FR2547804A1 - METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR SUPPLYING A LINEAR PROCESSING MACHINE SUCH AS A SEWING MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PROCESS CONSISTS OF CARRYING OUT A PROVISIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PARTS 2 AND THEIR TRANSFER TO THE TRANSPORT DEVICE 25-27 OF THE SEWING MACHINE 24 USING A SINGLE MEANS OF PREHENSION AND TRANSFER INCLUDING A CONTINUOUS SUCCESSION OF DEVICES OF SEWING. GRIP 3: THE PARTS 2 PROVISIONALLY ASSEMBLED ARE INTRODUCED VERTICALLY INTO A GRIPPING DEVICE 3, WHICH GRABBES THEM AND TRANSFERS THEM TO THE TRANSPORT DEVICE 25-27 AND DURING THIS MOVEMENT ON THE ONE HAND, DEVICE 3 PERFORMS A ROTATION BY ONE. QUARTER-TURN ON ITSELF, THUS FLATTING THE ASSEMBLY ZONES, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, ANOTHER GRIPPING DEVICE 3 IS POSITIONED IN FRONT OF THE OPERATOR FOR INTRODUCTION OF THE FOLLOWING PARTS 2. THE INSTALLATION INCLUDES AN ENDLESS BELT 4, SUPPORTED BY CIRCULAR ROLLERS WHOSE AXES ARE VERTICAL 19 AT THE PARTS 2 INSERTION STATION AND HORIZONTAL 20 UPSTREAM OF THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM 25-27. DEVICES WITH SLIDING PIN 11 ARE FIXED ON BELT 4, ACTUATED BY THE FIXED HITCHING MEANS 5 PLACED AT THE INTRODUCTION STATION.

Description

METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR SUPPLYING A MACHINE
LINEAR PROCESSING SUCH AS A SEWING MACHINE
The present invention relates to the supply of a linear processing machine, such as a sewing machine. It relates more particularly but not exclusively to the supply of an assembly station by linear treatment of flexible elements such as textile parts, in which the assembly is carried out by treating one side of two superimposed parts.

 French patent NO 77.14408 discloses a method and an installation for feeding a linear processing machine such as a sewing machine, intended in particular for assembling textile parts. In such an installation, the operator grasps the two parts to be assembled, adjusts the edges relative to each other by superimposing them and presents them to a first gripping device a second gripping and transfer device then comes grasp the two pieces superimposed by the adjusted edges then transfer them to a third transport device which conveys the pieces in the linear processing machine Since the operator vertically inserts the pieces into the grippers of the first device, there it is necessary that the second device performs a rotation of a quarter of a circle so that the parts can then be further presented flat in the treatment machine after having been transported by the third device.

However, we have found, and the present invention constitutes an improvement of the DrécitEp patent, a method which makes it possible to feed an assembly pose comprising a linear processing machine such as a sewing machine, of the type according to which minus two parts to be assembled, they are provisionally assembled by superimposing them and adjusting their assembly zones, they are transferred to a transport device which conveys the parts thus provisionally assembled to the processing machine where they are definitively assembled by the said assembly zones, characterized in that the provisional assembly and the transfer of the parts to the transport device are carried out using a single gripping and transfer means comprising a continuous succession gripping devices, as follows
.the said parts are gripped together, their appearance zones being superimposed and adjusted, the parts are introduced vertically into at least one of the devices of the gripping and transfer means.

 said device grasps the temporarily assembled parts and transfers them to the transport device while carrying out a rotation of a quarter of a circle, thereby flattening the assembly areas.

 while during this same movement at least one other device of the gripping and transfer means will be positioned in front of the operator for the next feeding operation.

The invention also relates to a method for feeding a linear processing machine for flexible elements such as textile pieces, of the type according to which the flexible element is gripped, and it is transferred to a transport device which carries the element. up to the treatment machine where it is treated, characterized in that the element is gripped and transferred to the transport device using a single gripping and transfer means comprising a continuous succession of gripping devices, as follows
the side to be treated of the element is introduced into at least one of the devices of the gripping and transfer means.

 said device grasps the element and transfers it to the transport device, while itself performing a rotation of a quarter of a circle.

 while during this same movement at least one other device of the gripping and transfer means will be positioned in front of the operator for the next feeding operation.

 The subject of the invention is also an installation specially designed for the implementation of the two above processes. This installation comprises, in a known manner, a linear processing machine, such as a sewing machine, and a transport device which horizontally conveys the element to be treated or the nieces to be assembled to the processing machine. what it comprises a unique gripping and transfer means which comprises a continuous succession of gripping devices and which can rotate on itself a quarter of a circle during its movement between the location where it vertically grips and the location where it abandons the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled to the transport device.

 Advantageously, the single gripping means consists of an endless belt, and of a succession of gripping devices fixed at regular intervals to said belt, which is supported by detour rollers whose axes are vertical at the location of gripping and horizontal before passing to the transport device whereby the gripping device grasps the element to be treated where the parts to be assembled in a vertical state, the plane of the belt being itself mime vertical, then for passage of the belt from the vertical roller to the horizontal roller the device performs during its movement a rotation on itself of a quarter of a circle and -the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled are laid flat under the means of transport, the plane of the belt itself being horizontal.

 Advantageously, the installation comprises1 in the immediate vicinity of the single gripping means, fixed means for attaching the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled to at least one gripping device when the operator introduces said element or said parts in said device, and stationary means turn carry out the removal from the gripping device of the element or parts once he or they are supported by the transoort device.

 According to a dereferential mode of the installation, the means for carrying out the attachment of the element to be treated or of the parts to be assembled on the gripping device comprise, mounted on a fixed frame, a photoelectric cell, a pneumatic pusher and a surface support, while each of the gripping devices mounted on the belt comprises a part provided with a pin, said part being moved by the displacement of the pneumatic plunger which is itself controlled by the photoelectric cell, whereby when the side of the the element to be treated or the assembly zones of the parts to be assembled are introduced into the gripping device and pass in front of the photoelectric cell, which controls the movement of the pusher which advances the spike, and the latter passing through the element or parts held against the bearing surface, he or they are hung on the gripping device.

 According to the same preferred mode, the means for achieving the detachment of the element to be treated or of the parts to appear as out of the gripping device are combined with the transport device which transports the element or the parts to the processing machine; so that when the element or the parts are detached from the gripping device they are simultaneously supported by the transport device. The transport device advantageously comprises a horizontal table on which the side of the element to be treated or the assembly areas of the parts to be assembled can slide, this table being vertically movable, and a movable part consisting of an endless band which can be applied against said side or said zones. In this case the release means consist of a jack placed under the horizontal table, the vertical displacement of which has the effect of releasing the elf ment or the parts of the pin from the gripping device and on the other hand to apply against the endless strip the side of the element or the areas to be assembled supported by the horizontal table.

 Of course the gripping device and the horizontal table are shaped so that the element or the parts can be supported horizontally by the table while being hooked by the pin of the gripping device. For example, the gripping device comprises a U-shaped groove in the immediate vicinity of the spike on which the element or the parts are attached, and the upstream end of the horizontal table is shaped so that it penetrates into said groove U-shaped, whereby the horizontal table, during the movement of the gripping device, is inserted between said device and the element or parts.

 Between the station for detaching the element or parts and the station for introducing a new element or new parts into the gripping device, it is essential for the pin to return to its initial position. To do this, in the immediate vicinity of the single gripping and transfer means are provided means for moving the part provided with a pin of the gripping device. Advantageously, these means comprise two plates between which the single gripping and transfer means pass, the movable one being applied by the action of a jack against the spike and pushes the part provided with said spike into its housing, and the 'other fixed placed approximately opposite the first maintains fixed the gripping device during the action of the jack.

 The installation according to the invention is also characterized in that the single gripping and transfer means moves intermittently, being immobilized for the time necessary for the introduction of the side to be treated or the areas to be assembled in one or a series gripping devices, and in that the succession of gripping devices is fixed on said single means so that, while one or a series of devices is immobilized at the introduction station, another or another series of devices is immobilized at the stall station and another or another series of devices is immobilized at the post for resetting the pins.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood on reading the following description of an embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembly of a feed installation of an assembly machine according to an embodiment of the invention.

 . Figure 2 is a side view of a gripping device and a hooking means.

 Figure 3 is a partial view of the installation at the stall station.

 . Figure 4 is a side view showing the gripping device before the stall phase.

 . FIG. 5 is a partial view of the installation at the post for repositioning the pin.

 The installation shown includes a work station, the transfer unit and the treatment station itself.

The work station corresponds to the supply by the operator of the parts to be assembled in the gripping and transfer means. I1 comprises a support 1 for the niece stack 2, for example of rectangular shape, to be assembled, and known and not shown means of supplying the support 1 in pieces 2 to prevent the operator from moving once the battery is exhausted. It also includes, opposite the operator, a series of three gripping devices 3, fixed on the endless belt 4, and positioned opposite three fixed hooking devices 5 (only one of which is shown on the fio. 1) *
Each of the gripping devices 3 is formed by a support 6 which is kept locked against the endless belt 4 by a quick fixing system which comprises two latches 7 and 8. This quick fixing system is intended to facilitate the positioning of the gripping according to the dimensions of the parts 2. The support 6 has a cylindrical cavity 9 in which a cylindrical niece 10 can slide which carries a spike 11. The lower part of the support 6 ends in a U-shaped groove 12.

 Each of the attachment devices 5 is formed by a fixed frame 13 in which are housed a pneumatic pusher 14 and a photoelectric cell 15, and a movable part 16, which is provided with a notch 17 allowing the introduction of the pin 11 and a surface 18 for retaining the feet 2 during the movement of the part 10 provided with the pin 11.

 The transfer assembly corresponds to the movement of the parts 2, once they have been introduced by the operator at the work station, towards the work station. This assembly comprises the motor means for moving the endless belt 4 p, these means being known in themselves are not shown, they move the belt 4 intermittently, and at a speed which is such that the duration of its displacement allows the establishment of the following three gripping devices 3, duration for 7 years the operator takes the parts 2 to be assembled and their adjustment. The transfer assembly also includes the endless belt 4 and its own guide means which are detour rollers 19 whose axes are vertical or detour rollers 20 whose axes are horizontal. In front of the work station, the plane of the belt 4 is kept vertical by rollers 19, then downstream in the direction of movement of the belt the plane of the belt 4 is kept horizontal by rollers 20.

 The transfer assembly also includes the means for replacing the spike, consisting of two plates 21 and 22 between which pass the endless belt 4 and a jack 23. The plate 21 is movable, it is located relative to the belt without end of the rib where the pin 11 is parent; the actuator 23 is immediately under this plate 21, and the action of the actuator causes the plate to be raised 21. The plate 22 is fixed, it comes to bear against the support 6 of the gripping device.

 The treatment station proper corresponds to the passage of the parts 2 to be assembled from 1 D assembly transfer to the linear treatment machine 240 it includes a horizontal table 25, vertically movable, thanks to the action of the jack 26, a conveyor belt 27 which extends above the table 25 and which extends beyond the treatment machine 24. The table 25 is profiled so that its upstream part can slide in the groove 12 in the form of a U of the gripping device, it extends to the work surface of machine 24.

 The operation of the Installation is as follows.

The operator picks up two parts 2 to be assembled, he exposes them and adjusts them, then vertically introduces the zones to be assembled into the three assemblies B which face him, constituted by the three gripping devices 3 and the three fixed hooking devices 5 At this stage of feeding, the mobile part 16 of the attachment device 5 is the closest to the fixed part 13, allowing the insertion of the parts in the interval between the gripping device 3 and the mobile part 16 When the parts are introduced in this interval, until the stop 28, the photoelectric cell 15 detects their presence and controls the movement of the pneumatic plunger 14: the latter slides the part 10 provided with the pin 11 in its housing pin 11 passes through the parts 2 which are themselves held against the surface 18 of the movable part 16 of the hooking device 5 while the pin 11 enters the notch 17. Thus the parts 2, joined and adjusted are suspended vertically from three successive pins 11. Once this attachment is achieved, the movable part 16 moves away from its initial position to allow easier passage for the belt 4 and the fixing elements 7 and 8. The motor means for moving the endless belt 4 are then automatically started: the three gripping devices 3 are driven by the belt 4 towards the processing machine 24 while the following three gripping devices 3 come stand in front of the three fixed hooking devices 5 When the following three gripping devices have arrived opposite the three hooking devices, the cam 29 folds down the mobile element 16 and the operator can introduce two new parts 2 to assemble.

The gripping devices 3 at the feeding station were arranged vertically so as to allow far vertical production of the parts, which is easier for the operator> to carry out. Leaving the dialing station, the endless belt 4 passes successively on a detour roller 19 with a vertical axis and then on a detour roller 20 with a horizontal axis. Between these two rollers, the belt 4 and therefore the gripping 3 which it supports carry out 2 by this change of direction, a rotation of a quarter of a circle the parts 2 which were suspended vertically from the pins li are thus laid flat in the part of the gripping device comprised between the pin 11 l . and the lower part of the U-shaped support 6
Having adopted this new position, the belt 4 trains the gripping devices towards the treatment machine 24 The upstream part of the horizontal table 24 is introduced into the groove 12 in the shape of a U, being inserted between said groove and the parts 2.

 When the following three gripping devices have arrived in front of the three fixed hooking devices, the first three gripping devices are all positioned under the table 24. When the belt 4 sSimobilizes and the operator introduces the new parts, the actuator 26 is automatically controlled and lifts the table 25, movable vertically: the parts 2 are thus released from the three pins 11, the parts 2, supported by the table 25, come into contact with the conveyor belt 27 which drives them by sliding on the table 25 towards the processing machine 24 where they are assembled by the assembly zones. This operation is carried out during the immobilization time of the belt 4.

 On the return strand of the belt 4 are the means for repositioning the pins 1, located so that they are opposite the pins li to be positioned during the time when the belt 4 is subsequently again immobilized, during a new operation for inserting parts 2. at this moment, the jack 23 is automatically controlled; it pushes the plate 21 vertically, which rests on the spike, it raises the part 10 provided with the spike it inside its housing 9, while the support 6 of the gripping device 3 is held by the plate 22. Of course in the case of a series of three devices 3, it can be a single cylinder 23, a single plate 21 and a single plate 23 for the three devices 3. Thus the pins being returned to their initial position, the gripping devices 3 are ready to receive again the parts to be assembled 2.

 The method and the installation which have just been described may also be suitable for carrying out a treatment on a single element, for example, overcasting on a piece of fabric. I1 is no longer an assembly of two pieces, but a seam on a single piece made to avoid fraying the edge of the piece of fabric.

Claims (11)

1. method of feeding an assembly station comprising a linear processing machine (24) such as a sewing machine, of the type according to which at least two pieces are gripped 12) to be assembled, they are temporarily assembled in superimposing them and adjusting their assembly zones, they are transferred to a transport device (27,25) which conveys the parts thus provisionally assembled to the processing tachine C (24) where they are definitively assembled by said assembly areas, characterized in that the provisional assembly is carried out and the parts are transferred to the transport device using a single gripping and transfer means comprising a continuous succession of gripping devices (3) , in the following manner, the said pieces (2) are grasped together, their assembly zones being superimposed and adjusted, the pieces are introduced vertically into at least one of the devices (3) of the gripping and transfer means.  said gripping device (3) grasps the temporarily assembled parts and the tns-Fere to the transport device (27,25) while performing on itself a rotation of a quarter of zolIr, thus flattening the areas assembly.  whereas, during the same movement at least one other gripping device (3) of the gripping and transfer means will have positioned itself in front of the operator for the next feeding operation. 2.feeding process of a linear processing machine  (24) for flexible elements such as textile pieces (2), of the type in which the flexible element (2) is grasped and transferred to a transport device (27) which transports the element to to the treatment machine (24) where it is treated, ca characterized in that the gripping and the transfer of the element to the transport device (27,25) are carried out using a single means gripping and transfer device comprising a continuous succession of gripping devices (3), in the following manner  the side to be treated of the element (2) is introduced into at least one of the devices (3) of the gripping and transfer means.  while during this same movement at least one other device (3) of the gripping and transfer means will have positioned itself in front of the operator for the next feeding operation.  said gripping device (3) grasps the element and transfers it to the transport device (27, 25) while performing a quarter-turn rotation on itself, 3. Supply installation for the implementation of the method according to one of claims 1 and 2, of the type comprising a linear processing machine (24), such as a sewing machine, and a transport device (27t95 ) which horizontally conveys the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled (2) to the treatment machine, characterized in that it comprises a single gripping and transfer means which comprises a continuous succession of devices gripping (3) and which can perform a quarter-turn rotation on itself during its movement between the location where it performs vertical gripping and the location where it abandons the element to be treated or the parts to be assemble to the transport device. 4. Installation according to claim 3 characterized in that the single gripping and transfer means consists of an endless belt t4) and a succession of gripping devices (3) fixed at regular intervals on the belt, said belt (4) being supported by detour rollers (19-20) whose axes are vertical (18) at the location of the gripping and horizontal (20) before passing to the transport device, whereby the gripping device (3) grips vertically the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled, the plane of the belt itself being vertical, then by passing the belt (4) from the vertical roller (19) to the horizontal roller (20) the device during its movement, it rotates a quarter of a circle on itself and the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled (2) lie flat under the transport means (27), the plane of the belt ( 3) being itself horizontal. 5. Installation according to claim 3 characterized in that it comprises fixed means for carrying out the attachment of the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled (2) on at least one gripping device (3), and fixed means for unhooking the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled from the gripping device (2) once they are taken over by the transport device 6. Installation according to claim 5 characterized in that the fixed attachment means comprise, mounted on a fixed frame (13), a photoelectric cell (15), a pneumatic pusher (14) and a bearing surface (18) and in that the gripping device (3) comprises a part (10) provided with a pin (11), said part (10) being moved by virtue of the movement of the pneumatic plunger (14) which is itself controlled. by the photoelectric cell (15) which detects the presence of element to be treated or traps to be assembled (2). 7. installation according to claim 5 characterized in that the means fi. "S release are combined with the transport device, so that when the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled (2) are detached from the gripping device they are simultaneously supported by the transport device.  8, installation according to claim 7 characterized in that the transport device consists of a horizontal table (25), movable vertically, and in an endless belt (27), and in that the release means consist of a jack ( 26) capable of vertically moving the table (25). 9. Installation according to claim 8 characterized in that the gripping device (3) has a groove (12) in a U and in that the upstream end of the table (25) is shaped so that it enters said groove (12), whereby, during the movement of the gripping device (3), the table (25) is interposed between said device (3) and the element to be treated or the parts to be assembled. 10. Installation according to claim 6 characterized in that it comprises means for repositioning the pins, comprising two plates (21 and 22) between which the belt (3) passes, one (21) movable which s applies against the pin thanks to the action of the jack (23) and pushes the part (10) provided with the pin (11) in its housing (9), and the other (22) fixed which maintains the gripping device (3 ) during the action of the jack (23). 11. Installation according to claim 10 characterized in that the belt (3) moves intermittently, being immobilized for the time necessary for the introduction of the side to be treated or the areas to be assembled in one or a series of gripping devices ( 3), and in that the succession of gripping devices (3 is fixed on the belt (3) so that while one or a series of devices is immobilized at the introduction station, another or a another series of devices is immobilized at the stall station and another or another series of devices is immobilized at the post for resetting the pins.