Apparatus for mounting and removing the supporting frame of a quilt or the like in sewing machines

Abstract: A pair of left and right guide rails (10) and a pair of left and right supporting rails (16,17) which support the supporting frame (8) of a quilt or the like, are provided with a pivot (14) on one side of the sewing machine (5) to permit circular movement. These rails are parallel to each other. A moving member (20) is provided along the guide rails, and this moving member is moved by a moving apparatus (23). An anchoring member (34,35) is also provided to anchor the member (20) to the supporting frame (8). Furthermore, an apparatus (19) for moving up and down, which allows the guide rails and the supporting rails to move in a circular manner using the pivot (14) as a fulcrum, is provided to anchor the anchoring members of the supporting frame or to release the anchoring.

Description: The present Invention relates to an apparatus for mounting and removing the supporting frame of a quilt or the like in sewing machines, in which a supporting frame to support a guilt or the like, which will be sewn by a sewing machine, is sent to the sewing machine and placed in a predetermined position relative to the sewing machine, and in which the quilt or the like, which has been sewn by the sewing machine, is removed with the support frame from the sewing machine. In a conventional machine for sewing quilts, when the supporting frame of a quilt is mounted and removed, a preparatory worktable is set, with two mounting parts at the up and down steps to mount the supporting frame of the quilt, on the side of the sewing machine. While one quilt supported by the supporting frame is bound by the sewing machine, an operator should support the next quilt by binding it with the other supporting frame on the lower mounting part of the worktable, and mounting it on the upper mounting part of the worktable. When the former quilt has been bound by the sewing machine, the operator should move the quilt with the supporting frame from the sewing machine onto the lower mounting part of the worktable and pick out the next quilt with the supporting frame placed on the upper mounting part of the above-mentioned worktable for mounting onto a predetermined position of the sewing machine. However, there has been a problem in that it requires such effort and time to perform this operation in this way because two operators must stand, one on the right side and one on the left side, and use their hands to handle the supporting frame and mount it on the sewing machine, or remove it from the sewing machine. There is also known a quilting apparatus (US-A-3382 825) having means for interchanging a first and a second holders, requiring a complex system for each holder. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for mounting and removing the supporting frame of a quilt or the like on sewing machines, in which a supporting frame can be rapidly and easily mounted and removed without the manual labor of operators. For that purpose there is provided an apparatus as defined in claim 1. The construction as defined in claim 1 ensures that the supporting frame supporting a quilt or the like can be rapidly and easily mounted on and removed from a sewing machine without the manual labor of operators. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan of an apparatus for mounting and removing a supporting frame, which is provided with a sewing machine to bind a quilt according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for mounting and removing the supporting frame in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing an essential portion of the worktable. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of the provision of a supporting rail with a ledge. Fig 5 is a sectional view showing an example of the provision of an auxiliary cylinder with a moving member. Fig.6 is a side view showing the connecting conditions of the anchoring member with an anchor ring. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The accompanying drawings show the embodiments of the present invention. Reference number 1, in the figures, represents a sewing machine used to bind a quilt. The sewing machine 1 is provided with a frame 3 on a pair of left and right Y axis rails 2 and 2, and is provided with a sewing machine head 5 in the upper X axis rails 4 and 4, of the frame 3, and is provided with an metal sewing base portion 7 on the lower X axis rails 6 and 6. The Y rails 2 and 2 are built in the Y axis direction (in the left and right directions in Figs. 1 and 2), while the X axis rails 4 and 4 and 6 and 6 are built in the X axis direction (in the vertical direction on the plane in Fig. 2), which is perpendicular to the Y axis rails 2 and 2. The frame 3 is moved by a driving device on the Y axis (not shown in the figures) along the Y axis rails 2 and 2. The sewing machine head 5 and the metal sewing base portion 7 are moved in synchronical by a driving device on the X axis (not shown in the figures) along the X axis rails 4 and 4, and 6 and 6, respectively. The above-mentioned driving devices on the Y axis and X axis, and the sewing machine head 5 and the metal sewing base portion 7 are controlled during operation by a control unit such as a computer (not shown in the figures) and the quilt W supported by a supporting frame 8 is bound in the desired pattern. The basic construction of a sewing machine 1 for binding a quilt is generally known (disclosed in, for example, Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. 61-32626). Furthermore, reference number 10 represents a guide rail. A pair of guide rails 10 are provided on the right and left sides, and a pair of former and latter ledges 11 and 12 are provided with the guide rails and form a square. The ledge 11 is mounted by a pivot 14 on a base table 13 on which the Y axis rails 2 and 2 have been built. The guide rails 10 and 10 are in parallel with the Y axis rails 2 and 2 in a plane view. The ledges 11 and 12 are provided with a pair of right and left supporting rails 16 and 17 in parallel with the guide rails 10 and 10. The supporting rails 16 and 17 support the supporting frame 8 which slides. One supporting rail 16 can be fixed at a predetermined position on the ledges 11 and 12 by welding, bolts and the like, while another supporting rail 17 can be fixed at any position by penetrating a bolt 18 into the long holes 11a and 12a which are provided on the ledges 11 and 12. It is possible with this construction to adjust the interval between the supporting rails 16 and 17 to the width of the supporting frame 8. A pair of right and left cylinders for moving up and down 19 and 19 (only one apparatus is shown in Fig. 2), are provided between a base table 13 and the ledge 11 to move the guide rails 10 and 10 and the supporting rails 16 and 17 up and down by using the pivot 14 as a fulcrum. In the guide rails 10 and 10 a moving member 20 constructed like a pushcart, with wheels 21 that are mounted on the guide rails 10 and 10, is circularly movable and provided along the guide rails 10 and 10. The moving member 20 pulls the supporting frame 8 of the worktable 22 up to the supporting rails 16 and 17 to allow the supporting frame 8 to slide into the predetermined position, and pushes the supporting frame 8 on the supporting rails 16 and 17 onto the worktable 22, and is operated by a moving apparatus 23. The moving apparatus 23 comprises: a driving motor 24, an axis of rotation 25 which pivots in parallel with the ledge 12 in the back of the ledge 12 (on the right side of Figs. 1 and 2), an axis of rotation 26 which pivots in parallel with the ledge 11 in front of the ledge 11, a transmission mechanism 27 which transmits a rotation of the driving motor 24 to the axis of rotation 25, timing belts 31 and 31 which are wound to timing pulleys 28 and 29, which are provided on the axes of rotation 25 and 26, and are fixed on the moving member 20 with rivets 30. Furthermore, the axis of rotation 25 is rotated by the driving motor 24 so that the moving member 20 can be move along the guide rails 10 and 10 through the timing belts 31 and 31. Auxiliary cylinders 32 and 33 are also provided with the moving member 20. Each cylinder 32 and 33 consists of piston rods 34 and 35 with tops that have anchoring members 34a and 35a formed of hooks. The anchoring members 34a and 35a are anchored to the anchor rings 36 and 37, which are provided with the supporting frame 8 so that the moving member can be connected to the supporting frame 8. One auxiliary cylinder 32 can be fixed at the predetermined position of the moving member 20 with a bolt 38; another auxiliary cylinder 33 can be fixed at any position along the moving member 20 by inserting a bolt 39 into the long hole 20a that has been formed in the moving member 20. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the width to locate the auxiliary cylinders 32 and 33 and to locate the anchor rings 36 and 37. The worktable 22 consists of one work plate 41, several supporting bars 42 (four in the figure), and several pushing-up cylinders 43 (four in the figure). The supporting bars 42 pivot on small axes 45 on two mounting members 44 which are vertically provided on the right and left sides of the work plate 41, and are capable of moving upwards from the horizontal positions. Moreover, the supporting bars 42 make up the supporting frame 8, which is raised from the work plate 41 by the push-up cylinders 43, rises and passes, then comes down horizontally to support the supporting frame 8 after the supporting frame 8 has been passed. The supporting bars 42, in the figure, are constructed to come down by the weight thereof, but can be constructed to come down horizontally with springs or the like. The supporting bars 42 are protected from any excessive movement by stoppers 46 which are fixed on the mounting member 44. The front end portions 16a and 17a of the supporting rails 16 and 17 are inclined in the form of an outward opening to continue receiving the supporting frame 8. Next, the mode of operation of an apparatus for mounting and removing the supporting frame of a quilt or the like from a sewing machine, which is conducted in the above-mentioned way, according to the present invention is explained. To support a quilt W on the supporting from 8 as in the conventional way, the supporting frame 8 is mounted onto the work plate 41 of the worktable 22. When the quilt W is supported on the supporting frame 8, the push-up cylinder 43 is expanded to raise the supporting frame 8. After the supporting frame 8 rises, the supporting bars 42, which are pushed by the supporting frame 8, move upwards and make the supporting frame 8 pass at the upper level, thereafter coming down horizontally. Since the push-up cylinders 43 are immediately reduced after expanding to raise the supporting frame 8, the supporting frame 8 lowers on the supporting bars 42 which come down horizontally and is supported by the supporting bars 42. In case the supporting frame 8 supported on the supporting bars 42 is mounted on the sewing machine 1, the auxiliary cylinders 32 and 33 are reduced and the moving apparatus 23 is operated to move the moving member 20 forward on the worktable 22. Furthermore, a cylinder for moving up and down 19 is expanded to raise the guide rails 10 and 10 and the supporting rails 16 and 17 by using the pivot 14 as a fulcrum. After the auxiliary cylinders 32 and 33 are expanded to move the anchoring members 34a and 35a directly above the anchor rings 36 and 37, the cylinder for moving up and down 19 is slightly reduced to anchor the according members 34a and 35a to the anchor rings 36 and 37, and to connect the moving member 20 with the supporting frame 8. Finally, the auxiliary cylinders 32 and 33 are retracted and the moving apparatus 23 is moved backwards with the moving member 20 so that the supporting frame 8 is pulled from the supporting bars 42 to the supporting rails 16 and 17 and slides on the supporting rails 16 and 17. Moreover, the cylinder for moving up and down 19 is reduced to lower the guide rails 10 and 10 and the supporting rails 16 and 17 by using the pivot 14 as a fulcrum, and to mount the supporting frame 8 into position in which the quilt can be bound. After the above operation, as is generally known, the sewing machine 1 can be operated to bind a quilt W supported on the supporting frame 8. In addition, to remove the quilt W, which has been bound, from the sewing machine 1, the moving apparatus 23 is operated to move the moving member 20 forward from the worktable 22 and the auxiliary cylinders 32 and 33 are expanded to push and move the quilt W with the supporting frame 8 from the supporting rails 16 and 17 to the work plate 41. Thereafter, the cylinder for moving up and down 19 is slightly expanded to raise the supporting frame 16, 17 or the like, the anchoring members 34a and 35a are released from the anchor rings 36 and 37 to reduce the auxiliary cylinders 32 and 33. While one quilt W is sewn by a sewing machine, the next quilt W is supported, by an operator, with the other supporting frame 8 on the work plate 41, and is mounted on the supporting bars 42. Therefore, if the binding operation is continued, it becomes necessary to once again expand the cylinder for moving up and down 19 and mount the supporting frame 8 of the supporting bars 42 in the position where binding is possible in the described way. The embodiments, except for the above-mentioned, and technical matters will be described below. (1) In the figure, the supporting rails 16 and 17 are constructed to be moved up and down with the guide rails 10 and 10 by the same cylinder for moving up and down 19 using the same pivot 14 as a fulcrum. However, they can be constructed to be moved up and down by the same or a different cylinder by using the other pivot as a fulcrum. (2) When the supporting rails 16 and 17, and the guide rails 10 and 10 are mounted by different pivots 14 it is preferable for the axes of these pivots to correspond with each other; however, it is possible to operate the apparatus even if the axes of the pivot have shifted to some extent. (3) The apparatus for mounting and removing according to the present invention, can be automatically controlled by the control unit and can be manually controlled by an operator. (4) As shown in the embodiment, the supporting rail 17 and the auxiliary 33 are mounted and adjusted with bolts 18 and 39. They can be adjusted to the left and right (in the X axis direction) by a moving means such as a screw, a wire rope, a cylinder or the like. Also, it is preferable for the upper mounting member 44 in Fig. 1, to be adjustable and move to the left and right as in the supporting rail 17 and the auxiliary cylinder 33. (5) As the case may be, the supporting frame 8 of the work plate 41 can be pulled to the supporting rails 16 and 17 to mount in a binding position, and a quilt W which has been bound can be pushed onto the supporting bars 42. (6) As shown in the embodiment, an apparatus for mounting and removing is provided with the sewing machine to bind a quilt, and it can also be provided with the other kinds of sewing machines such as a sewing machines for embroidery. (7) The anchoring members 34a and 35a can be directly provided with a moving member 20 without the auxiliary cylinders 32 and 33. (8) It is possible to use a magnet or a hook for the anchoring members 34a and 35a. (9) As shown in the embodiment, in the sewing machine 1, the sewing machine head 5 and the metal sewing base portion 7 are synchronized with each other, both longitudinally and transversely, and are moved to bind a quilt W fixed to a predetermined position. The supporting frame 8 which supports a quilt W, can be mounted on a movable table so that the quilt W can be moved between the sewing machine head 5 and the metal sewing base portion 7. The apparatus for mounting and removing can be provided with the sewing machine.

Claims: An apparatus for mounting and removing the supporting frame of a quilt or the like in sewing machines, characterised in that it comprises: a pair of mutually parallel left and right guide rails (10), of which one end is provided with a pivot, on one side of a sewing machine, which allows for circular movement of the guide rails (10) using the pivot (14) as a fulcrum, a pair of left and right supporting rails (16, 17), of which one end is provided with a pivot, said supporting rails being provided with another pivot as a fulcrum, allowing them to move in a circular manner, being parallel to the guide rails, and supporting the supporting frame for moving up and down, which makes the guide rails and the supporting rails move in a circular fashion using each pivot as a fulcrum, and makes the guide rails move up and down, a moving apparatus (23), which moves the moving member along the pair of guide rails; and anchoring members (34,35), which are provided with the moving member, and anchor the moving member to the supporting frame. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising cylinders (19) for moving up and down said guide rails (10) and supporting rails (16, 17).

Inventors: IWASE YUKIO, IWASE, YUKIO
Applicants: PRINCE CORP, PRINCE CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: D05B11
IPC codes: D05B11, D05B39, B65G47