Patent Abstract:
A computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system integrated with a processing device ( 50 ), and positioning method thereof, fixedly disposing at least one processing device ( 50 ) at one side of the sewing head ( 41 ) of a computer-controlled sewing machine ( 40 ); movement of the processing device ( 50 ) is controlled by a processing program of the computer-controlled sewing machine ( 40 ); a relative distance is provided between the processing head ( 51 ) of the processing device ( 50 ) and the sewing head ( 41 ) to give the movement range of a conveying mechanism ( 20 ) to extend to covered positions below the sewing head ( 41 ) and the processing head ( 51 ), such that a fixing mechanism ( 30 ) is moved and feeds below the sewing head ( 41 ) and the processing head ( 51 ); and presetting a positioning distance between two positioning parts ( 33, 34 ) of the fixing mechanism ( 30 ) and the relative distances in the processing program, thus automatically determining the feed distance of the fixing mechanism ( 30 ) between the sewing head ( 41 ) and the processing head ( 51 ), improving sewing and processing precision and production efficiency, and reducing the size and cost of the device.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a positioning system and method for a computer-controlled sewing machine, and more particularly to a computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system integrated with a processing device, and positioning method thereof 
         [0003]    Related Prior Art 
         [0004]    The computer-controlled sewing machine has found wide application in industry due to its improved processing accuracy and production efficiency. The computer-controlled sewing machine includes a clamping device to fix a to-be-processed object to a plane, and then the sewing head of the sewing machine performs sewing on the to-be-processed object according to the sewing program set in the computer. 
         [0005]    It is to be noted that, prior to being made into the final product, the to-be-processed object has to go through multiple processing steps, such as application of cement, holes punching, inserting of decorative or functional eyelets, and etc, which are the steps need to be performed at specific positions on a sewing machine 
         [0006]    The inserting of eyelets, for example, is a processing operation commonly used in industry, and is usually performed by manual labor, namely, the to-be-sewed object is manually moved to a work position below the eyelet inserting head, and then the processing step of inserting of eyelets is performed. The existing computer-controlled eyelet inserting machine is only capable of automatically performing eyelet inserting process by using computer program. 
         [0007]    Currently, the above processing steps are carried out separately by respective independent processing machines, and each of the independent processing machines has to be equipped with a clamping device to clamp the to-be-processed object. For example, between the sewing step and the eyelet inserting step, the to-be-processed object must be taken off from the clamping device of the processing machine used in the prior processing step and then manually moved to and clamped by the clamping device of the processing machine used in the next processing step. The movement of the to-be-process object between processing steps is likely to cause dislocation of the to-be-processed object, consequently leading to reduction in processing accuracy. 
         [0008]    Therefore, a computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system integrated with a processing device, and positioning method thereof is necessary to integrate all the above processing into one, wherein a computer program in a design phase integrates the operation instructions of all the processing steps. The computerized sewing is integrated with other equipments, such as the eyelet inserting mechanism, and uses one and the same clamping device to clamp the to-be-processed object when performing the above processing steps, and all the processing steps are controlled by one and the same computer program. 
         [0009]    The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The present invention is aimed at providing a computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system integrated with a processing device, and positioning method thereof, wherein at least one processing device is fixed at one side of the sewing head of the computer-controlled sewing machine The processing device is controlled by the processing program of the computer-controlled sewing machine, movement of the processing device is controlled by a processing program of the computer-controlled sewing machine; a relative distance is provided between the processing head of the processing device and the sewing head to give the movement range of a conveying mechanism to extend to covered positions below the sewing head and the processing head, such that a fixing mechanism is moved and feeds below the sewing head and the processing head; and presetting a positioning distance between two positioning parts of the fixing mechanism and the relative distances in the processing program, thus automatically determining the feed distance of the fixing mechanism between the sewing head and the processing head, improving sewing and processing precision and production efficiency, and reducing the size and cost of the device. 
         [0011]    A computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system integrated with a processing device, in accordance with the present invention comprises: a work platform including a top surface, an opposite bottom surface, and a positioning mechanism disposed on the top surface; a conveying mechanism disposed at one side of the work platform, and including a first slide rail assembly extending in a direction X and a second slide rail assembly extending in a direction Y, a clamping device being disposed at one end of the second slide rail assembly facing the work platform; a computer-controlled sewing machine disposed on the work platform and including a processing program, and further including a sewing head which is disposed above the top surface of the work platform; at least one processing device disposed on the work platform, and including a processing head, a relative distance being provided between the processing head and the sewing head and located along the work platform; and a fixing mechanism serving to fix an object to be sewn, and including a rod extending in the direction X and a support plate which has a lateral edge fixed to the rod, the rod being provided at two ends thereof with a first positioning part and a second positioning portion, and a positioning distance being provided between the first and second positioning portions; wherein the positioning mechanism, the conveying mechanism, the clamping device and the processing device are electrically connected to the computer-controlled sewing machine and controlled to operate by the processing program, the processing program controls the positioning mechanism to fix the fixing mechanism to the work platform and make the clamping device selectively clamp the first positioning part or the second positioning portion, and the fixing mechanism is driven by the conveying mechanism to move on the work platform, so that the processing program is able to calculate a movement distance of the fixing mechanism between the sewing head or the processing head by using the positioning distance and the relative distance. 
         [0012]    A positioning method of the computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system is used in the sewing operation and the processing procedures integrated with the sewing operation, and comprises: a step of defining the relative distance including: locating the processing device in a position which is precisely defined and located at a distance from the sewing head of the computer-controlled sewing machine, defining a distance between the processing head and the sewing head along the work platform as the relative distance, and presetting the relative distance in the processing program of the computer-controlled sewing machine; a step of defining the positioning distance including: presetting the first positioning part and the second positioning part on the rod of the fixing mechanism, defining a distance between the first and second positioning parts as the positioning distance, presetting the positioning distance in the processing program of the computer-controlled sewing machine; a step of positioning in sewing-operation including: using the clamping device to clamp the first positioning part of the fixing mechanism, abutting the fixing mechanism against the support bracket, moving, by the conveying mechanism, the fixing mechanism to a position below the sewing head; and a step of positioning in processing procedures including: sending, by the processing program, an instruction to the conveying mechanism to make the clamping device clamp against the fixing mechanism when the processing program determines the positioning distance with respect to the relative distance, finding coordinates where the relative distance and the positioning distance are equal, so that, based on the coordinates, the fixing mechanism is moved from the position below the sewing head to a position below the processing head to perform processing procedures. 
         [0013]    The step of positioning in sewing-operation and the step of positioning in processing procedures can be swapped, there is a method for changing the position of the fixing mechanism between the step of positioning in sewing-operation and the step of positioning in processing procedures, the method for changing the position of the fixing mechanism including: 
         [0014]    turning on the positioning mechanism, when the clamping device clamps one of the first and second positioning portions, to fix the fixing mechanism to the work platform; 
         [0015]    making the clamping device release the one of the first and second positioning portions; 
         [0016]    moving, by the conveying mechanism, the clamping device in the direction Y to release from the fixing mechanism, moving the clamping device in the direction X to another one of the first and second positioning portions, moving the clamping device in the direction Y to the another one of the first and second positioning portions; 
         [0017]    making the clamping device clamp the another one of the first and second positioning portions, making the positioning mechanism stop working, so that the fixing mechanism is allowed to be driven by the clamping device and the conveying mechanism to move on the work platform. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the computer-controlled sewing machine of the present invention integrated with an eyelet inserting device; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  shows the structure of the clamping device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart view showing the positioning method of the computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4-1-4-4  are illustrative views showing the movement of the clamping device of the computer-controlled sewing machine of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0022]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
             
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Work platform 10 
                 top surface 101 
               
               
                 bottom surface 102 
                 positioning mechanism 103 
               
               
                 electromagnet 11 
                 magnetic surface 111 
               
               
                 conveying mechanism 20 
                 first slide rail assembly 21 
               
               
                 second slide rail assembly 22 
                 clamping device 201 
               
               
                 support bracket 23 
                 piston motor 24 
               
               
                 link rod 241 
                 hook 25 
               
               
                 fixing mechanism 30 
                 rod 31 
               
               
                 support plate 32 
                 first positioning part 33 and a 
               
               
                 positioning protrusion 331 
                 second positioning part 34 
               
               
                 positioning protrusion 341 
               
               
                 computer-controlled sewing machine 40 
                 sewing head 41 
               
               
                 processing device 50 
                 processing head 51 
               
               
                 direction X 
                 direction Y 
               
               
                 step S1 of defining the relative distance 
               
             
          
           
               
                 step S2 of defining the positioning distance 
               
             
          
           
               
                 step S3 of positioning in sewing-operation 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 step S4 of positioning in processing procedures 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4-4 , a computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system integrated with a processing device, and positioning method thereof is shown. 
         [0025]    The computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system integrated with a processing device in accordance with the present invention comprises: a work platform  10  equipped with a positioning mechanism  103 , a conveying mechanism  20  provided with a clamping device  201 , a fixing mechanism  30 , a computer-controlled sewing machine  40  and at least one processing device  50 . 
         [0026]    The work platform  10  includes a top surface  101  and an opposite bottom surface  102 , and the positioning mechanism  103  is disposed on the top surface  101 . In this embodiment, the positioning mechanism  103  includes two electromagnets  11 , and each of the electromagnets  11  includes a magnetic surface  111  which protrudes out of the top surface  101 . The fixing mechanism  30  includes a rod  31  which is a magnetically attractive metal rod to be attracted to the two electromagnets  11 , so that the fixing mechanism  30  is fixed to the top surface  101  of the work platform  10 . 
         [0027]    The conveying mechanism  20  is disposed at one side of the work platform  10 , and includes a first slide rail assembly  21  extending in a direction X and a second slide rail assembly  22  extending in a direction Y. The clamping device  201  is disposed at one end of the second slide rail assembly  22  facing the work platform  10 . In this embodiment, the clamping device  201  includes a support bracket  23  which is fixed to the end of the second slide rail assembly  22  facing the work platform  10 . A piston motor  24  is provided on the support bracket  23 , and two link rods  241  are disposed at two ends of the piston motor  24  and each has a distal end pivoted to a hook  25 , respectively. 
         [0028]    The computer-controlled sewing machine  40  is disposed on the work platform  10  and uses a processing program to execute sewing operation and relative processing procedures. The computer-controlled sewing machine  40  includes a sewing head  41  which is disposed above the top surface  101  of the work platform  10 . 
         [0029]    The at least one processing device  50  is disposed on the work platform  10 , and includes a processing head  51 . A relative distance is provided between the processing head  51  and the sewing head  41  and located along the work platform  10 . In this embodiment, the at least one processing device  50  is selected from the group consisting of eyelet inserting machine, a cementing application gun and a holes punching hammer Between the processing head  51  of each processing device  50  and the sewing head  41  is provided the relative distance which is located along the work platform  10 . 
         [0030]    The fixing mechanism  30  serves to fix an object to be sewn (not shown), and includes the rod  31  extending in the direction X and a support plate  32  which has a lateral edge fixed to the rod  31 . The rod  31  is provided at two ends thereof with a first positioning part  33  and a second positioning part  34 , and the first positioning part  33  is located corresponding to the support plate  32 . A positioning distance is provided between the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34 . In this embodiment, the first positioning part  33  includes a pair of positioning protrusions  331 , and the second positioning part  34  includes a pair of positioning protrusions  341 . The two link rods  241  are driven by the piston motor  24  to make the hooks  25  release or clamp the positioning protrusions  331 ,  341  of the fixing mechanism  30 , so that the fixing mechanism  30  is abutted against the support bracket  23  and driven by the conveying mechanism  20  to move on the work platform  10  to a position below the sewing head  41  or the processing head  51 . 
         [0031]    The positioning mechanism  103 , the conveying mechanism  20 , the clamping device  201  and the processing device  50  are electrically connected to the computer-controlled sewing machine  40  and controlled to operate by the processing program. The processing program controls the positioning mechanism  103  to fix the fixing mechanism  30  to the work platform  10  and make the clamping device  201  selectively clamp the first positioning part  33  or the second positioning part  34 , and the fixing mechanism  30  is driven by the conveying mechanism  20  to move on the work platform  10 . The processing program can calculate the accurate movement distance of the fixing mechanism  30  between the sewing head  41  or the processing head  51  by using the positioning distance and the relative distance. 
         [0032]    In this embodiment, the positioning distance between the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34  of the fixing mechanism  30  is equal to the relative distance between the processing head  51  of the processing device  50  and the sewing head  41  of the computer-controlled sewing machine  40 , so that position coordinates can be obtained to move the fixing mechanism  30  between the sewing head  41  and the processing head  51 . 
         [0033]    What mentioned above are the structure relations of the main components of the embodiment, for a better understanding of the function and operation of the present invention, reference should be made to the following description when taken into conjunction with  FIGS. 1 to 4-4 . 
         [0034]    The positioning method of the computer-controlled sewing machine positioning system in accordance with the present invention is used in the sewing operation and the processing procedures integrated with the sewing operation. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the positioning method includes the following steps: a step S 1  of defining the relative distance, a step S 2  of defining the positioning distance, a step S 3  of positioning in sewing-operation, and a step S 4  of positioning in processing procedures. The step S 3  and the step S 4  can be swapped. There is a method for changing the position of the fixing mechanism between the steps S 3  and S 4 . 
         [0035]    The step S 1  of defining the relative distance includes locating the processing device  50  in a position which is precisely defined and located at a distance from the sewing head  41  of the computer-controlled sewing machine  40 , defining a distance between the processing head  51  and the sewing head  41  along the work platform  10  as a relative distance, and presetting the relative distance in the processing program of the computer-controlled sewing machine  40 . 
         [0036]    The step S 2  of defining the positioning distance includes presetting the first positioning part  33  and the second positioning part  34  on the rod  31  of the fixing mechanism  30 , defining the distance between the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34  as the positioning distance, presetting the positioning distance in the processing program of the computer-controlled sewing machine  40 . 
         [0037]    The step S 3  of positioning in sewing-operation includes using the clamping device  201  to clamp the first positioning part  33  of the fixing mechanism  30 , abutting the fixing mechanism  30  against the support bracket  23 , moving, by the conveying mechanism  20 , the fixing mechanism  30  to a position below the sewing head  41 . 
         [0038]    The step S 4  of positioning in processing procedures includes sending, by the processing program, an instruction to the conveying mechanism  20  to make the clamping device  201  clamp against the fixing mechanism  30  when the processing program determines the positioning distance with respect to the relative distance, finding coordinates where the relative distance and the positioning distance are equal, so that, based on the coordinates, the fixing mechanism  30  can be moved precisely from the position below the sewing head  41  to a position below the processing head  51  to perform processing procedures. 
         [0039]    More specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 4-1 to 4-4 , the method for changing the position of the fixing mechanism includes: moving, when the processing device  50  is turned on, the fixing mechanism  30  to a position where the rod  31  and the positioning mechanism  103  are aligned in a vertical direction, at this moment, the clamping device  201  is clamped against one of the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34  to turn on the positioning mechanism  103 , so that the positioning mechanism  103  produces magnetic force to attract the rod  31 , consequently the fixing mechanism  30  is fixed to the work platform  10 ; then making the piston motor  24  releases the hooks  25 , pivoting the hooks  25  to disengage from one of the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34 , moving, by the conveying mechanism  20 , the clamping device  201  in the direction Y to release from the fixing mechanism  30 , moving the clamping device  201  in the direction X to another one of the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34 , moving the clamping device  201  in the direction Y to the another one of the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34 ; making the clamping device  201  clamp the another one of the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34 , making the positioning mechanism  103  stop attracting the rod  31 , so that the fixing mechanism  30  is released, then the piston motor  24  makes the hooks  25  hook the another one of the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34 , so that the fixing mechanism  30  is abutted against the support bracket  23  of the clamping device  201 , and therefore can be driven by the clamping device  201  and the conveying mechanism  20  to move on the work platform  10 . 
         [0040]    With the abovementioned structure, the fixing mechanism  30  is allowed to move within the offset distance between the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34 , and there is a same offset distance (which is equal to the offset distance between the first and second positioning parts  33 ,  34 ) between the processing device  50  which is fixed on the work platform  10  and the computer-controlled sewing machine  40 . By such arrangements, the coordinates of the position of the sewing head  41  can be converted into the coordinates of the position of the processing head  51 . Therefore, the sewing operation and the relative processing procedures, such as the inserting of eyelets or application of cement, can use the same coordinate system to position the to-be-processed object, which avoids the problems caused when the sewing machine and other processing devices are used separately. 
         [0041]    While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3