A MACHINE FOR PRESSING OPEN SEAMS

Abstract: A machine for folding and pressing the internal flaps of seams comprises a heated plate (1) in the body of which are formed separate chambers (6, 7, 8) respectively connected to a steam generator, a suction system and a cold air blower. These chambers communicate with a pressing surface of the plate itself through a series of holes. Facing the pressing surface of the plate (1) is a floating platen structure (2) having a corresponding series of holes (9) able to put into com­ munication with the exterior two chambers (10, 11) in the facing floating platen structure, each chamber being sepa­ rated into two parts by a partition (12) which divides it into two distinct portions.

Description: The present invention relates to a machine for pressing flat open seams, which can be fitted downstream of a sewing machine for making up textile fabrics such as knoches from US-A-4016822. There are currently commercially available sewing machines, utilised in the sewing industry, which are able to effect various types of seam contemporaneously. The two flaps extending beyond the stitch line or seam must be preliminarily separated, folded against the inner face of the fabric and conveniently stabilised in this position before proceeding to further sewing or tailoring of the article of clothing being made. Until now, however, notwithstanding several attempts, the combination of an effective surplus flap pressing phase with the sewing phase, has never successfully been achieved. This difficulty is substantially attributable to the fact that in current pressing apparatus the necessary moistening of the flaps for pressing is effected upstream of the pressing plates and, moreover, in such a way that the fabric is not traversed by the pressing fluid so that it is difficult to achieve the desired effects. The object of the present invention is that of eliminating the previously indicated disadvantages by providing a machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams, in which the moistening operation takes place in correspondence with the pressing plates. Within the ambit of the above-stated object, a particular object of the present invention is that of providing a machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams in which there is provided, beyond the moistening stage, a suction stage, a cold air blowing, and the possibility of mixing the various fluids. According to the present invention, there is provided a machine for folding and pressing open the inside flaps of seams, which can be fitted downstream of a sewing machine for making up textiles, characterised in that it comprises a heated plate in the body of which are formed separate chambers connected to a steam generator, a suction system and to a cold air blower respectively and communicating with the front of the plate itself through a series of holes facing which are a corresponding series of holes in the facing surface of a floating platen structure having two chambers each separated into two parts by a partition which divides it into two communicating portions, and two adjacent metal bands carried on pulleys having vertical axes extending between the heated plate and the said floating platen structure whereby to press the two inside flaps of the seam which have been preliminarily separated by means of an appropriate member, against the inner face of the portions of connected fabric. One advantage of the machine of the invention and the particular manner of distribution of the said fluids is that these are able to pass right through the fabric involved in pressing. Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams which is able to guarantee a perfect pressing of the flaps in the open position. One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine formed according to the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view from above of part of the flap pressing apparatus; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-section of the flap pressing apparatus; Figure 4 is another schematic perspective view of the machine of the present invention, seen from a different angle; Figures 5 and 6 are further perspective views of part of the machine of the invention; and Figure 7 is a perspective view from the rear of the machine of the invention. With reference now to the drawings the machine for folding and pressing open the internal flaps of seams essentially comprises a heated pressing plate generally indicated 1 with which cooperates a platen structure 2 maintained in position, as will be specified better hereinbelow, by rotating locating members for which reason the said platen structure is referred to as a "floating" platen structure. The said heated pressing plate 1 is rigidly connected, by means of a double acting cylinder 3 having a horizontal axis, to a suitable frame 4 arranged downstream of a sewing machine 5 able to effect different types of stitching contemporaneously and of a type known per se. The said heated pressing plate has a series of holes communicating with three chambers formed within its interior and disposed adjacent one another in a horizontal sense. Of these chambers, the two end ones 6 and 7 are supplied, respectively, with steam and with cold air, whilst the middle chamber 8 is connected to a suction system (not shown). The said floating platen structure is positioned facing the said series of holes and, in turn, has a corresponding series of holes 9 communicating with two internal chambers 10 and 11. These latter are each partitioned into two parts by means of a semi-bulkhead 12 which divides it into two distinct parts; more precisely the outer portions of the two chambers face the portions of the heated plate 1 from which come blown steam and blown cold air respectively, whilst the inner or adjacent parts of the two chambers face the suction portion of the said pressing plate 1. Between this heated pressing plate 1 and the floating platen structure 2, moreover, slide two metal bands 13 carried on vertical axis pulleys 14 and surface treated in such a way as to prevent an excessive wear and possible seizing phenomena. These two metal bands 13 are spaced from one another by a sufficient distance that, during sliding, they do not interfere with the series of holes formed in the plate 1 and in the floating platen structure 2. The machine in question further comprises members 15 for the advancement of the sewn fabric, constituted by two belts 16 and 17, in siliconised fabric and coupled to silicone rubber sections capable of resisting high temperatures. These belts are carried on two series of pulleys, respectively 18 and 19, lying in the same vertical plane and having horizontal sections extending above and below the fabric to be fed between the plate 1 and the floating platen structure 2. It is appropriate to state that, of the pulleys which carry the upper belt 16, the two end ones closest to the sewing machine are pivotally mounted to a single arm 20 mounted on a horizontal axis spindle capable of partial rotation. In this way it is possible to vary the disposition of the terminal section of the belt itself with respect to the output plane of the fabric from the sewing machine. Moreover, the pulleys which support the ends of the two belts opposite the said end are inserted into appropriate convex portions formed in corresponding positions on the said floating platen structure stabilising it in a longitudinal sense. The floating platen structure is maintained in contact with the heated plate 1 by the action of two pairs of wheels, respectively 21 and 22, which press on corresponding freely rotatable rollers suitably projecting through appropriate slots in the surface of the structure itself. Each of the said two pairs of wheels is mounted on an inclined rotating axis 23 and driven by means of bevel gears from a horizontal shaft 24 supported by appropriate bushes 25, to the end of which shaft is fixed a pinion 26 driven by a chain 27. These horizontal shafts, in particular, are able to describe an axial movement by the action of penumatic cylinders 28 which move appropriate brackets fixed on the shafts themselves. At the end of the said floating platen structure 2, facing towards the sewing machine 5, there is positioned a separator member 29 operable to cause the opposite parts of the excess flaps of the seam made on the fabric 15 to open and fold back. In practice these flaps, after having been separated, are tightly engaged by the pair of metal bands 13 which draw them, with the aid of the pair of belts 16 ans 17, between the heated plate 1 and the floating platen structure 2. These flaps, maintained folded by the said metal bands, are subjected first to a steam treatment and subsequently are traversed, in correspondence with the portions adjacent the seam, by a flow of an air-steam mixture coming from the chamber 10 of the floating platen structure and sucked by the chamber 8 of the said plate 1. Subsequently, the said folded flaps are traversed by a flow of hot air coming from the longitudinally inner portion of the chamber 11 and also sucked by the chamber 8 mentioned above and, finally, by a flow of cold air coming from the chamber 7 adjacent this latter. From what is explained above and from observation of the various Figures of the attached drawings the great functionality and practicality of use which characterises the machine for folding and pressing inner flaps of seams constituting the present invention are evident. In particular, the presence of the floating platen structure 2 makes it possible to press seams in fabric tubes, such as sleeves as well as pressing flaps of seams of fabric sewn open.

Claims: 1. A machine for folding and pressing open the inside flaps of seams, which can be fitted downstream of a sewing machine for making up textiles, characterised in that it comprises a heated plate (1) in the body of which are formed separate chambers (6, 7, 8) connected to a steam generator, a suction system and a cold air blower respectively and communicating with the front of the plate itself through a series of holes facing which are a corresponding series of holes (9) in the facing surface of a floating platen structure (2) having two chambers (10, 11) each separated into two parts by a partition (12) which divides it into two distinct portions, and two adjacent metal bands (13) carried on pulleys (14) having vertical axes running between the heated plate (1) and the said floating platen structure (2) whereby to press the two inside flaps of the seam which have been preliminarily separated by means of an appropriate member, against the inner face of the portions of connected fabric. 2. A machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams, according to Claim 1, characterised in that the said heated plate (1) with which the said floating platen structure (2) cooperates is maintained in position by rotating locating members (19, 21, 22) the said heated plate (1) being rigidly connected by means of a double acting cylinder (3) with an horizontal axis to a suitable frame arranged downstream of a sewing machine (5) able to sew different types of seams contemporaneously. 3. A machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the said heated plate has series of holes communicating with three chambers (6, 7, 8) formed within it and adjacently located in a horizontal sense, the two end chambers (6, 7) of the row being supplied, respectively, with steam and with cold air, whilst the intermediate chamber (8) is connected to a suction system. 4. A machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams according to any of Claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the said floating platen structure (2) is positioned opposite the said series of holes and is provided with a corresponding series of holes (9) communicating with two internal chambers (10, 11) which are separated by means of respective partition walls (12) into two distinct portions the outer portions of which face the parts of the heated plate (1) from which steam and hot air are blown respectively, whilst the inner portions of the same two chambers face the suction chamber (8) of the plate (1). 5. A machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams, according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that the said two metal bands (13) running between the said heated plate (1) and the floating platen structure (2) and carried on the said pulleys (14) having vertical axes, are surface treated in such a way as to prevent excessive wear and possible seizure phenomena; these two metal bands (13) further being spaced from one another by a sufficient distance so that during running they do not interfere with the series of holes formed in the pressing plate (1) or in the floating platen structure (2). 6. A machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams, according to any preceding claim, characterised in that it includes members (16, 17) for causing advancement of the sewn fabric, constituted by two belts (16, 17) made of siliconised fabric and joined to silicone rubber sections capable of resisting high temperatures; these belts (16, 17) being carried by two series of pulleys (18, 19) lying in the same vertical plane and having horizontal passes extending above and below the fabric to be supplied between the pressing plate (1) and the floating platen (2). 7. A machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams according to Claim 6, characterised in that the pulleys (18) which carry the upper belt (16) include a pair of pulleys (18) at the end closest to the sewing machine (5) which are rotatable at the end of a common arm mounted at the other end on a shaft having a horizontal axis allowing it to turn to bring the said pulleys towards or away from the cooperating belt (17), and at least one pulley at the opposite end which extends into an appropriate convexly curved portion formed in the said floating platen structure (2) thereby stabilising it in a longitudinal sense. 8. A machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that the said floating platen structure (2) is maintained in contact with the heated pressing plate (1) by the action of two pairs of wheels (21, 22) which press on corresponding freely rotatable rollers projecting through appropriate slots in the surface of the platen structure (2), each of the said two pairs of wheels (21, 22) being mounted on an inclined shaft (23) driven, via a bevel gear, by a horizontal shaft (24) supported in bushes (25) to the end of which is fixed a pinion (26) driven by a chain (27). 9. A machine for folding and pressing the inner flaps of seams according to Claim 8, characterised in that the said horizontal shafts (24) can perform an axial movement under the action of respective pneumatic cylinders (28) which move appropriate brackets fixed to the shafts (24).

Inventors: CARTABBIA, GIOVANNI
Applicants: MACPI S.P.A.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: D05B81
IPC codes: D06F71, D05B81