Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-06-05
Sells, James (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241834
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for producing a seam reinforcement in the course of the manufacture of a textile workpiece, the fabric of which is stitched with at least one thread. The invention further relates to a device for implementing the method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the course of the manufacture of textile workpieces of arbitrary type for example, pillows, tablecloths, terry cloths, terry goods or duvet covers—one or more sections of fabric are stitched to one another in order to obtain the desired shape and structure of the workpiece. Particularly in the case of automatic stitching processes, types of stitch are employed—for example, chain stitch or overcast—that have the disadvantage that they can be unravelled from the end of the seam, as a result of which the seam comes loose.
In order to prevent the seam from coming undone from the end of the seam, seam reinforcements have to be applied at the ends of the seam with these types of stitch. If a special synthetic thread is used for producing the seam, the seam reinforcement can be produced by the synthetic thread being shrunk on, under hot air. If, as in most cases, a synthetic thread is not used, a bar tack has to be stitched at the end of the seam at right angles to the seam in order to obtain a durable seam reinforcement.
One disadvantage of the known method for producing a seam reinforcement is that the stitching of the bar tack, with a view to reinforcing the seam at the end of the seam, constitutes an additional, cost-intensive manufacturing step.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to propose a method for producing a seam reinforcement that can be carried out quickly, simply and at favorable cost.
According to the invention, at least one of the threads that are used for producing the seam, particularly in the region of the end of the seam, is connected to the fabric of the textile workpiece in a heat-sealing device, subject to addition of a fusible material. As a result of this, the thread that is used is heat-sealed or bonded to the stitched fabric, and the seam can subsequently no longer be unraveled.
By way of heat-sealing devices, in principle all devices are conceivable by means of which sufficient energy, in particular thermal energy, can be supplied to the zones of reinforcement in order to fuse the fusible supplementary material and thereby to connect the thread of the seam to the fabric. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the heat-sealing device takes the form of an ultrasonic heat-sealing device.
The amount of thermal energy that is necessary in the course of ultrasonic heat-sealing is relatively modest, so that damage to the fabric is ruled out. In addition, the ultrasonic heat-sealing process can be carried out with a high degree of process safety and repetitive accuracy.
It is especially advantageous if the fusible material is supplied in the form of a plastic film. In each heat-sealing operation the plastic film is firstly pressed together in a small region with the thread of the seam and with the fabric and is subsequently fused by the heat-sealing device. In the process the thread is connected to the fabric. After each heat-sealing operation the plastic film has to be conveyed one length further, so that a new section of the plastic film is available by way of fusible material.
The plastic film should preferably be at least slightly wider than the width of the seam to be reinforced. As a result, it is ensured that in the region of reinforcement the seam is connected to the fabric beyond the entire width of the seam. The wider the plastic film in comparison with to the width of the seam, the lesser the positioning effort and the requisite accuracy in connection with the positioning of the heat-sealing device.
With many forms of seam the reinforcement of the seam on one side of the fabric—that is to say, from above or from below—is sufficient. If an especially reliable seam reinforcement is to be produced—particularly if the fabric has been hemmed at the edges with a chain-stitch sewing machine, for example—it is advantageous to connect the thread or threads that are used in the course of production of the seam to the fabric both on the upper side and on the underside of the seam. As a result of this, the surface of the seam reinforcement is doubled without the length of the seam reinforcement having to be increased. In addition it is ensured that, where use is made of a chain stitch, for example, in every case both upper thread and lower thread are connected to the fabric.
Especially suitable by way of fusible materials are thermoplastics, in particular polyethylene, since they can be fused with relatively little thermal energy and they exhibit good adhesion after being fused on textile materials. In addition, polyethylene films are available at favorable cost in a large number of styles and grades.
With a view to carrying out the method according to the invention, a device is proposed which comprises an ultrasonic sonotrode that is capable of being displaced towards a functionally complementary subordinate tool. If the ultrasonic sonotrode is pressed against the subordinate tool, the effective region of an ultrasonic heat-sealing process forms between the two opposite effective surfaces of the ultrasonic sonotrode and of the subordinate tool. A section of fabric with a seam between the ultrasonic sonotrode and the subordinate tool can be introduced into the device by conveyor means within the device. In the process the section of fabric is positioned in such a way that in the region of reinforcement the seam is capable of being brought into a position of contact between the effective surfaces of the ultrasonic sonotrode and of the subordinate tool. A plastic film can be conveyed from a feeding mechanism arranged in the device into the effective region between ultrasonic sonotrode and subordinate tool.
When carrying out the method according to the invention, first of all the section of fabric between the opened heat-sealing tool is positioned in such a way that the end of the seam to be reinforced comes to be situated between ultrasonic sonotrode and subordinate tool. The plastic film is subsequently conveyed from the feeding mechanism into the heat-sealing zone. Alternatively, the film may also be conveyed by the feeding mechanism into the heat-sealing zone as soon as the preceding heat-sealing operation has been concluded. After this, the ultrasonic sonotrode is displaced towards the subordinate tool, as a result of which the section of fabric at the end of the seam is pressed together with the plastic film. Subsequently the ultrasonic sonotrode is put into operation, so that the plastic film fuses and connects the thread of the seam to the fabric. Finally, the heat-sealing tool is opened and the section of fabric is conveyed onward.
The plastic film should preferably be at least slightly wider at right angles to the conveying direction than the ultrasonic sonotrode. By this means it is ensured that by virtue of the heat-sealing operation merely holes are introduced into the plastic film, and the plastic film can be pulled taught on the remaining webs of material and simply drawn onward.
A particularly simple construction of the feeding mechanism arises if the latter comprises two spools that are rotatably supported on the ultrasonic sonotrode and capable of being displaced together with the latter. This means that the support for the two spools and the ultrasonic sonotrode are firmly connected to one another and are displaced as a common assembly. The strip of film that is used by way of supplementary heat-sealing material is stored on the first spool. The second spool can be driven, in order to unwind the strip of film that is wound on the first spool and thereby to bring about the necessary conveying movement of the strip of film. The two spools are connected by the strip of film in such a manner that the latter passes between ultrasonic sonotrode and subordinate tool. As a result, when the
Henze Siegfried
Schnaus Martin
McGlew & Tuttle P.C.
Sells James
Texpa Maschinenbau GmbH & Co.
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