Apparatus for making preset-size fabric cloth articles, without generating structural stress in the fabric material

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for making preset-size fabric cloth articles, without generating structural stress in the fabric material. The apparatus comprises a supporting construction (2) for supporting a carpet element (3) for arranging thereon at least a fabric cloth of a set size, downstream of which is arranged a cutting carpet or belt (4), thereon operates a cutting head (50), controlled by a control unit for controlling the cutting belt (4) displacement. Upstream of the fabric cloth receiving carpet or belt (3) is provided a fabric supply assembly (5), the fabric being withdrawn by a fabric bobbin (20).

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for making preset-size fabric cloth articles, without generating structural stress in the fabric material. As is known, a very important problem in the cloth article making field is that of properly cutting the fabric material, which cutting operation must be performed by means of automatic apparatus which usually comprise a horizontal cutting bed. In these apparatus, it is necessary to arrange the fabric cloth articles to be cut so as to prevent structural stress from occurring in the fabric material, either in the weft or in the warp direction, which stress may permanently strain the pieces being cut, as the structural stress ends. Prior solutions to the above mentioned problem have been found as unsatisfactory to solve said problem even if comparatively complex methods have been adopted. The document US-A-5 134 911 discloses an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned problems, by providing an apparatus for making preset-size fabric cloth articles, without generating any structural stress in the fabric material, which allows to automatically carry out the transfer of the cloth articles made from a bobbin fabric material. Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which has a very high operating speed so as to provide a substantially continuous type of operation. A further object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which is very reliable and safe in operation, can be easily made starting from easily available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint. According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an apparatus for making preset-size fabric cloth articles, according to claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following disclosure of a preferred; though not exclusive, embodiment of an apparatus for making fabric cloth articles, of preset size, without generating structural stress in the fabric material, and being illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view illustrating the apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevation side view of the apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 3 is a further side elevation view illustrating the fabric material supplying assembly included in the subject apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the number references of the figures of the accompanying drawings, the apparatus for making preset-size fabric cloth articles, without generating structural stress in the fabric material, according to the present invention, and which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a supporting structure, on which are arranged a supporting carpet or belt 3 and a cutting carpet or belt, indicated by the reference number 4. Upstream of the structure is provided a fabric material supplying assembly, the fabric material being withdrawn from a fabric material bobbin or roll, generally indicated by the reference number 5. The fabric material supplying assembly 5 comprises a unwinding web device 10 comprising a web 11, entrained about three rollers, respectively indicated by the reference numbers 12, 13 and 14 the axes of which are arranged according to the apex points of a triangle. At least one of the roller, and preferably the roller 14, is rotatively driven about its rotary axis, so as to drive the belt 11 along a driving path, defined by the rollers 12, 13 and 14. More specifically, the belt 11 causes, by adhesion, a progressive unwinding or withdrawing of a fabric material 20, supplied by a fabric material bobbin, supported on the top leg of the path of the web or belt 11, and being held in its set position by a side supporting roller 17. Near the roller 14, which constitutes the driven roller and the fabric material 20 exiting roller, a further idle roller 21 can be provided, which is swingably mounted so as to change the winding angle of the fabric material about the roller 14, in order to improve the entraining or driving effect of the belt or web on the fabric material. The winding device 10 is preferably assembled on a pair of guides 25 and 26, defined by a bed 27 allowing to transversely display the fabric bobbin 20, in order to align the selvages of the fabric material with respect to the subsequent belts 3 and 4. A supplying bobbin 30 is moreover provided, for supplying a top belt or web, preferably made of a polythene material, for covering the fabric material arranged on the supporting belt 3, as well as a further bobbin 31, supported by the bed or base 27, which supplies a web, preferably of a paper material, provided for arranging under the fabric material 20 so as to provide an optimum cutting. At the outlet of the supply assembly is moreover provided a cutting assembly, allowing to arrange the fabric cloth articles with a set or desired length. In particular, the fabric material cloth article, preset in a desired length, is arranged on the presetting or supporting belt 3, so as to eliminate any stress on the fabric fibres, either in the weft or in the warp direction, thereby preventing the fabric material from straining or deforming. The fabric supporting belt 3 is specifically designed to transfer, as controlled by a suitable controlling unit, the fabric cloth article supported thereby to the subsequent cutting belt 4, where a cutting head, indicated by the reference number 50, operates, said cutting head cutting the fabric material according to preset contours, by exploiting a combination of the cross displacement of the cutting head 50 and the longitudinal displacement performed by the cutting belt. In particular, the apparatus is designed to prearrange the fabric material in a less period of time than the cutting time, thereby, upon cutting according to the preset contours, the fabric material or cloth article will be already properly arranged in a ready condition on the prearranging and supporting belt. Thus, any stress localized on the fabric material will be dissipated, so as to prevent the apparatus operation to be interrupted. Upon ending the cutting operation according to the preset contour or template, the apparatus will be ready for automatically supplying to the cutting assembly a further or new cloth article or piece. In particular, the driving of the cutting head, as well as that of the belts, is controlled by a control unit, which controls the overall operation of the apparatus and, in particular, will automatically drive the several movements, according to preset paths so as to provide the desired cutting of the fabric, according to preset contours. The control unit, in particular, is also coupled to the unwinding belt motor, so as to properly synchronize the unwinding speed of the fabric material 20 from the fabric material bobbin, so as to prevent undesired stresses from occurring. Moreover, in order to increase the adhesion binding between the belt and the fabric material, known types of control means can be moreover provided, comprising, for example, bristles or suction means. In particular, the operation cycle of the apparatus provides the unwinding of the fabric material from the bobbin 20, and the subsequent arranging of the cloth pieces, having the set length, on the supporting or prearranging belt 3. Together with the fabric material 20, to the belt 3 are moreover supplied the polythene belts or webs as well as the paper web. During the supplying of the fabric material 20, the fabric selvage is automatically aligned by transversely displacing the unwinding device 10. After having arranged the fabric material cloth piece on the belt 3, it is conveyed to the cutting belt, which performs the cutting operation according to preset contours, by exploiting a combination of the longitudinal displacement of the belt 4 and of the cross displacement of the cutting head 50. At the end of the cutting operation, performed according to the set contours or templates, the above disclosed operating cycle is automatically repeated, by bringing a new cloth piece on the prearranging belt 3, whereas the cloth piece previously arranged thereon will be displaced to the cutting belt. From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects. In particular, the fact is to be pointed out that an apparatus has been provided for making preset size fabric material cloth pieces which is specifically adapted to operate in a continuous operating cycle for suitably prearranging the cloth article or pieces, without generating structural stress in the fabric material, thereby performing very accurate cuts in the fabric material. The invention as disclosed is susceptible to several variations and modifications, all of which will come within the scope of the invention. Moreover, all of the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

Claims: An apparatus (1) for making preset-size fabric cloth articles, without generating structural stress in the fabric material, said apparatus comprising a supporting structure (2) for supporting a belt (3) thereon at least a fabric cloth can be arranged, of preset size, downstream of which is arranged a cutting belt (4), thereon a cutting head (50) operates, said cutting head (50) being controlled by a control unit for controlling the displacement of the cutting belt, characterized in that upstream of said fabric cloth article supporting belt (3) being moreover provided a fabric material supplying assembly, said fabric material being withdrawn from a fabric material bobbin (5), in that said fabric material supplying assembly comprises a web unwinding device (10), including a web element (11) entrained on three rollers (12,13,14), arranged with the axes thereof at the apex points of a triangle, at least one (14) of said rollers (12,13, 14) being a driven roller, and in that said fabric material bobbin (5) is supported on a top leg of said web unwinding device (10) and being restrained by a side supporting roller (17). An apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that in use of said apparatus said preset-size cloth article or piece is arranged on said supporting belt (3) in a time less than the cutting time of the fabric material of said cloth piece on said cutting belt (4). An apparatus according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the unwinding speed of said web (11) is synchronized with the advancing or feeding speed of said supporting belt (3). An apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that said supporting belt (3) is adapted to provide a rest period of time for the cut cloth piece, so as to eliminate therefrom possible stresses. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said' web unwinding device (10) is slidably mounted on guides (25,26), to be arranged along a direction substantially crossing the web unwinding direction. An apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting of said fabric material according to the preset contours is performed by a combination of a transversal displacement of said cutting head (50) and a longitudinal displacing of said cutting belt (4).

Inventors: GIACHETTI FRANCO, GIACHETTI, FRANCO, GIACHETTI, FRANCO, C/O I.M.A. S.P.A.
Applicants: IMA SPA, IMA S.P.A.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B26F1
IPC codes: B26F1