Sewing – Special machines – Pattern controlled or programmed
Patent
1996-06-14
1999-06-01
Nerbun, Peter
Sewing
Special machines
Pattern controlled or programmed
11247012, 112150, 112306, 112309, 11247504, D05B 2100
Patent
active
059080043
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for manipulating a flexible fabric and, more particularly, to a machine that manipulates a top panel of a mattress sack so that all edges thereof may be automatically joined to a side panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern mattresses generally include an inner construction and a mattress sack that completely covers the inner construction. The sack is secured to the inner construction by means of a flange which is connected to the inner construction using hog rings or the like.
The ticking material of a mattress sack may be of many types, such as flat or quilted, and the sack generally includes identical top and bottom panels and a side panel, joining the top and bottom panels. The top and bottom panel may be sewn directly to the side panel, joined with boarder tape, or attached with a gusset.
To reduce manufacturing cost, attempts have been made to automatically attach the side panel to the top panel. Typically, these attempts have held the inner construction stationary on a table and have positioned the mattress sack over the inner construction. A self-propelled sewing machine then joins the side and top panel, by boarder tape for example, by moving around the table via a track mechanism. Many modifications to this basic structure have been made and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.
More recently, the basic principle of propelling the sewing machine around the mattress has been reversed: now, the mattress is moved, not the sewing machine. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,282 describes a mattress tape edge closing machine, in which the mattress and cover are lifted at an angle with respect to a stationary machine. The mattress is then moved past the machine. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,186 describes a sewing machine, including presser elements rotatably supported about a vertical axis to allow rotation of the mattress sack. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,579 describes a device for sewing the edges of a mattress cover on an inner construction, including a swingable arm for rotating the mattress construction.
Some of these machines are cumbersome because they operate on the entire mattress construction. Others have difficulty maintaining high quality "sizing", a necessity in the mattress field. "Sizing" is a term known in the art and is used to refer to the uniformity of a mattress's stitching and dimensions, and more generally to its appearance.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a low cost and reliable machine for forming mattress sacks is needed.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a low cost machine for manipulating flexible fabrics, yet maintaining high quality sizing.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for manipulating mattress sacks and other flexible fabrics, such that the feeding of the material to the apparatus is automatically monitored and corrected to insure high quality sizing.
It is yet another object of the present invention to prepare the panel to ensure that panel filling does not protrude from the ticking layer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are achieved with a method and apparatus for manipulating flexible fabrics, such as a top panel of a mattress sack. The invention works in conjunction with a conventional sewing machine, which is used to join the top panel and a side panel. The joining process may be of several types, including directly sewing together the two panels and a flange, joining the two panels and a flange with border tape, or joining the two panels and a flange with a gusset. In each case, the conventional sewing machine used must have the necessary apparatus for receiving and joining the side panel and other joining materials, e.g., border tape. Certain modifications are made to the conventional machine, which will be described below.
A top panel is pulled along a work surface by the feeding mechanism of the sewing machine. In one embodiment, a pair of sleds with automatically actuat
REFERENCES:
patent: 1947058 (1934-04-01), Pittoni
patent: 3013513 (1961-12-01), Judelson
patent: 3109398 (1963-11-01), Abramowicz
patent: 3371630 (1968-03-01), Cash, Jr.
patent: 3511200 (1970-05-01), Howell et al.
patent: 4043282 (1977-08-01), Fanghanel
patent: 4067269 (1978-01-01), Fanghanel
patent: 4141304 (1979-02-01), Masuda
patent: 4276842 (1981-07-01), Torre
patent: 4498404 (1985-02-01), Sadeh
patent: 4691651 (1987-09-01), Junemann
patent: 4742789 (1988-05-01), Pestel et al.
patent: 4776579 (1988-10-01), Romand et al.
patent: 4794873 (1989-01-01), Dordi et al.
patent: 4813364 (1989-03-01), Boser
patent: 4821656 (1989-04-01), Dordi et al.
patent: 4825787 (1989-05-01), Babson et al.
patent: 4827856 (1989-05-01), Rohr
patent: 4838186 (1989-06-01), Resta et al.
patent: 4905615 (1990-03-01), Pofferi
patent: 4958579 (1990-09-01), De Weers
patent: 5103747 (1992-04-01), Resta et al.
patent: 5289788 (1994-03-01), Fukumoto
patent: 5335612 (1994-08-01), Cizek et al.
patent: 5367968 (1994-11-01), Diaz
patent: 5529004 (1996-06-01), Porter et al.
patent: 5560308 (1996-10-01), Eto
Yamaichi Tape Binding and Sewing Robot System (date unknown).
Kirby John J.
Marcangelo Steven
Mulcahey Charles E.
Porter Michael R.
Nerbun Peter
Porter Sewing Machines, Inc.
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for manipulating and sewing flexible fabric does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for manipulating and sewing flexible fabric, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for manipulating and sewing flexible fabric will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-949290