Support apparatus of pieces of fabric

Abstract

It refers to a support apparatus of pieces of fabric which allows said pieces of fabric to be positioned in such a way as to be retrieved safely and conveniently.

Description

[0001] SUPPORT APPARATUS OF PIECES OF FABRIC

[0002] Specification

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a support apparatus of pieces of fabric which allows said pieces of fabric to be positioned in such a way as to be retrieved safely and conveniently.

[0004] More specifically, it concerns a support apparatus to be positioned in an industrial sewing machine, on which pieces of fabric can be arranged one above the other.

[0005] As is known, industrial sewing machines carry out repetitive operations in series. Usually, the smaller pieces of fabric are arranged one above the other to be gripped and sewn onto the corresponding garment.

[0006] For example, in the case of sewing pockets onto trousers, the pieces of fabric corresponding to the pockets are stacked together, one above the other, usually on a support structure. From this position, they are gripped one at a time and placed onto the quarter of trousers to which they are sewn once they have been properly folded.

[0007] In the case of pockets, the piece of fabric usually includes an upper fold, already turned over and sewn. These pieces of fabric including such a folded edge are stacked one above the other, all in the same position.

[0008] As a result, since the folded edges all overlap, the stacked pieces of fabric have a much higher portion corresponding to the folded edges and a lower portion relating to the wider part of the piece of fabric.

[0009] Due to such irregular positioning of the pieces of fabric, the gripping of the upper piece may be difficult, if not incorrect, with obvious consequences in the subsequent sewing process. The aim and function of the present invention is to provide a support apparatus of pieces of fabric that solves the problems of the known art.

[0010] Another aim of the invention is to offer a support apparatus which allows pieces of fabric to be positioned regularly and uniformly, regardless of the presence or absence of a folded and sewn edge.

[0011] A further aim of the invention is to provide a support structure for raised flooring that is easily assembled and disassembled.

[0012] These and other aims are achieved by a support apparatus that allows pieces of fabric to be positioned regularly and uniformly, regardless of the number of pieces arranged one above the other.

[0013] Further characteristics and details of the invention will be better understood from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, as well as from the attached drawing tables in which: figure 1 is a top axonometric view of a support apparatus of pieces of fabric, according to the invention, on which pieces of fabric (schematically illustrated) useful for the creation of pockets are arranged; figure 2 is a top axonometric view of the support apparatus of figure 1 , without the pieces of fabric, and configured according to a first use configuration; figure 3 is a top axonometric view of the support apparatus of figure 2, configured according to a second use configuration; figure 4 is a side view of a portion of the support apparatus of figure 2; figure 5 is a side view of the support apparatus of figure 3.

[0014] With reference to the attached figures, in particular to figure 1 , 10 indicates, as a whole, a support apparatus of pieces of fabric P having an edge B.

[0015] The support apparatus 10 comprises a frame 11 and a support structure 12, movable relative to the frame 11 and on which the pieces of fabric P are arranged one above the other.

[0016] The support structure 12 is fixed at the bottom to a rod 14 of an oil cylinder 16 connected to a tank 17 and fixed to the frame 11 , so as to raise or lower said support structure 12 depending on the overall height of the pieces of fabric P.

[0017] The movement of the support structure 12 is also guided by a guide 15.

[0018] The support structure 12 comprises a plate 18 and a movable portion 20 movably constrained to the plate 18 and adjacent thereto.

[0019] In the plate 18 four grooves 22 are made, each of which is crossed by a positioning bar 24 suitable for keeping the pieces of fabric P in position one above the other.

[0020] The four positioning bars 24 are joined to a lower plate 26, fixed to the frame 11 .

[0021] When the plate 18 moves up or down, the four positioning bars 24 remain fixed, always at the same height, crossing the grooves 22.

[0022] The position of the four positioning bars 24 can be adjusted thanks to guides 28 created in the lower plate 26.

[0023] The movable portion 20 is hinged to the plate 18 so that it can be arranged in various configurations, one of which, illustrated in figures 1 , 2 and 4, is coplanar with the plate 18.

[0024] The movable portion 20 is fixed to supports 30; each support 30 is hinged at the bottom to the end of a respective rod 32 of a pneumatic piston 34 constrained to the plate 18.

[0025] When each pneumatic piston 34 has its rod 32 fully extended, the movable portion 20 is coplanar with the plate 18, as illustrated in figures 1 , 2 and 4. Conversely, when each pneumatic piston 34 has its rod retracted, the movable portion 20 is inclined relative to the plate 18, as shown in figures 3 and 5.

[0026] From the movable portion 20, on the side opposite to the one facing the plate 18, teeth 36 protrude at regular intervals.

[0027] Said teeth 36 are received in slots 38 created in a vertical plate 40 for abutment, fixed to the frame 11 .

[0028] The teeth 36 provide support to the pieces of fabric P even when the movable portion 20 is inclined. The teeth 36, in fact, always ensure continuous support up to the vertical plate 40.

[0029] The support apparatus 10 according to the invention therefore allows for a substantially horizontal support surface in the case where the pieces of fabric P, arranged one above the other, are few in number and therefore the edges B of the same pieces of fabric P do not result in significant thickening of the pieces P adjacent to the vertical plate 40.

[0030] In this configuration, the movable portion 20 is made coplanar with the plate 18, by fully extending the rod 32 relative to the pneumatic piston 34.

[0031] This configuration may also be useful when the pieces of fabric arranged on the support structure 12 are without edges or at least without folds that increase their thickness only partially.

[0032] In the case where the number of pieces of fabric P increases, their thickness increases particularly at their edge B.

[0033] In this situation, the movable portion 20 is inclined relative to the plate 18, by retracting the rod 32 into the pneumatic piston 34.

[0034] The inclination of the movable portion 20 can be adjusted depending on the thickness of the pieces of fabric P at the edge B. In other words, as the number of pieces of fabric increases, the movable portion 20 is inclined further, so as to make the upper piece of fabric substantially flat and thus improve its gripping by gripping means not illustrated or described here, as they are not the subject of the patent. The pieces of fabric P can always be held in contact with the vertical plate

[0035] 40, even when the movable portion 20 is inclined. In this position, the lower support is continuously provided by the teeth 36.

[0036] Variants are possible which are to be considered within the scope of protection; for example, the movable portion 20, instead of being inclined, may be vertically translatable relative to the plate 18. In other words, the movable portion 20 may be lowered or raised relative to the plate 18.

Claims

CLAIMS1) A support apparatus (10) of pieces of fabric P having a thickened edge B, comprising a frame (11 ) and a support structure (12) of said pieces of fabric P, constrained to the frame (11 ), characterised in that the support structure (12) comprises:- a plate (18);- a movable portion (20) adjacent to the plate (18), so as to create a continuous support surface of the pieces of fabric P;- handling means (30, 32, 34) of the movable portion (20); so that the position of the movable portion (20) can be modified so that the support surface has different heights depending on the overall thickness of the pieces of fabric P.2) Support apparatus (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the movable portion (20) is inclinable relative to the plate (18).3) Support apparatus (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the handling means comprise:- a support (30) fixed to the movable portion (20);- a piston (34) constrained to the plate (18);- a rod (32) which can protrude from or retract into the piston (32) and having its end hinged to the support (30).4) Support apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the movable portion is translatable relative to the plate.5) Support apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein teeth (36) protrude from the movable portion (20), on the side opposite to the side facing the plate (18).6) Supporting apparatus (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the small teeth (36) are received in respective slots (38) created in a vertical plate (40) on which the pieces of fabric P can go into contact.7) Support apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure (12) is vertically translatable relative to the frame (11 ).8) Support apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one positioning bar (24) is included which vertically protrudes from the support structure (12) and is suitable for holding the pieces of fabric P in position one above the other. 9) Support apparatus (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the positioning bar (24) has a variable height relative to the support structure (12).10)Support apparatus (10) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein at least three positioning bars (24) are included.

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