JPH0349720B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for processing sheet materials, and more particularly to repetitive, size-based processing operations on fabric that is wound onto a supply roll and then fed. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for carrying out this invention.

In accordance with the present invention, fabrics comprising wool, cotton and synthetic materials have a stretched surface characterized by ruffled surface protrusions that tend to adhere to or entangle protrusions of adjacent fibers or threads of the fabric or web. It is made of fibers with a woven texture. Such features are generally desirable in textiles and prevent the threads that make up the textile from displacing one another within the textile web structure, thereby maintaining structural integrity.

In manufacturing products from such fabrics, it is common for the fabrics to be formed into rolls or scrolls for ease of handling and storage. However, the process of winding the fabric to form a roll or scroll necessarily subjects the fabric to tension resulting in tension, compression, bending, shear, and torsional stresses within the filament forming it. Furthermore, protrusions of yarns or fibers near the surface tend to intertwine or tangle with each other and with protrusions on the surface of adjacent yarns or fibers, and as the fabric is unwound from a roll or roll, Make it difficult to relieve stress. More specifically, protrusions on the adjacent tangled surfaces of the curved interior of each fiber of the wound fabric, which are compressed against each other as the fabric is wound, cause the fabric to unwind from the supply roll. This makes it difficult to separate the tension when the fabric is wound, but when the fabric is wound, the protrusions on closely tangled surfaces on the bent outside of the fibers under tension are pressed against each other, and the fabric is It becomes straight and becomes difficult to separate when it is unwound from the supply roll S in the tangential direction. The additional stress created by the surface protrusions, intertwined with residual internal stresses within the fibers, makes it difficult for the unfolded fabric to relax or contract. Creep is a function of time, so when the stress associated with this phenomenon is removed by unwinding or unrolling the fabric, the fabric relaxes and gradually returns to its normal, stress-free dimensional shape. .

The procedure used to relieve stress in rolled fabrics is to unwind the fabric, spread it out on a support surface, and allow sufficient time to relax or contract to the appropriate size. However, the sheet material is then subjected to cutting, printing or other sizing operations. However, this waiting time results in costly machine downtime. In addition, the provision of specialized tables facilitates the preparation of fabrics during waiting times, which also reduces and adds to the expense of fabric processing operations in the form of additional equipment and increased floor space requirements. The present invention relates to the aforementioned problem.

A device according to the invention for processing a fabric wound on a supply roll includes means forming a support surface on which the fabric is spread, and a device supported so as to move in one direction and the opposite direction in the longitudinal direction of the support surface. fabric spreading means for attaching a roll; means for moving the fabric spreading means in one direction and the opposite direction longitudinally of the support surface; and means for moving the fabric spreader in the longitudinal direction of the support surface. means for unwinding the fabric from the supply roll and transferring it onto the support surface; and means for engaging a corresponding portion of the fabric as the fabric is unwound from the supply roll and transferred onto the support surface. a laterally extending vibrating member disposed between the supply roll and the support surface, the vibrating member being engaged with the fabric as the fabric is unwound from the supply roll and transferred onto the support surface; means for vibrating; a tool for carrying out size-based processing operations on the fabric spread on the support surface; means for moving the fabric in a state where it is being processed. The fabric wound on the supply roll is unwound from the roll and spread out onto the support surface. The portion of the fabric between the supply roll and the support surface vibrates as the fabric is unwound from the supply roll and unrolled onto the support surface to relax the fabric into its normal state. Size-dependent processing operations are immediately performed on the expanded fabric.

In the drawings and the following description, the present invention is illustrated and described in terms of an apparatus for performing dimensional processing operations on fabric wound on a supply roll. Fabrics made of cotton, wool or synthetic materials, for example, consist of webs woven with fibres, or yarns, characterized by elongated surfaces containing irregularly shaped protrusions with a fuzzy weave. The protrusions on these surfaces tend to intertwine or otherwise twist or tangle with adjacent similar protrusions of the same thread or adjacent threads, and in Figure 1, typical threads forming part of a fabric are shown. 1, which is shown in some schematic form and designated generally by the number 10. When the thread bends during the winding or winding operation as shown, compressive and tensile stresses are produced within the thread body on either side of its central axis, as is well known. The tension placed on the fabric during the winding operation creates or can create additional stress within each thread of the fabric. Furthermore, stress is created around the outer surface of each yarn as the projections on the surface engage or become entangled with projections on the surface of the yarn itself or other yarns forming the fabric. These stresses typically result in temporary stretching of the textile web when the web is wound to form a roll or scroll. The apparatus and method of the present invention primarily allows the fabric to be patterned immediately after being unwound from the supply roll without significant risk of creep resulting in size changes that would introduce significant errors in the size or shape of the product. It is concerned with the near-direct removal or relaxation of these stresses in order to bring the fabric into condition for size-based processing operations such as piece cutting or marking operations.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, an embodiment of the present invention and a typical apparatus for use in carrying out the method according to the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 12. The illustrated apparatus is particularly adapted for carrying out size-dependent processing operations on fabrics designated F and contained in supply rolls S. More particularly, the apparatus 12 is adapted to unroll a layered fabric and cut one or more pattern pieces from a single layer of fabric or from a layered structure of multiple layers of fabric arranged in a vertical stack. It is something to do. In the drawings and the following description, apparatus 12 is illustrated and described with respect to a single layer of fabric to be cut, which will hereinafter be referred to as an expanded fabric. However, the term "unfolded fabric" as used herein also includes layers of fabric consisting of a group of individual layers or sheets of fabric arranged in vertical stacks with respect to each other, and is further defined below. The described apparatus and method contemplates the fabrication and processing of multilayered relaxed or normal expanded fabrics.

The illustrated device 12 is particularly adapted for cutting a single part or pattern piece or a plurality of component parts or pattern pieces from a spread fabric, and a table 1 forms a support surface 16 on which the layers of fabric are spread.
4. A main transfer carriage, generally indicated at 18, spans the table 14 and is supported for longitudinal movement in one and the opposite direction relative to the table. A numerically controlled cutting head, generally indicated at 22, which abuts and is supported for movement relative to the main transfer table for cutting layers of fabric, generally indicated at 20; Alternatively, it is responsive to position signals provided by a computerized control. The cutting tool is brought into contact so as to cut the layer of fabric along any line, such as shown at 26, which may be straight or curved as desired when cutting a predetermined portion or pattern piece from the layer of fabric. It is possible to move by
It includes a rotary blade or a cutting wheel that cooperates with the support surface in a cutting state.

A pair of tracks 28, 28 attached to the table frame on either side of the support surface supports the main transfer platform. The table also has a pair of elongated racks 30, 30 mounted in fixed positions on opposite sides of the support surface adjacent and parallel to the track.

It is supported to move in one direction and the opposite direction in the vertical direction of the support surface 16 by a plurality of rollers (not shown) disposed on the transfer table 18 so as to roll in contact with the top and side surfaces of the track. ing. A reversible motor 32 mounted on the transfer table moves the transfer table in the longitudinal direction of the table, that is, in the direction indicated by arrow X, in response to command signals received from a control unit 22 electrically coupled to the transfer table. Rack 30,3
0 to drive the corresponding pinion that engages one of the pinions.

The cutting head 20 includes a guide rod (not shown) extending in the lateral direction of the transfer table above the support surface, and a lead supported on the transfer table parallel to the guide rod and driven by another reversible motor 34. It is supported on the transfer stage by screws (not shown) so as to be movable in the lateral direction of the support surface 16. The drive motor 34 drives the transfer table 20 in the lateral direction indicated by arrow Y in response to signals received from the control unit 22 . Cutting car 2
4 rotates around an axis perpendicular to the direction indicated by the arrow (θ) in FIG. Preferably, it rotates around. Thus, the cutting car 24 is the table 1
The second layer is cut from the second layer of fabric by moving along a predetermined path.
It may be programmed to cut pattern pieces such as those indicated by P in the figure. The cutting head 20 is also preferably arranged to move perpendicularly to the main transport table 18 such that the cutting wheel 24 is raised from its normal cutting position to an elevated position above the layers of fabric. .

The apparatus 12 further includes fabric spreading means, indicated generally at 36, adapted to receive and transport a supply roll S. The illustrated fabric spreading means 36 is a spreader that is engaged and rollingly supported on the tracks 28, 28 by rollers 38, 38 (two shown) that engage the upper and side surfaces of the tracks. Spreading means transfer table 3
Contains 7. The fabric spreading means is equipped with a pinion 42 that engages one of the racks 30, 30, and receives a command signal from the programmable control unit 22 to move the spreading means transfer table vertically to the table 14 in one direction or the other. a reversible motor 4 for moving in the direction of
0. An unwinding mechanism, indicated generally at 44 in FIG. 2 and mounted on the spreading means 37, supports the roll of fabric or supply roll S for rotation about an axis extending transversely to the support surface. Another drive motor 46, which is part of the unwinding mechanism, receives command signals from the controller 22 to unwind the fabric from the supply roll at a linear speed that generally corresponds to the linear speed at which the fabric is deposited or unrolled on the support surface. Drive the supply roll back.

At least one supply roller is supported on the fabric spreading means transport platform for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the supply roll S, as shown in the apparatus 12.
Preferably includes a plurality of feed rollers 48,38. The supply rollers are driven by a drive machine 50 in a timed manner relative to and relative to the supply rollers S, so that the fabric F is rewound to some degree of slack within the sag area between the supply rollers, indicated by R in FIG. Keep the loops hanging freely.

Although the longitudinally extending threads of fabric F in region R may be under slight tension due to the weight of the fabric forming a freely hanging loop, the magnitude of this stress is such that the fabric is wound to form a feed roller. This is negligible compared to the amount of stress that the thread is sometimes subjected to. Photocell, phototube, shown at 54;
A detection device, such as the illustrated photodetector, generally designated 52, comprising a phototransistor or the like and a light source 55, is connected to an amplifier 56 in the control section 22 which provides a command signal to the drive mechanism to control the unwinding of the fabric. Preferably, a freely hanging loop of fabric F connected through and thereby slackened is always maintained within the region R between the supply rollers 48, 38.

The invention further provides means for vibrating the unwound fabric F between the supply roll S and the support surface 16 to excite corresponding portions of the fabric before the fabric is spread onto the support surface. provided. The applied vibrations will remove any residual stress in the fabric and cause the fabric material to rapidly return to its relaxed, normal state.

In the illustrated embodiment, this vibration is imparted to the fabric by a vibrating member or elongated rod 58 attached to the fabric spreading means 36. This bar extends transversely to the spreading means transfer platform 39 over substantially the entire width of the transfer platform at its discharge end, so that the spreading means transfer platform can be moved relative to the support surface 16 to place the fabric F onto the support surface. The fabric unwound from the supply roll S during spreading is attached to the rod 5.
It comes into contact with the upper surface of 8 and moves on it. The bar is thus arranged to abut the corresponding section of the fabric web and vibrate it over its entire width.

Various drive means may be provided for imparting vibrations to rod 58. This rod may be used, for example, in Staelin's U.S. Pat.
No. 2,949,707, which may be driven by a plurality of high frequency electromagnetic transducers arranged to operate in unison. Furthermore, motors for transmitting mechanical vibrations at ultrasonic frequencies are conventionally known, and examples of such motors that vibrate members in a frequency range that includes ultrasonic frequencies are included in this description. No. 3,086,288 to Balamuth et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,666,975 to Balamuth, Damast.
As shown in other U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,526.

It is preferable that a vibration control device 62 for controlling the vibrating body drive unit 60 is provided as shown in the figure.
The controller controls the vibrator driver 60 so that vibrations are applied to the rod 58 within a frequency range that includes ultrasonic frequencies.
Preferably, the vibration frequency output is set to vary continuously. Preferably, the vibration control device 62 is further configured to continuously vary the amplitude of the vibrations imparted to the fabric F as it passes over the bar 58.

The vibrating body drive 62 is configured such that the vibrating body drive is configured to operate in synchronization with the operating cycle of the device 12, i.e. when the fabric spreading means is operating in its spreading mode. It will be appreciated that the drive unit is operatively part of the control unit 22. However, for clarity of illustration, vibrator control 62 is shown as a separate control unit in FIG.

Preferably, means are provided for holding the fabric in a fixed position on the support surface 16 after it has been unrolled, and for this purpose the table 14 may comprise a suitable vacuum holding table. The details of the structure of such tables are not important to the understanding of the present invention, so the structure of the tables will not be described further. However, a description of a vacuum holding table for use with a cutting apparatus of the type mentioned above is provided by Perl, entitled ``Apparatus for Cutting Sheet Materials'', published April 24, 1984, which is assigned to the applicant. Pearl, U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,078. For more information on the construction of such tables, reference may be made to the aforementioned Pearl patent, which is hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description.

Prior to the start of the spreading mode, the main transfer table 18 is activated by the third
The spreading table 14 is oriented as indicated in the figure.
Move to the right of. The fabric spreading means 36 will be simultaneously driven towards the right hand end of the table 14 in response to command signals received by the fabric spreading means drive 40 from the control 22.

The spreading means transfer table 37 is connected to the fabric spreading means driving section 40
(FIG. 3), the rewind drive section 46 and the supply roller drive section 50 actuate to rewind the fabric while maintaining the fabric in a slack state within the area R. do. The unwound fabric travels over the upper surface of a vibrating rod 58, which preferably vibrates at a continuously varying frequency and amplitude of vibration. The control unit 22 adjusts the forward speed of the spreading means transfer table and the speed of fabric rewinding so that the linear speed of unwinding is approximately equal to the linear speed at which the fabric is placed on the support surface 16.

The vibrations applied to the fabric may constantly vary in frequency and amplitude, and preferably include frequencies within the ultrasonic range to excite the threads of the fabric so that residual stress within the thread body is dissipated. Short-wavelength vibrations applied to the fabric tend to excite the protrusions on the intertwined fuzzy surfaces of the threads forming the fabric. The vibrations produced in the protrusions of this surface provide sufficient relative movement between the various protrusions to eliminate entanglements between corresponding protrusions. The fabric will thus relax or contract as it leaves the fabric spreading means and is spread onto the support surface 16. The control will be programmed to compensate for this shrinkage so that it is unwound onto the table at an appropriate speed to avoid further stress on the fabric due to the rolling action. When the advancing spreading means reaches its forward displacement limit, the fabric will be separated from the fabric of the supply roll S, spreading the fabric on the support surface.
For this purpose, if desired, a suitable conventional cutting or shearing mechanism (not shown) may be attached to the fabric spreading means 36. If a multi-layered body is desired, the above-described spreading mode may be repeated to form a layered body containing multiple deposited layers of fabric.

Preferably, the cutting mode begins immediately after the spreading mode is completed. However, the cutting and spreading modes may be performed simultaneously if desired. More specifically, the main transfer table 18 will be actuated by appropriate command signals from the controller 22 so that the cutting mode begins after the fabric spreading means 36 has advanced a certain distance when in the spreading mode. When using a zoned vacuum holding table as shown in the Parr patent mentioned above, the vacuum holding force is applied to the table 16 only in the area where the cutting wheel 24 operates, so that the spreading action is not a cutting action. will be done almost independently.

In accordance with the present invention, cutting or other dimensional operations are and may be performed on the fabric immediately after it is spread out on the support surface. As used in the present invention, the term "immediately" includes a substantially continuous operation, i.e., an operation in which the fabric is expanded and immediately subjected to dimensional processing operations. In practice, a certain amount of time may elapse between the spreading operation and the performance of the dimensional processing operation on the fabric. However, it is contemplated that sizing operations will be performed on the unfolded fabric within one hour after the fabric is spread out onto the support surface. In particular, the term "immediately" refers to the use of the term "immediately after the fabric has been spread, even if up to an hour has elapsed between the spreading operation and the performance of the subsequent size-based processing operation on the fabric." It is considered to encompass all situations in which changes are expected to occur without any risk of significant change.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial axial cross-sectional view of a yarn forming part of a fabric wound on a supply roll. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention and used in carrying out the method. 3 is a schematic partial side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 16... Support surface, 18... Transfer table, 20... Cutting head, 22... Control unit, 24... Cutting car, 3
6... Fabric spreading means, F... Fabric, S... Supply roll.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A table serving as a support surface on which the fabric is spread;
fabric spreading means for moving a fabric supply roll supported to move in one direction and the opposite direction longitudinally of the support surface for spreading fabric from the supply roll onto the support surface; means for moving the spreading means in one direction and the opposite direction in the longitudinal direction of the support surface; and means for unwinding the fabric from the supply roll as the fabric spreading means moves in the longitudinal direction of the support surface; a mechanism for transferring the fabric onto the support surface; a tool for performing a processing operation on the fabric spread on the support surface; means for performing a processing operation on the fabric spread on the support surface for performing a processing operation on the fabric spread on the support surface;
It consists of a vibrating body 58 and a vibrating body drive unit 60 for vibrating the vibrating body at a continuously changing frequency, and a part of the fabric is located between the supply roll and the support surface over its entire width. A device for processing fabric wound on a supply roll, characterized in that: 2. The device for processing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating body drive section 60 operates the vibrating body 58 within a frequency range including ultrasonic frequencies. 3. The fabric according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating body 58 is attached to the fabric spreading means 36 so as to move together with the fabric spreading means 36 relative to the support surface 16. Equipment for performing processing work. 4. The apparatus for processing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating body drive unit 60 operates to cause the vibrating body 58 to change the amplitude of its vibration. 5. An apparatus for processing fabric according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating body drive section 60 operates to cause the vibrating body 58 to continuously change the amplitude of its vibration. 6. Claim 6, wherein the unwinding mechanism further comprises a mechanism for controlling the sagging state of the rewound fabric within a sagging region R between the supply roll and the support surface. A device for processing the fabric described in item 1. 7. The apparatus for processing fabric according to claim 6, wherein the vibrating body 58 is disposed between the slack region R and the support surface. 8 The vibrating body 58 is disposed between the supply roll and the support surface so as to come into contact with a part of the fabric when the fabric is unwound from the supply roll and transferred onto the support surface. Apparatus for processing fabrics according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a transversely extending vibrating member. 9 unwinding the fabric from a supply roll, spreading it onto a support surface as the fabric is unwound from the supply roll, and applying the A corresponding portion of the unwound fabric between the supply roll and the support surface is vibrated at a constantly varying frequency to loosen and normalize the fabric, which is immediately thereafter unrolled onto the support surface. 1. A method for performing a processing operation on a fabric wound on a supply roll, the method comprising the steps of performing a processing operation on the fabric wound on a supply roll.