which the
20 trailing edge of the presser foot 98 applies to the
trailing edge of the piece of material 246 will
be more than adequate to hold that stitched piece
of material against movement rearwardly toward the : -
dotted-line position 250 despite the frictional
forces which the flaps 226 continuously apply to that
~titched piece of material. All of this means
54.
i ,, ,,, ", "",,," ~ , ,, , : , ",""~,,,, "", ,,,:,
that as the trailing edge of the stitched piece
of material 246 moves rearwardly beyond the spot
of light developed by the lamp, not shown, within
the mounting block 154, that stitched piece of material
will be brought to rest and will be held flat until
the leading edge of the next-succeeding piece of
material 246 is moved into position to intercept
that spot of light.
When the operator of the sewing machine . .
", .. .. . .
58 moves the leading edge of the next-succeeding
piece of material 246 into position to intercept the ~:
light from the lamp 138 within the mounting block
56, the motor 40 will again start moving the crank .
arm 44 away from the limit switch 54. When that - . -
operator thereafter moves that leading edge into - --
position to intercept the light from the lamp, not ... : .-
~hown, within the mounting block 154, the guide
wheel 48 will move downwardly into engagement with ~.:
that next-succeeding piece of material, the presser
20 foot 98 will move down to the position of Fig. 8,
and the cylinder 112 will permit the position of -- -
~:: . - .
the treadle 122 to control the position of the brake-
clutch lever 110. In addition, the amplifier 294
will remove the positive voltage which it had been
applying to the set input of the flip-flop 2g6;
but the removal of that positive voltage will not
be ~ignificant at this time, because that flip-
flop will continue to apply the "ena~le" signal to
"
55.
the counter 288 until the monostable multivibrator
290 applies a positive voltage to the reset input
of that flip-flop. This means that the counter
288 will count each of the stitches which the sewing
machine 58 forms in the leading portion of the next-
succeeding piece of material 246; and, when the sum
of those stitches plus the three or four stitches
which were made after the trailing edge of the
stitched piece of material 246 moved rearwardly
beyond the mounting block 154 reaches sixteen, that
counter will apply a negative-going signal to the
monostable multivibrator 290. Thereupon, that
monostable multivibrator will apply a positive -:
voltage to the reset input of the flip-flop 296
and to the solenoid driver 292. That positive
voltage will reset that flip-flop, and will thereby
cause that flip-flop to remove the "enable" signal
which it had been supplying to the counter 288; .-
and hence that counter will not count any further
9 tches which are formed in that next-succeeding ~r,
piece of material. The positive voltage which
the monostable multivibrator 290 applies to the
solenoid driver 292 will cause that solenoid driver
to energize the air-controlling solenoid 172 -- with
,:~
56.
~ ,
consequent movement of the cutter 168 downwardly
against the stitches 251 between the trailing edge
of the stitched piece of material 246 and the leading
edge of the next-succeeding piece of material 246. .:
Those stitches will be held taut, because the
frictional forces which the flaps 226 apply to that
stitched piece of material tend to move that stitched
piece of material rearwardly at a higher rate of
speed than the rate of speed at which the next- ~ :
succeeding piece of material 246 is being advanced
through the sewing machine. Because those stitches
are held taut, the cutter 168 will easily and surely .;
sever those stitches and then move back up out of
the path of the leading edge of that next-succeeding
piece of material. .
It is important to note that the sewing
machine 58 must start forming stitches in the next-
succeeding piece of material 246 before the cutter
168 can be moved downwardly to cut the stitches
251 between the trailing edge of the stitched piece :~ :
of material 246 and the leading edge of that ; :-~
next-succeeding piece of material 246. By~ req~iring
that ~ewing machine to form such stitches, the
present invention minimizes the wearing forces which
develop between the presser foot 98 and the hardened
~teel in~ert 21 whenever stitching occurs at a :
time when a piece of material is not underlying that
57.
1t~41~ ~
. .,
presser foot. Also, by requiring that sewing machine
to form such stitches, the present invention keeps
the forces, which the needle 106 and the looper
of that sewing machine apply to the threads used
in forming stitches, from pulling the subsequently
formed stitches out of the leading edge of the next-
succeeding piece of material 246. In that way,
the present invention obviates the problems of
missed stitches and of broken thrsads which could
arise if the stitches 251 were to be cut before a
number of stitches were made inthe leading edge of
the next-succeeding piece of material 246. Such
problems are particularly frequent and acute where
the sewing machine forms chain, rather than lock,
stitches and where that sewing machine uses smooth -~:
~ -
filament-type plastic threads.
After the stitches 151 have been severed,
the flaps 226 will rapidly move the severed piece
of material 246 thro~gh the dotted-line positions
248, 250 and 252 toward the solid-line position
254 in Fig. 1: and those flaps will apply constrain~
ing forces to that severed piece of material as they
do uo. ~h- uewing machine sa will contln~e to advance
' ~'';
' ' '
: ,
58. -
3~
and stitch the next-succeeding piece of material
246; but the rate of advancement of that next-
succeeding piece of material will, of course, be
substantially less than the rate at which the severed
piece of material 246 is moved rearwardly toward
the solid-line position 254. This is desirable;
because it will move the severed piece of material
246 to the solid-line position 254 while the next-
succeeding piece of material 246 is being stitched
or is being held short of the dotted-line position
248. As a result, that next-succeeding piece of
material will be wholly displaced from the position
254, and thus will not be able to interfere with
the stacking of the severed piece of material 246. : --
As the leading edge of the severed piece
of material 246 intercepts the spot of light which ~. -
is developed by the lamp, not shown, within the
mounting block 200, the photo transistor 302 will
apply a negative-going signal to the amplifier
304; and that amplifier will remo~Te the positive : ~ .
voltage which it ha~l been applying to the mono-
stable multivibrator 306. Because that monostable
multivibrator responds to positive-going signals
and does not respond to negative-going signals, the
movement of the leading edge of the severed piece
of material 246 into register with the mounting . . .
block 200 will be unable to cause that monostable
59. -:
1~3~1~37
multivibrator to apply a positive voltage to the
solenoid driver 308. However, as the ~ailing
edge of the severed piece o mater~l 246 moves
rearwardly beyond the spot of light which is developed
by the lamp, not shown, within the mounting block
200, the photo transistor 302 will apply a positive
going signal to the amplifier 304; and that ampli-
fier will again apply a positive voltage to the
monostable multivibrator 306. Thereupon, that
monostable multivibrator will apply a positive
voltage, of about fifty milliseconds duration, to
the solenoid driver 308. That solenoid driver will
energize the air-controlling solenoid 310 for
approximately fifty milliseconds; and the resulting
application of compressed air to the cable cylinder
236 via the pipe or tube 239 will cause the piston,
not shown, within that cable cylinder to move from
right to left in Fig. 3. Thereupon, the cable 240 ---
and the cable bracket 238 will move the movable plat- ~-
form 242 and its guide sleeves 230 forwardly relative : :
to the guide rods 184. The quick-release valve 241 .~
will permit air to exhaust rapidly from the left- .. ~-
hand end of the cable cylinder 236; and hence the :
forward movement of the movable platform can be . ;.-
a~ rapid as de~ired. That quick-releasevalve will
direct the exhausting air through the muffler 243
60.
37
and that muffler will keep the noise made by that
exhausting air at an acceptable level.
The flaps 226 will continue to apply rear-
wardly-directed frictional forces to the severed
piece of material 246; and those frictional forces
will keep that severed piece of material moving
rearwardly despite the forward movement of the
movable platform 242. When the rear edge of that
movable platform has moved far enough forwardly,
relative to the leading portion of the severed
piece of material 246, that severed piece of material -;`
will fall away from that movable platform and will
become a part of the stack 256. The action of the
flaps 226 in continuing to apply rearwardly-directed : .
frictional forces to the severed piece of material
246 is important, because those frictional forces ..
will make certain that the said severed piece of :
material will not move forwardly with the forwardly- : .
moving movable platform 242. ...
. . . .
The severed piece of material 246 which ~ - .
. - . . .
forms the bottom of the stack 256 will be located
a minute distance further from the sewing machine :: ::
.......
58 than will each succeeding piece of material~
.
and each succeeding severed piece of material
246 in t~at stack will be located a minute -., :
- i. ~ .
.',',,".
:' ,
,' '' ''
61. :
distance closer to that sewing machine than is its
predecessor severed piece of material. This i9 due
to the fact that as the stack 256 gets taller, the
distance through which the severed pieces of material
246 float down onto that stack, and hence the extent
of rearward movement of those severed pieces of
material, gets smaller. However, the stack 256 is
neater, more regular, and more nearly vertical than
any stack which a person could make by stacking a
number of pieces of material by hand.
The rate at which the cable cylinder 236
moves the movable platform 242 is not critical.
As a result, that rate can be made relatively rapid
or relatively slow without adversely affecting the
neatness, regularity and verticality of the resulting
stacX 256.
The duration of the positive voltage which
the monostable multivibrator 306 applies to the
solenoid driver 308 can be adjusted by moving the
... . .-
movable contact of an adjustable resistor which is
associated with that monostable multivibrator.
In the preferred eni~odiment of Figs. 1-14, the duration -~
of the positive voltage provided by the monostable ~;-
multivibrator 306 is long enough to cause the air- ~-
controlling solenoid 310 and the pipe or tube 239
to ~upply compressed air to the front end of ~he
cable cylinder 236 just long enough to cau~e the
piston, not ~hown, of that cable cylinder to approach,
but not reach, the rear end of t~at cable cylinder.
62.
L~
Such a duration of that positive voltage is desirable;
because it means that the compressed air which the
air-controlling solenoid 310, the pipe or tube 237,
and the quick-release valve 241 will introduce into
, .. .... . .
the rear end of that cable cylinder--as that air-
controlling solenoid becomes de-energized after
fifty milliseconds--will act as an air cushion to
help decelerate and halt tha forward movement of the
movable platform 242. Subsequently, the compressed :
air which the pipe or tube 237 and the quick-release
valve 241 introduce into the rear end of the cable
cylinder 236 will cause the piston, not shown,
within that cable cylinder to move toward the front
of that cable cyllnder, and will thereby cause the
movable plat:~orm 242 to return to the rear position . : -
shown by Figs. 1 and 3. .:
It will be noted that the mounting block ~: '
200 is located 90 the light from the lamp, not shown,
therein strikes and refle~its from the stationary
supporting plate 186 and not the movable platform ~:
242. This is desirable; because the point on the : -:
: . . .
stationary supporting plate 186 which reflects that .: .
~ , "",~
. .
- . . ,
' :~
'~','''' ''"
63. :.
3~
light will always have the same height and same
inclination relative to that mounting block, whereas
points on the front edge of that movable platform
could assume slightly different heights and inclin-
ations relative to that mounting block. Any such
slightly different heights and inclinations could
change the location of the light spot or the angles
of incidence and reflection.
The sewing machine 58 will continue to
stitch the next-succeeding piece cf material 246
until the trailing edge of that next-succeeding ~ ~ -
piece of material moves out from under the spot ~ -
of light provided by the lamp, not shown, within the
mounting block 154, At such time, the photo : ;
transistor 293 will apply a positive voltage to the : -
amplifier 294 which will enable that amplifier to . -
"set" the flip-flop 296 and to cause the solenoid
driver 298 to energize the air-controlling solenoid
300. Thereupon, the sewing machine 58 will permit
three or four additional stitches to form before it
comes to rest; and then the guide wheel 48 will ~ -
be raised and the presser foot 98 will be moved
to the position of Fig. 9 -- all as explained in
detail heretofore. The counter 288 will count those
~titche~: but that counter and the sewing machine .;.:
58 will remain inactive until the leading edge of
yet another piece of material 246 is introduced
into the guiding, ~titching and guiding system of
F$g~ 14.
~4.
, . , . ,~ ,. .,, . ~ , .. . . .
Preferred Embodiment of Figs. 15 and 16:
Referring particularly to Fig. 15, the numeral 312
denotes a mounting block which i9 longer than the
mounting block 154 of F ig. 7; but the leading edge
of the former mounting block will be mounted in the
position occupied by the leading edge of the latter
mounting block in Fig. 7. The mounting block 312
has four passages therein, as shown by Fig. 15:
and one of those passages has a photo transistor 293
mounted in the enlarged upper end thereof. That -
photo transistor can be identical to the identically-
numbered photo transistor in Fig. 13; and the passage
. . - - .
in the mounting block 312 which accommodates that
photo transistor 293 preferably will be identical to,
and will be located in the same relative position as, -~
the corresponding passage 156 in the mounting block
. ,. -
154. A lamp 291 is mounted in the enlarged upper
end of a second passage in the mounting 312 which ` ~
is inclined oppositely to the passage in which the ~- -
photo transistor 293 is mounted, as shown by Fig. 15.
The passage for the lamp 291 preferably will be
identical to, and will be located in the same relative
po~ition as, the passage 158 in the mounting block ~ ~
154 of Fig. 7. A further passage in the mounting ~ -
block 312 ha~ a photo transistor 314 mounted in the
enlarged upper end thereof: and that passage is located ~;
1~3~ 7
adjacent the rear of that mounting block. The numeral
313 denotes a lamp which is mounted in the enlarged
upper end of a passage which is oppositely inclined
to the passages in which the photo transistor 314
is mounted; and that lamp-containing passage is
located intermediate the passage in which the photo
transistors 314 and 293 are mounted.
As indicated particularly by dotted lines
in Fig. 15, the point on the hardened steel insert
21, where the light from the lamp 291 is normally
reflected back up into the passage for the photo
transistor 293, is located just a very short distance
... .
rearwardly of the needle 106. Also as indicated by
dotted lines in Fig. 15, the point on that hardened
steel insert, where the light from the lamp 313 is
normally reflected back up into the passage for the -
photo transistor 314, i9 located a short distance
rearwardly of the point where the cutter 168 will
engage that hardened steel insert. As a result,
the trailing edge of each stitched piece of material
246 will move rearwardly of the needle 106 before the
photo transistor 293 can develop a positive voltage
and thereby cause actuation of the air-controlling
solenoid 300; and the trailing edge of that
~titched piece of material will move rearwardly
beyond the point, where the cutter 168 strikes the
hardened ~teel insert 21, before the photo transistor
314 can develop a positive voltage and can apply
': '" ' ,~'.
66. ~ ~
,, " . , , , ., ~, . . . . .
~o~
that voltage to the input of an amplifier 316.
The actions of the photo transistor 293,
of the amplifier 294, of the solenoid driver 298,
and of the air-controlling solenoid 300 will,
effectively, be the same as the actions of the
identically-nun~bered components of Fig. 13. However,
the actions of the photo transistor 314, of the
amplifier 316, and of the monostable multivibrator
318 will be different from the actions of the magnet
284, of the Hall Effect Switch 286, of the counter
288, and of the monostable multivibrator 290 of Fig.
13. For example, whereas the monostable multivibrator
290 responds to a negative-going voltage to apply
a positive voltage, of about fifteen milliseconds
duration, to the solenoid driver 292, the monostable
multivibrator 318 will respond to a positive-going
signal to apply a positive voltage, of about fifteen
milliseconds duration, to that solenoid driver.
Moreover, the photo transistor 314 will coact with
the amplifier 316, the monostable multiv ibrator 318,
the solenoid driver 292 and the air-controlling
~olenoid 172 to move the cutter 168 downwardly to -
cutting position whenever the trailing edge of a
~titched piece of material 245 moves rearwardly
beyond the ~pot-of light from the lamp 313, regardless
of the nu~iber of ~titches which are formed in the
leading edge of the next-succeeding piece of material
246.
67.
The preferred e~odiment of Fig. 15 and
16 differs from the preferred en~odiment of Figs
1-14 in substituting the mounting block 312 for
the mounting block 154 of Fig. 7 and in eliminating
the magnet 284, the Hall Effect Switch 286, the counter
288, and the flip-flop 296. As a result, the pre-
ferred e~bodiment of Figs. 15 and 16 is less expensive
than the preferred e~ibodiment of Figs. 1-14. Moreover,
the length of the severed stitching, which trails
behind the trailing edge of a piece of material
246 which has been stitched and cut by the pre-
ferred embodiment of Figs. 15 and 16, will be wholly
independent of the lengths of the stitches formed
by the sewing machine 58.
Conclusion: By normally permitting reflected
light to illuminate the photo transistors 136, 293,
302 and 314, the present invention provides specular
sensing of the movement of the pieces of material
246. This is desirable; because such sensing makes
the response of the guiding, stitching and delivering
system~ of Figs. 1-14 and of Figs. 15 and 16 essen-
tially independent of fabric color, denier and weight.
For example, even a very white fabric will have an -
index of reflectivity which is sufficiently low, -- ~-
,: -
compared to tho~e of the metals of which the platform -
20, the hardened steel insert 21, and the supporting
plate 168 are made, to enable each of the photo
68. .~-
. .
; 1~ 4:1~37 :
transistors 136, 293, 302 and 314, to sense the
presence of that fabric.
The mounting ~bck 56 can be shifted laterally,
relative to the needle 106 of the sewing machine 58,
to provide any desired spacing between the folded
edges of the pieces of material 246 and the stitches
which that sewing machine forms in those pieces of
material. By loosening the screws 59 and by shifting
the mounting block 56 to the left in Fig. 5, it is
possible to reduce the distance between the folded
edges of the pieces of material 246 and the stitches
which the s~wing machine 58 will form in those pieces
of material. In the preferred embodiment of Figs.
1-14, the distance between the folded edges of the
pieces of material 246 and the stitches which the
sewing machine 58 will form in such pieces of
material can be varied by any desired value up to
one and one-quarters of an inch. Thus, the folds
on the pieces of material 246 can be made to have
any desired lengths between one-half and one and
three-quarters of an inch.
The counter 288 can be set to count various
numbers of pulses from the Hall Effect Switch 286
before it removes the positive voltage which it
normally applies to the monostable multivibrator
290. A~ a re~ult, that counter could be set to cause
the blade 168 to move downwardly at the desired
time--even where the sewing machine 58 must be set
to form ~titche~ of appreciably-different lengths.
69.
., ., , , ., , ,: .~ , ' ' .
" , , .
104~8;:~
If desired, a fold-forming jog or device
could be located immediately ahead of the leading
edge of the plate 26 in Fig. 1. Where that was done,
the operator would introduce the var iou9 pieces of
material 246 into that jog or device while those
pieces of material were flat: and then that fold-
forming jog or device would automatically fold the
desired side edges of those pieces of material and
then guide the leading edges of those pieces of material
under the guide wheel 48. ~.
If desired, the movable platform 242 could
be mounted to move laterally, rather than longitudinally, -
of the direction of movement of the pieces of material
246. Moreover, if desired, a plural-section movable
platform could be substituted for the movable
platform 242; and such a plural-section movable .
platform could facilitate the stacking of even
very large pieces of material. If any joint between
sections of a plural-section movable platform were
to be parallel to the direction of movement of the .: ~-
pieces of material 246, that jointshould always be
~ept open at least three-quarters of an inch -- to
keep the portions of the sections which define that .:
.: ., ,
joint from gripping a piece of material as tha~
, . - - - .
.... . .
~oint i~ being closed.
.~- "~ , . . .
-
:` - .'
70.
,, ,, ,,, ,, , ,, ,i; . , , , , ,,, ,, ,. ~ ~" :,: :,: "", ,, , ,. , ,, :- " :,, ,
37
The axes of the flaps 226 could be set 90
they were parallel to, or were at acute angles
relative to, the direction of movement of the pieces -.
of material 246. However, where those flaps are
made tubular in form and are made of knitted or
woven material, the setting of the axes of those
flaps 90 they are perpendicular to the direction of
movement of the pieces of material 246 is desirable
because it vertically eliminates raveling of those
flaps.
Whereas the drawing and accompanying
description have shown and described two preferred
embodiments of the present invention, it should be
apparent to those s~illed in the art that various
changes may be made in the form of the invention
without affecting the scope thereof.
, 71.
