Patent DE-19860770-A1 (DE)
Title: Embroidery of for example large curtain fabrics on a large embroidery machine is through the insertion of padding cords or other guides at the upper and lower bonded edges
Inventor: ABEGGLEN HANS
IPC: D05C9/12
Filed: 1998-12-30
Abstract: To feed and guide large fabrics, at large embroidery machine, the upper and lower edge of the fabric are brought together by guides (3) and bonded together, and the guides secured to the upper and lower fabric edges in a release attachment. In a second stage the guides (3) are carried by holders (4) to the upper and lower roller stretch cloths (5) to be spread apart, and the fabric is embroidered. After the fabric is embroidered the tension on the fabric is relaxed, and the embroidered fabric is taken from the machine, the guides (3) are removed and, at the same time, the upper and lower edges of the new fabric are secured for the sequence to be repeated.  The guide (3) is a padding cord, laid within a hollow seam. The fabric edge with the inserted padding cord (3) is pushed into a hollow profile groove (4), extending over the machine length at least in sections. The grooves are at the inner end of each stretch cloth, towards the machine. The groove (4) is open at one side and is aligned downwards at the upper stretch cloth (5) and upwards at the lower stretch cloth. The fabric is passed into the embroidery machine as a continuous curtain into the tensioner stage, to be spread out and tensed by the drive of the fabric rollers (6). The holders (4) are directly at the fabric rollers (6) to tense the fabric by roller rotation or spreading. The fabric is fed into the embroidery machine automatically, without manual effort, with the fabric rollers acting on to the padding cords or the material to spread it out and move it through. Padding rods (3) can be used, in sections, stitched into the upper and lower fabric edges at intervals. The hollow seam is formed by a previous sewing stage with sewing machines over and under the entry side into the machine. The sewing machines form a chainstitch, which can be opened easily at the outlet from the machine and the sewing threads recovered for further use. After embroidering, the hollow seams are severed from the fabric. The hollow seams can be formed by a light welding or contact bonding, or an adhesive which can be separated easily. The padding cord (3) can be continuous so that, on removal from the embroidered fabric, it is returned to the start point. The guides can also be slides, hooks or needle hooks. The guides, attached to the fabric, move within the hollow profile holders (4). The lower stretch cloth (5) is fitted with clamps or tensioners, to grip the fabric section hanging down.  An Independent claim is included for a large embroidery machine with a guide profile (4) for the fabric guides at the upper stretch cloth (5) as an entry and movement guide along the whole length of the embroidery machine, to take and hold the fabric guides as they move along the machine. Preferred Features: The drive is applied by a friction grip on the fabric, with the upper and lower fabric sections being carried in a synchronized movement. The fabric drive can also be through cogwheels or needle rollers, or a wire cable fitted with balls which grip a deflection roller in a positive fit as the cable moves round.