Adjustable presser foot for a sewing machine for inserting an electronic tag into a sewn seam

EP4499910A1Active Publication Date: 2025-02-05PRIMO1D
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Patent Information

Application Number
EP2023710306
Authority / Receiving Office
EP · EP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-03-29
Filing Date
2023-03-08
Publication Date
2025-02-05
Estimated Expiration
2043-03-08

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional sewing machine presser feet lack precision and accuracy in positioning and guiding electronic labels integrated into textile seams, leading to potential damage and inaccuracy in integrating functional RFID labels during garment sewing.

Method used

An adjustable presser foot for sewing machines with a guide tunnel and adjustable positioning mechanisms ensures precise alignment and protection of electronic labels, allowing for secure integration into manufacturing seams without damaging the RFID components.

Benefits of technology

Enables precise, repeatable, and robust integration of electronic labels into textile seams, ensuring the functionality and reliability of the RFID devices during garment manufacturing.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable presser foot (6) for a sewing machine having at least one needle moving vertically back and forth in order to sew a seam on a textile piece while securing an electronic tag (1) in the form of a strip to the textile piece by means of stitches. The presser foot (6) comprises a sole, guide means for guiding the electronic tag (1) substantially parallel to the feed direction of the textile piece and adjustment means for adjustably positioning the guide means laterally relative to the feed direction of the textile piece.
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Description

Adjustable sewing machine presser foot for inserting an electronic label into a garment seam FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of making textile pieces, such as clothing, more particularly to the electronic identification labeling of textile pieces. The invention relates in particular to a presser foot for a sewing machine for making a sewing seam on a textile piece while securing an electronic identification label to the textile piece with sewing stitches. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The electronic identification tags used in this field are referred to as "RFID tags" (from the initials of the English expression "Radio-Frequency Identification"). Such tags comprise an electronic identification chip having radio frequency transmission-reception functions coupled to an antenna. In addition to the transmission-reception and identification functions, the electronic chip of an electronic tag as discussed in this document may also be configured to have functions other than identification functions, such as measurement functions (for example temperature, humidity, pressure), or even luminescence functions.

[0003] According to a first conventional approach, the antenna is formed by conductive tracks arranged on a plastic or paper support. The chip is assembled by gluing to the support so as to bring its connection pads into contact with the conductive tracks forming the antenna. The support is generally in a rectangular shape whose lengths and widths have dimensions of several centimeters so as to accommodate the necessary dimensions of the antenna and to facilitate the handling of the label.

[0004] The functional assembly consisting of the chip and its support is generally referred to as an "inlay" in the dedicated Anglo-Saxon literature. Such "inlays" are generally manufactured collectively on a support strip and are available in the form of a roll. To form an electronic identification tag from an "inlay", this inlay is generally packaged in a protective casing, for example made of plastic as documented for patent US8212676. The dimensions of the tag thus formed are, in the aforementioned document, relatively large: a height / thickness of 5 mm, a length of 150 mm and a width of 22 mm.

[0005] To facilitate the integration of identification functions into textile products, attempts have been made to provide an electronic label with a wire form factor. Documents US6329917, WO2016038342, W02011161336, GB2472025, GB2472026, US20110147462, W02008080245 or WO2019175509 disclose textile threads incorporating, spaced along their lengths, antennas and electronic chips.

[0006] "Textile yarn" or more simply "yarn" refers to elements that can be woven or incorporated into a textile product. They therefore have tensile strength, flexibility, and a conventional form factor in the field of weaving to be handled by conventional equipment available in the clothing sector. Such "textile yarns" incorporating antennas and RFID electronic chips can be integrated into textile products during their manufacture or made integral to this product after its manufacture.

[0007] Document WO 2021 / 089939 aims to provide an electronic identification tag formed from a ribbon comprising a wired electronic device. The tag 1 of Figures 1a and 1b here has a rectangular (and more generally trapezoidal) shape whose length is several centimeters, typically between 3cm and 20cm. The corners of the tag 1 may have a rounded shape. The length of the tag 1 is sufficient to accommodate an antenna wire 3b of an RFID device or RFID wire 3. Advantageously, this antenna wire 3b extends rectilinearly along the length of the tag 1. It may extend from one end of the tag 1 to the other, as shown in Figure 1a, or approach its ends without joining them, as shown in Figure 1b. The 3b antenna wire can also be arranged diagonally across the label, making it more compact.It may also be provided that the antenna wire 3b is not perfectly straight, but has at least one curvature in the plane of the label, so as to be able to accommodate any elastic deformation of the label. The width of the label 1 is generally smaller than its length, typically less than a centimeter, and typically between 1 mm and 8 mm. It has a thickness which may be between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

[0008] The label 1 of the examples of figures 1a and 1b is more particularly made up of two portions of textile ribbon 2a, 2b assembled and sealed to each other by their main faces. Between these two faces, sandwiched, resides a segment of an RFID wire 3 comprising an electronic chip 3a and antenna wire 3b. The portions of ribbon, and therefore the label 1, have sufficient flexibility so as not to modify the flexibility of the textile part in which they are intended to be integrated. Similarly, they can have an elasticity allowing them to conform to the elasticity of this textile part.They can thus have an elongation capacity of between 0% (and in this case be integrated into jeans or into a thick canvas of a work suit, i.e. textile pieces composed of fabrics which are not likely to stretch) and 100% (and be able to be integrated into textile pieces composed of elastic fibers), and preferably of the order of 5 to 20% (to be integrated into textile pieces in classic knits such as T-shirts, etc.). For this reason of integration into a textile piece, the use of ribbons made of textile material to constitute the label 1 forms a preferred mode of implementation, without however this being the only possible mode of implementation. The ribbon portions 2a, 2b can thus be made of, or comprise, very varied materials, chosen according to the sealing technique used or according to the nature of the textile piece in which the label is intended to be integrated.

[0009] As regards the RFID wire segment 3 of the tag 1, this in all cases comprises at least one electronic identification chip 3a having radiofrequency transmission and reception functions electrically coupled to at least one conductive wire 3b forming the “electrical” transmission and reception antenna. Such an RFID wire segment 3 can be produced in multiple ways as summarized in WO2021 / 089939.

[0010] As also described in WO2021 / 089939, an RFID wire segment 3 is perfectly suitable for being integrated in any known manner, sandwiched between two portions of ribbon, and forming the electronic identification tag 1 illustrated on the.

[0011] On this electronic identification label 1, the RFID wire segment 3 is arranged along and parallel to an edge of the label and is here centered on its width. The sealing of the ribbon portions is illustrated by sealing points 4 (illustrated as dotted lines) arranged on either side of a central line 5 comprising the RFID wire segment 3 (not visible in this figure). There are thus on the label 1 on either side of this central line 5 “inert” surfaces to allow the electronic label 1 to be secured to a textile piece without affecting the operation of the RFID textile wire 3.More specifically, it will be necessary to maintain a minimum distance d between the RFID wire segment and an edge of the electronic tag 1 which makes it possible to define an inert strip wide enough to place stitches running on one side and / or the other side of the RFID textile thread 3, making it possible to secure the electronic tag 1 to a textile piece by means of a manufacturing seam. This minimum distance d may be, for example, 0.5 to 4 mm. Such a manufacturing seam is a seam whose primary function is to process the textile piece to make it a finished product.

[0012] The present invention provides for taking advantage of this sewing seam to integrate the electronic label 1 as illustrated in the, so that the electronic wired identification device is arranged within this sewing seam, that it is easily integrated there and that the electronic wired identification device is effectively protected. The electronic label 1 can be integrated under any of the sewing seams, for example the sides or the shoulders, substantially rectilinear and illustrated in dotted lines on the T-shirt of the.

[0013] The present invention also provides that this sewing seam for securing the electronic label 1 to the textile piece is advantageously formed of overlock stitches, and the electronic wired identification device is placed more particularly under the upper looper thread of the overlock stitches. These stitches form a step in the making of a textile piece aimed at treating the edge of this piece. It is typically implemented by an overlocker which is a piece of textile making equipment for simultaneously assembling, overlocking the edges and cutting off excess fabric. It makes it possible in particular to assemble pieces of fabric by overlocking the edges of these pieces to make a finished product.An overlocker is generally equipped with a plurality of needles which are supplied with a plurality of textile threads (at least two, sometimes 5 or more) from spools which allow the textile piece(s) to be assembled to be sewn and overlocked simultaneously. It may also be equipped with at least one blade for cutting off excess fabric.

[0014] We have thus represented on the piece of a textile piece A to which an electronic label 1 has been attached here by overlock stitches.

[0015] It is observed more particularly on this that the electronic label 1 can be retained here on the textile piece A on the one hand by means of a first straight seam C1, formed by a first needle of the overlocker, and substantially parallel to the RFID textile thread and on the other hand by loops C3, formed by the upper looper thread. It is naturally possible to provide other seams, formed by other needles, for example a second straight seam C2 (formed by a second needle of the overlocker) visible on the parallel to the first straight seam C1, all of these straight stitch and loop seams forming the overlock stitches.

[0016] To secure the electronic label 1 and end up with the textile piece shown in the figure, the electronic label 1 can first be positioned by hand on the piece and the assembly can be slid under a conventional presser foot of the overlocking equipment. However, this positioning step can be laborious for an operator and the inaccuracy of positioning can lead to damage to the electronic wire identification device integrated into the electronic label 1 by the needles sticking into the electronic wire identification device, and thus render it non-functional.

[0017] This is also the case when the electronic label is attached to the textile piece using a conventional presser foot, such as those described in documents US2653559, US4024824 or US4703706, which provide guidance for a ribbon or a wire element. This guidance does not have sufficient precision to position an electronic label. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention therefore aims to provide specific tooling for securing an electronic label in the form of a ribbon in a garment seam by securing it with stitches on a piece of textile without damaging a wired electronic identification device integrated in the ribbon. The invention aims more particularly to provide a specific presser foot for a sewing machine for integrating an electronic label in a garment seam in a precise, repeatable, reliable and robust manner, the presser foot making it possible to position and guide the electronic label during the garment sewing operation so as to ensure that a functional label is integrated in this seam. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] With a view to achieving at least part of these aims, the subject of the invention proposes an adjustable presser foot for a sewing machine having at least one vertical reciprocating needle for producing a sewing seam on a piece of textile while securing an electronic label in the form of a ribbon to the piece of textile with sewing stitches, the presser foot being able to comprise:

[0020] - a sole to be pressed against the textile piece to produce the sewing, the sole having a front edge and a heel portion extending laterally to a feed direction of the textile piece;

[0021] - the sole having a laterally open recess between the front edge and the heel portion defining a drop space for the at least one needle through which the at least one needle penetrates the textile piece to carry out the sewing;

[0022] - a guide means for guiding the electronic label through the recess so as to position a portion of the electronic label therein such that a longitudinal axis of the ribbon-shaped electronic label is substantially parallel to the direction of feeding of the textile piece,

[0023] - adjustment means for positioning the guide means laterally in an adjustable manner relative to the direction of feed of the textile piece.

[0024] Advantageously, the presser foot according to the invention makes it possible to insert a ribbon-shaped electronic label into a sewing seam of a textile piece by arranging it prior to the sewing seam in a position and orientation selected relative to the textile piece and to the front edge of the sole to secure the electronic label to the textile piece in a precise, reproducible and robust manner. A wired electronic identification device comprising a chip electrically coupled to at least one antenna wire and being integrated into the ribbon is advantageously arranged relative to the sewing stitches so as to integrate the functional electronic label into the sewing seam.

[0025] According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or in any technically feasible combination:

[0026] - the guide means may comprise a guide tunnel inclined towards the sole and extending substantially parallel to the feed direction of the textile piece, the guide tunnel having a first inlet end through which the ribbon-shaped electronic label is slidably engaged in the guide tunnel and a second outlet end through which the ribbon-shaped electronic label is guided to the recess in the sole to be positioned in the drop space of the at least one needle so as to be driven into the garment seam;

[0027] - the guide tunnel adjustment means may comprise a bent rod with a first rod portion connected to the guide tunnel and a second rod portion capable of sliding laterally relative to the direction of feeding of the textile piece into a hollow cylinder arranged on the heel portion of the sole, the first rod portion and the second rod portion of the bent rod being connected substantially perpendicularly to each other by an elbow;

[0028] - the second rod part can be locked laterally in the hollow cylinder by one or more clamping screws;

[0029] - the guide tunnel can be tilted angularly by a pivot effect of the second part of the bent rod in the hollow cylinder;

[0030] - the sole may further comprise a V-shaped notch under the front edge of the sole, the opening of the V of which guides the electronic label in the direction of feeding of the textile piece;

[0031] - a retaining step may be arranged on the front edge of the sole and may be in the form of a projecting ridge arranged orthogonally upwards relative to the recess to retain the label at the recess;

[0032] - the presser foot may comprise a mounting rod for removably mounting it on the lower end of a pressure bar of the sewing machine, the rod having an adjustment screw for adjusting the lateral position of the drop space of the at least one needle of the presser foot with openings of a feed plate of the textile piece in the direction of feeding of the textile piece by the sewing machine.

[0033] Advantageously, the presser foot according to the invention may be a presser foot for an overlocker and the sewing stitches may be overlock stitches.

[0034] As discussed previously, the present invention also covers the use of a presser foot according to the invention for inserting a wired electronic identification device integrated into a ribbon-shaped electronic label into a sewing seam of a textile piece. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0035] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of the invention which follows with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0036]

[0037]

[0038]

[0039] Figures 1a, 1b, 1c show embodiments of a ribbon-shaped electronic label comprising a wired electronic device;

[0040] It represents a textile piece assembled by a sewing seam with an electronic label secured in the sewing seam;

[0041] It represents a sewing seam on a piece of textile with an electronic label attached to the piece of textile with overlock stitches;

[0042]

[0043]

[0044]

[0045]

[0046]

[0047]

[0048] Figures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e and 4f show different views of a presser foot according to the invention for an overlocker;

[0049] The figure represents the presser foot according to the invention for an overlocker installed on an overlocker;

[0050]

[0051] Figures 6a, 6b show another example of a means for guiding a presser foot according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052] Figures 1a, 1b, 1c, 2 and 3 have already been discussed in the technological background of the invention to illustrate the problem of ensuring the preservation of the functionality of an electronic tag 1 integrated into a textile piece in a clothing seam. The electronic tag 1 is formed by a ribbon-shaped material, comprising for example a wired electronic device sandwiched between two ribbon portions 2a, 2b. The electronic tag 1 has “inert” surfaces on either side of the central line 5 to allow the electronic tag 1 to be secured by stitches to the textile piece without affecting the operation of the RFID textile thread 3.

[0053] In the remainder of this description, the tailoring seam will be described as being performed by an overlocker having at least one vertical reciprocating needle for performing the tailoring seam on the textile piece while securing the electronic label 1 to the textile piece with overlock stitches of the tailoring seam as illustrated in the.

[0054] However, the garment seam could also be performed by any type of sewing machine performing other stitches such as, for example, straight stitch, cover stitch, chain stitch, equipped with an adjustable presser foot having the distinctive technical characteristics described below compared to the presser foot of the state of the art. To perform a garment seam with overlock stitches, an overlocker is equipped with an adjustable presser foot 6 (or presser foot) illustrated in isolation in figures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f which is removably mountable on the lower end of a pressure bar of an overlocker via a mounting rod T. The textile piece to be assembled is compressed between a drive plate (not shown) arranged on the frame of the overlocker and a sole 7 of the presser foot 6.During the production of the garment seam, the textile piece is driven by mechanical drive teeth arranged in grooves of the drive plate and these drive teeth will guide the textile piece in a certain feeding direction.

[0055] At least one needle is attached to a needle bar by means of a screw. In operation, the needle bar is particularly driven by a vertical reciprocating movement in openings in the feed plate, to perform the overlock stitching on the edge of the textile piece. Knives may be provided to remove excess fabric from the textile piece along the making seam.

[0056] The presser foot 6 therefore comprises the sole 7 to be mechanically pressed against the textile piece to produce the sewing, the sole 7 extending laterally to the feed direction of the textile piece. The sole 7 has a front edge 7a and a heel portion 7b separated from the front edge 7a by a laterally open recess 8. This recess 8 defines a drop space for the at least one needle through which the at least one needle penetrates into the textile piece and then the openings of the drive plate to produce the sewing with overlock stitches before the textile piece passes under the front edge 7a of the sole 7. The recess 8 has a sufficient dimension to allow the label to pass through it, as will be explained in the remainder of this description.

[0057] The mounting rod T of the presser foot 6 has an adjustment screw for adjusting the lateral position of the drop gap of the presser foot 6 with the openings of the textile piece feed plate in the feed direction of the overlocker.

[0058] According to the invention, a guide means is present on the presser foot 6 in order to facilitate the positioning of the ribbon-shaped electronic label 1 to be integrated into the sewing seam, and more particularly to position the ribbon-shaped electronic label 1 inside the drop space so that a longitudinal axis of the ribbon-shaped electronic label 1 is kept substantially parallel to the feed direction of the textile piece during the sewing seam. This guide means also makes it possible to keep the wired electronic device of the electronic label 1 at a certain distance from the needle(s) during the sewing seam so that it is not damaged by the needle(s) during sewing and remains functional.

[0059] The guide means comprises a guide tunnel 9, arranged on the sole 7 at the heel portion 7b, through which the ribbon-shaped electronic label 1 is inserted to be directed towards the drop space. The guide tunnel 9 is inclined downwards towards the recess 8 of the sole 7, and extends substantially parallel to the feed direction of the textile piece. The guide tunnel 9 has a first so-called inlet end through which the electronic label 1 is slidably introduced and a second outlet end through which the electronic label 1 is guided to the recess 8 of the sole 7 to be positioned in the drop space of the needle(s) so as to be driven through the recess 8 into the overlock sewing seam during its production.

[0060] As visible in Figures 4a to 4f, the first end of the guide tunnel 9 has a funnel-shaped profile with an entry width i and thickness ii that are significantly greater than the width and thickness of the ribbon-shaped electronic label 1. Then the guide tunnel 9 has a substantially rectilinear guide section up to the second end having a width l and a thickness ll that are preferably substantially close to the width and thickness of the ribbon-shaped electronic label 1.For example and without any limitation, for a ribbon-shaped electronic label 1 with a width of 4 mm, a thickness of approximately 2 mm, and a length of 100 mm, the guide tunnel 9 may have a funnel-shaped entrance with a width i of 10.4 mm, a thickness ii of 6.7 mm and extend over a first section iii of 8 mm, then extend over a rectilinear section L of approximately 30 mm, and have a second guide tunnel exit end with a width l of 4.7 mm and a thickness ll of 2.3 mm. The thickness ll of the rectilinear section L of the guide tunnel 9 being substantially close to the thickness of the ribbon-shaped electronic label 1, the latter cannot twist during its passage through the guide tunnel 9 and have a position and orientation selected in a reproducible manner upon arriving in the drop space.

[0061] In the case of a presser foot 6 for an overlocker, the latter comprises guide fingers 10 in the form of two claws visible in figures 4a, 4c and 4e which project from the heel portion 7b of the sole 7 towards the drop space of the needle(s) and which are substantially parallel to the feed direction of the textile piece. One of the guide fingers 10 is said to be internal 10a and the other guide finger is said to be external 10b with respect to their positioning in the opening of the recess 8. In a known manner, a lateral adjustment screw 12 of the guide fingers 10 with respect to the front edge 7a of the sole 7 is arranged on the heel portion 7b of the sole 7, as visible in figure 4f. This adjustment screw 12 makes it possible in particular to align the guide fingers 10 with respect to the direction of feeding of the textile piece and the point of impact of the at least one needle in the textile piece.

[0062] According to the invention, the presser foot 6 comprises means for adjustably positioning the guide tunnel 9 laterally relative to the front edge 7a of the sole 7 so as to ensure that the electronic wire identification device of the electronic label 1 is kept at a certain distance from the needle(s) during the production of the sewing but also so that the electronic label 1 is integrated into the sewing here under the loops of the overlock stitches.

[0063] These means for adjusting the guide tunnel 9 comprise in particular a bent rod 14 visible in FIGS. 4b to 4d with a first rod part 14a connected to the guide tunnel 9 and a second rod part 14b, here of circular section, capable of sliding laterally relative to the direction of feeding of the textile piece in a hollow cylinder 15 arranged on the heel portion 7b of the sole. The first rod part 14a and the second rod part 14b of the bent rod 14 being connected substantially perpendicularly to each other by an elbow 14c.

[0064] The second rod part 14b can be locked laterally in the hollow cylinder, here by a set of clamping screws 13 as visible in the.

[0065] As illustrated in the, when the second rod portion 14b of the bent rod 14 is engaged in the hollow cylinder 15 and is laterally locked by the clamping screw assembly 13, the guide tunnel 9 can still be angularly tilted by a pivoting effect of the second rod portion 14b in the hollow cylinder. This tilting improves the comfort of a user because during the production of the garment seam, the user can stop the machine, tilt the guide tunnel 9 to raise it and thus have visual access to the drop space made easier.

[0066] The adjustment of the lateral positioning of the guide tunnel 9 relative to the drop space and the feed direction of the textile piece must be made beforehand at the start of the sewing process so that, in the case of an overlocker, the straight overlock stitches C1 and C2 remain sufficiently far from the wired electronic device, i.e. the needles pierce the inert surfaces of the electronic label 1 and preferably the entire width of the ribbon-shaped electronic label 1 is in particular under the loops C3 of the overlock stitches.

[0067] Optionally, a guide channel 11 may be formed under the front edge 7a of the sole 7 as visible on which houses the electronic label 1 in the form of a ribbon when it passes under the front edge 7a of the sole 7. This channel 11 is here formed by a V-shaped notch whose opening of the V is narrow and guides the electronic label 1 in the direction of feeding of the textile piece and more particularly under the loops of the overlock stitches.

[0068] Optionally, as visible in Figures 4b and 4d, a retaining step 16 is arranged on the front edge of the sole. This retaining step 16 is here in the form of a projecting edge arranged orthogonally towards the top of the sole relative to the recess and which may have a height of 1 to 2 mm. If, during insertion of the electronic label 1 into the guide tunnel 9, the at least one needle is raised, this retaining step 16 will prevent the electronic label 1 from sliding beyond the recess, and in particular over the front edge of the sole.

[0069] Figures 6a, 6b show another example of a guide means that can be placed on a sole to form a presser foot according to the invention. This means comprises an angled guide tunnel 9, making it possible to deliver the label as close as possible to the recess. The guide tunnel 9 has a funnel-shaped profile, and its second end directed towards the recess, has substantially the dimensions of the electronic label. Advantageously, and as can be seen in the, this second end is provided with a through passage 9a, this through passage making it possible to receive a needle during the sewing.

[0070] To enable the guide tunnel 9 to be placed on a wide variety of existing presser feet, the guide means comprises a flange 17. This part has any shape which is suitable for being placed and secured to the heel portion 7b of the sole 7.

[0071] Also found on the guide means of figures 6a, 6b is a bent rod 14 held to the guide tunnel 9 and to the flange 17 by clamping screws allowing precise lateral and angular positioning of the tunnel, as described previously.

[0072] When installing the presser foot 6 according to the invention on the overlocker, prior to integrating the electronic label 1 into a garment seam, several adjustments must be made: adjust the positioning of the presser foot 6 relative to the openings in the feed plate, adjust the positioning of the knife(s) of the overlocker so that there is no friction with the guide tunnel 9 of the presser foot 6, adjust the tension of the threads of the overlock stitches so that the thickness of the electronic label 1 in the garment seam does not create a crease in the garment seam during its production, adjust the positioning of the guide fingers 10, adjust the positioning of the guide tunnel 9 so as to ensure that the functionality of the wired electronic devices integrated into the electronic labels 1 to be inserted into garment seams is preserved.

[0073] If during a visual inspection, the straight stitches C1 and / or C2 of the overlock stitches are positioned on the inert areas of the ribbon, and this at a distance estimated to be too close to the wired electronic device inserted in the electronic label 1 in the form of a ribbon so that its functionality can be compromised by the needle(s), the lateral position of the guide tunnel 10 must be adjusted by repositioning the second rod part 14b in the hollow cylinder 15 of the heel portion 7b of the sole 7.

[0074] When these settings are made, it is possible to start a sewing process with overlock stitches to assemble the edges of a textile piece. During assembly, the sewing is stopped while an electronic label 1 is inserted into the guide tunnel 9, pushed until it is in contact with the thread(s) coming out of the needle(s) as illustrated in the figure. Then the sewing process with overlock stitches can restart: the electronic label 1 is automatically drawn in and inserted under the upper loops of the overlock stitches of the sewing process of the textile piece.

[0075] It is possible to integrate one or more electronic labels 1 into one or more sewing seams, to change the textile piece to be assembled, and this without having to readjust the presser foot 6.

[0076] The presser foot 6 according to the invention makes it possible to integrate at least one electronic label 1 into at least one sewing seam of a textile piece in a repeatable, reliable and robust manner from one textile piece to another.

[0077] The adjustable presser foot according to the invention could also be used to secure the ribbon-shaped electronic label 1 to a textile piece, for example, the edges of which have been previously assembled with overlock stitches during a first sewing seam. Thus, the electronic label 1 could be secured to the textile piece by means of a second sewing seam. For this, the textile piece is positioned under the presser foot at the point where the electronic label 1 is to be secured. Then the electronic label 1 is inserted into the guide tunnel 9 and will be driven and inserted into a second sewing seam with overlock stitches, for example under the upper loops, in the same manner as described above.

[0078] The first and second sewing seams can be overlapped or not.

[0079] It goes without saying that the present invention cannot be limited to the embodiment set out above, and it is likely to undergo modifications without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0080] The adjustable presser foot according to the invention, with its guiding means, could also be used for any type of sewing machine, so that the sewing stitches made by one or more needles passing through the electronic label 1, such as, for example, straight stitches, cover stitches, chain stitches, pass through the electronic label 1 at the inert surfaces as defined above.

Claims

Adjustable presser foot (6) for a sewing machine having at least one vertical reciprocating needle for making a garment seam on a piece of textile while attaching an electronic ribbon label (1) to said piece of textile with stitches, said presser foot (6) comprising: - a sole (7) to be pressed against said piece of textile to make said garment seam, said sole (7) having a front edge (7a) and a heel portion (7b) extending laterally in a feeding direction of said piece of textile; - said sole (7) having a laterally open recess (8) between said front edge (7a) and said heel portion (7b) defining a drop space for said at least one needle through which said at least one needle enters said piece of textile to make said garment seam;- a guiding means for guiding said electronic tag (1) through the recess (8) so as to position a part of said electronic tag (1) therein such that a longitudinal axis of said electronic tag (1) in the form of a ribbon is substantially parallel to said feeding direction of said textile part, - adjustment means for positioning said guiding means laterally relative to said feeding direction of said textile part.; Presser foot (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that said guiding means comprises a guide tunnel (9) inclined in the direction of said sole (7) and extending substantially parallel to said feeding direction of said textile piece, said guide tunnel (9) having a first inlet end through which said electronic ribbon tag (1) is engaged in said guide tunnel (9) in a sliding manner and a second outlet end through which said electronic ribbon tag (1) is guided to said recess (8) of said sole (7) to be positioned in said drop space of said at least one needle so as to be drawn into said garment seam. Presser foot (6) according to claim 2, characterized in that said means for adjusting said guide tunnel (9) comprise an angled rod (14) with a first rod portion (14a) connected to the guide tunnel (9) and a second rod portion (14b) able to slide laterally relative to said feeding direction of said textile piece in a hollow cylinder (15) arranged on said heel portion (7b) of said sole (7), said first rod portion (14a) and said second rod portion (14b) of said angled rod (14) being connected substantially perpendicularly to each other by an elbow (14c). Crowbar (6) according to claim 3, characterized in that said second part of the rod (14b) is laterally blocked in said hollow cylinder (15) by one or more clamping screws (13). Crowbar (6) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said guide tunnel (9) is angularly tiltable by a pivot effect of said second part of rod (14b) of said bent rod (14) in said hollow cylinder (15). Presser foot (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sole (7) further comprises a guide channel (11) in the form of a V-shaped notch under said front edge (7a) of said sole (7) the opening of the V of which guides said electronic tag (1) in said feeding direction of said textile piece. Crowbar (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a retaining step (16) is arranged on said front edge (7a) of said sole (7) and is in the form of a projecting edge arranged orthogonally upwards with respect to said recess (8). Presser foot (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a mounting rod (T) for removably mounting it on a lower end of a pressure bar of said sewing machine, said mounting rod (T) having an adjusting screw for adjusting the lateral position of said drop space of said at least one needle of said presser foot (6) with openings of a drive plate of said textile piece in said feeding direction of said sewing machine. Presser foot (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a presser foot for an overlock machine and that said stitches are overlock stitches. Crowbar (6) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the guide tunnel (9) includes a through passage (9a) arranged at its end directed towards the recess of the sole (7). Crowbar (6) according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the guide tunnel (9) is assembled to the heel portion of the sole (7) by means of a flange (17). Use of a presser foot (6) according to one of the preceding claims for inserting an electronic wire identification device integrated into an electronic ribbon label (1) in a seam of making a textile part.