Seam opening device

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a seam opening device that has a simple structure, minimizes fabric stretching, and facilitates fabric transport. [Solution] The seam opening mechanism 14 consists of a seam opening rod 15, a pair of motor-driven feed belts 16, a pair of driven feed belts 17, a pair of ribs 18, and a guide groove 19. The motor-driven feed belts 16 are positioned at the tip of the arm 2, flanking the seam opening rod 15 on either side, and are driven in the longitudinal direction S of the seam when the motor is driven. The driven feed belts 17 are positioned as a pair at the tip of the cylinder 3, flanking the guide groove 19, and are capable of being driven parallel to the longitudinal direction S of the seam. The ribs 18 gradually increase in height from the frontmost position over a predetermined length in the front-to-back direction, allowing for smooth insertion of the fabric 13. When the fabric 13 has thick sections such as steps, the upper end of the seam opening rod 15 retracts upward, preventing jamming when transporting the fabric.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The fabric related to the present invention is about an overlock sewing machine that forms a serged seam by overlocking a pair of left and right overlapping fabrics, forming a serged seam portion, inserting the edge of the fabric downward into the guide groove, and the fabric is transferred along the longitudinal direction of the seam, and a seam opening device for opening the serged seam portion by the seam opening bar. In the present invention, front, rear, left, and right refer to the front, rear, left, and right when viewed from the front of the seam opening device, and up and down refer to the vertical direction of the seam opening device.

Background Art

[0002] A serged seam portion is formed on the fabric by the overlock sewing of an overlock sewing machine. The sewn portion of the serged seam portion touches the skin when the clothes are worn, so the comfort is not good. Also, the appearance of the clothes does not finish neatly. Therefore, the comfort and appearance of the clothes are improved by manually or using a seam opening device to open the serged seam portion.

[0003] As a conventional seam opening device, one known is composed of a pair of fabric part forced transfer devices, an upper endless belt, a lower endless belt, a seam positioning moving guide, a concave guide, a convex guide, a concave groove portion, a driving rotating body for seam expansion, a protrusion portion, etc. (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Also, as another configuration, one known is composed of a pair of fabric part forced transfer devices, an upper endless belt, a lower endless belt, a fabric part feeding portion, a seam moving guide groove, a belt, etc. (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0006] In conventional technology, the structure of the device described in Patent Document 1 is complex, consisting of an upper endless belt for transporting fabric, a lower endless belt, a seam positioning and moving guide equipped with concave grooves and concave and convex guides for stabilizing the fabric when transporting it, and a seam expansion drive rotating body equipped with projections for expanding the seams.

[0007] Furthermore, the apparatus described in Patent Document 2 pulls the sewn fabric longitudinally with a belt attached to the seam-opening device to open the seams, so stretchy materials such as stretch fabrics will stretch out. In addition, the pair of fabric section forced transport devices have a drawback in that the distance between the opposing ends of the paired endless belts gradually increases, making it difficult to transport the fabric.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a seam opening device that has a simple structure, minimizes fabric stretching, and facilitates fabric transport. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the invention described in claim 1 is a stitch opening device comprising: an arm having a fabric feeding means in the longitudinal direction; a cylinder disposed below the arm, with its longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the arm and having a conveying surface on its upper surface; and a stitch opening means attached to the arm for opening an overlock stitch, wherein the tip of the arm is movable toward and away from the tip of the cylinder by an actuator, the conveying surface is provided at the tip of the cylinder and has a guide groove in the center of the conveying surface, the stitch opening means comprises a stitch opening rod, the stitch opening rod is disposed at the tip of the arm, the lower end of the stitch opening rod is located above the guide groove, and cleats are arranged at the left and right ends of the guide groove, extending in the direction of fabric feeding, the fabric feeding means is a motor-driven feed belt attached to the tip of the arm, a pair of driven feed belts are attached to the tip of the cylinder with the guide groove in between, and the drive direction of the feed belts is arranged parallel to the direction of fabric feeding.

[0010] The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the seam opening rod is cylindrical in shape, with its upper end connected to an arm and its lower end positioned rearward relative to the upper end.

[0011] The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the lower end of the seam opening rod is rotatable in the front-rear direction.

[0012] The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that the struts are erected in pairs on the left and right sides along the left and right ends of the guide groove, and the height of the struts from the conveying surface gradually increases from the frontmost point over a predetermined length in the front-to-back direction, and thereafter remains at a constant height.

[0013] The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the lower end of the seam opening rod contacts the upper surface of the overlock seam portion at the highest point of the height from the conveying surface of the rail and pushes it open so as to abut against the overlock seam portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, at the hemmed seam portion, the seam opening bar and the crossbar are used to open the seam, and the belt for feeding the fabric is arranged parallel to the fabric feeding direction.

[0015] As a result, compared with the conventional seam opening device, the structure of the device is simple and the fabric can be fed without stretching the fabric.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] Overall perspective view of the seam opening device according to the present invention [Figure 2] Front view of the seam opening device according to the present invention [Figure 3] Right side cross-sectional view of the seam opening device according to the present invention (when the arm is raised) [Figure 4] Right side cross-sectional view of the seam opening device according to the present invention (when the arm is lowered) [Figure 5] Enlarged perspective view showing the main part of the seam opening device according to the present invention [Figure 6] Front schematic view of the seam opening device according to the present invention

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the seam opening device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the seam opening device according to the present invention. The seam opening device 1 includes an arm 2, a cylinder 3, a motor 4, and an actuator 5. The arm 2 has a quadrangular prism shape and its longitudinal direction is arranged along the front-rear direction, and the rear part of the arm 2 is fixed to a bracket 6.

[0018] The actuator 5 is an air cylinder and is connected to an air supply source (not shown) so that the movable part 7 can be driven. The base of the actuator 5 is fixed to the upper end of the column part 8, the tip of the movable part 7 is attached to the middle upper part in the longitudinal direction of the arm 2, and the lower end of the column part 8 is fixed to a base 9.

[0019] The lower part of the bracket 6 is rotatably connected to the column part 8 via the shaft 10 around the axis of the shaft 10. When the movable part 7 of the actuator 5 is driven, the arm 2 rotates around the shaft 10, and its tip contacts and separates from the tip of the cylinder 3.

[0020] A safety cover 11 is attached to the lower part of the tip of the arm 2. For the sake of clarity of the main part of the present invention, the safety cover 11 is omitted except in FIG. 1.

[0021] The cylinder 3 is arranged below the arm 2 and is arranged such that its longitudinal direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the arm 2. The base of the cylinder 3 is fixed to the base 9.

[0022] A conveying surface 12 is formed on the upper surface of the cylinder 3. The fabric 13 is loaded on the conveying surface 12 and is conveyed along the seam longitudinal direction S.

[0023] The seam opening means 14 includes a seam opening bar 15, a pair of motor-driven feed belts 16, a pair of driven feed belts 17, a crossbar 18, and a guide groove 19.

[0024] The seam opening bar 15 is arranged with its longitudinal direction along the front and back and inclined so that the rear is lower. The upper end is connected to the tip of the arm 2 rotatably around the shaft 20, and the lower end is biased downward by a spring 21.

[0025] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the main part of the seam opening device according to the present invention. The pair of motor-driven feed belts 16 are endless belts, and are arranged sandwiching the seam opening bar 15 left and right at the tip of the arm 2, and are bridged by rollers 22 and a second transmission belt shaft 23. The motor-driven feed belt 16 is connected to the motor 4 via a first transmission belt 24 and a second transmission belt 25. When the motor 4 is driven at the lower part (below the roller 22) of the motor-driven feed belt 16, the motor-driven feed belt 16 is driven rearward, that is, in the seam longitudinal direction S.

[0026] The pair of driven feed belts 17 are endless belts, arranged in pairs on the left and right sides of the tip of the cylinder 3 with a guide groove 19 in between, and are capable of being driven parallel to the longitudinal direction S of the stitch on their upper surfaces.

[0027] The guide groove 19 is provided at the tip of the cylinder 3 along the longitudinal direction S of the seam.

[0028] A pair of crossbars 18 are erected on the conveying surface 12 at the left and right ends of the guide groove 19 along the dough feeding direction. The height of the crossbars 18 gradually increases from the frontmost point over a predetermined length in the front-to-back direction, and then remains at a constant height.

[0029] Figure 6 is a schematic front view of the seam opening device according to the present invention. The fabric 13 is made by joining a pair of left and right fabrics together with an overlock seam portion 26 formed by overlock stitching. When the edge of the overlock seam portion 26 is placed downwards and fitted into the guide groove 19, the motor 4 is driven to operate the seam opening device 1, and the fabric 13 is conveyed along the longitudinal direction S of the seam by the motor-driven feed belt 16 and a pair of driven feed belts 17. At that time, the lower end of the seam opening rod 15 comes into contact with the upper surface of the overlock seam portion 26 of the fabric 13 with a predetermined stress at the point where the height from the conveying surface 12 of the crossbar 18 is at its highest point.

[0030] As a result, the crossbar 18 acts as resistance, and the stitching of the edge stitching section 26 is opened solely by the downward biasing force of the tip of the stitch-opening rod 15.

[0031] In other words, unlike conventional seam-opening devices, it does not apply force to parts of the fabric other than the overlock seam to open the overlock seam, thus preventing the fabric from stretching.

[0032] Furthermore, since the pair of motor-driven feed belts 16 are driven along the longitudinal direction S of the stitching on both the left and right sides, the structure of the device is simpler compared to conventional technology.

[0033] As mentioned above, the crossbar 18 gradually increases in height from the frontmost position over a predetermined length, and then remains at a constant height, which allows for smooth insertion of the fabric 13.

[0034] Furthermore, as described above, the upper end of the seam opening rod 15 is connected to the tip of the arm 2 so as to be rotatable around the axis 20, and the lower end is biased downward by the spring 21. This prevents jamming when transporting the fabric by allowing the upper end of the seam opening rod 15 to retract upward when there are thick sections such as steps in the fabric 13. In addition, the seam opening rod 15 is cylindrical, and the arcuate surface of its lower end contacts the overlock seam portion 26 of the fabric 13, allowing the overlock seam portion 26 to be opened smoothly. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 1. Seam opening device 2 Arms 3 cylinders 4 motors 5 Actuators 6 brackets 7 Moving parts 8 Pillar section 9. Base 10 axes 11 Safety cover 12 Conveying surface 13. Dough 14. Seam opening method 15. Seam opening tool 16 Motor-driven feed belt 17. Driven feed belt 18 slats 19 Guide groove 20 axes 21 springs 22 rollers 23. Second transmission belt shaft 24 First transmission belt 25 Second transmission belt 26. Edge stitching S: Long seam direction (fabric feed direction)

Claims

1. A stitch opening device comprising: an arm having a fabric feeding means in the longitudinal direction; a cylinder positioned below the arm, with its longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the arm and having a conveying surface on its upper surface; and a stitch opening means for opening an overlock stitch, wherein the tip of the arm is movable toward and toward the tip of the cylinder by an actuator, wherein the conveying surface is provided at the tip of the cylinder and has a guide groove in the center of the conveying surface; the stitch opening means comprises a stitch opening rod, the stitch opening rod is positioned at the tip of the arm, the lower end of the stitch opening rod is positioned above the guide groove, and cleats are positioned at the left and right ends of the guide groove, extending in the direction of fabric feeding; the fabric feeding means is a motor-driven feed belt attached to the tip of the arm; a pair of driven feed belts are attached to the tip of the cylinder, with the guide groove in between; and the drive direction of the feed belts is positioned parallel to the direction of fabric feeding.

2. The seam opening device according to claim 1, characterized in that the seam opening rod is cylindrical, with its upper end connected to an arm and its lower end positioned rearward relative to the upper end.

3. The seam opening device according to claim 2, characterized in that the lower end of the seam opening rod is rotatable in the front-rear direction.

4. The stitch opening device according to claim 2, characterized in that the struts are erected in pairs on the left and right sides along the left and right ends of the guide groove, and the height of the struts from the conveying surface gradually increases from the frontmost point over a predetermined length in the front-to-back direction, and thereafter remains at a constant height.

5. The stitch opening device according to claim 4, characterized in that the lower end of the stitch opening rod contacts the upper surface of the overlock stitch portion at the highest point from the conveying surface of the rail and pushes it open so as to abut against the overlock stitch portion.

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