Zipper repair machine

Abstract

A zipper repair machine has a load-bearing structure (2) and a press (5) mounted inside it. The press (5) has a movable part (6) including an upper wheel (60) and a lower wheel (61), capable of rotating synchronously, an actuator (10) capable of pushing the upper wheel (60) against the lower wheel (61), and an elastic return component (13) to push the upper wheel (60) away from the lower wheel (61). A plurality of first seats (70) and a plurality of second seats (71), being facing each other, are obtained peripherally on the upper wheel (60) and the lower wheel (61), respectively. Each second seat (71) and each first seat (70) are configured to house a mould (811…81n) shaped to receive a zip end (T1…Tn) and, respectively, a punch (801…80n) designed to press on said end (T1…Tn) for its fixing to a reinforcing tape.

Description

[0001] Zipper repair machine

[0002] The invention concerns a zipper repair machine. Specifically, the machine is designed for applying end pieces, such as a zipper pin or a zipper box, also known as zipper ends. Zippers are also known as zips or sliders.

[0003] For metal, spiral, and injected plastic zippers, there are already commercially available pliers for applying a zipper pin to the intended reinforcing tape. The pliers allow the marking moulds to be replaced depending on the type and size of the zipper being repaired.

[0004] The case or box is applied with respective pliers each having a different mould depending on the size and characteristics of the zipper.

[0005] The drawback of commercially available pliers is that they are designed for use with only one type of zipper. There are pliers that allow the punch for applying a pin and a box on one type of zipper to be replaced with another punch suitable for another type of zipper.

[0006] A purpose of the present invention is to provide a machine capable of applying the box or the pin for different zippers without requiring the replacement of the related punches.

[0007] Another purpose, related to the previous one, is to speed up the application of boxes and pins, both on zippers to be repaired and on zippers to be made. The above-mentioned purposes are achieved by a zipper repair machine comprising:

[0008] a base,

[0009] a load-bearing structure,

[0010] a cover, a front wall, and side covering walls supported externally by the loadbearing structure, and

[0011] a press mounted internally to the load- bearing structure,

[0012] the press comprising:

[0013] - a movable part including an upper wheel and a lower wheel, the upper wheel and the lower wheel being configured to rotate synchronously,- an actuator mounted on the load-bearing structure and suitable of pushing the upper wheel against the lower wheel,

[0014] - an elastic return component suitable of moving the upper wheel away from the lower wheel,

[0015] - a plurality of seats facing each other, obtained peripherally in the upper wheel and in the lower wheel,

[0016] each seat of the lower wheel being configured so as to house a mould shaped to receive a zipper end, each seat of the upper wheel being configured so as to house a punch suitable for pressing on said zipper end received in the mould of the lower wheel for its fixing to a zipper reinforcing tape.

[0017] The advantages of the machine according to the invention are clear. It allows for the repair of a wide variety of zippers without having to change tools. This saves considerable time and reduces the number of tools required for a wide variety of zippers. Zippers can be classified based on the corresponding moulds and punches in the lower and upper wheels, respectively.

[0018] Further features and advantages of the invention will become most evident from the description of a zipper repair machine, illustrated by way of an indicative and non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a general perspective view of the zipper repair machine according to the invention;

[0019] - Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the machine in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the machine in the previous figures, without its housing;

[0020] - Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the machine shown in Figure 3; - Figure 5 is a perspective view of a movable press part of the machine according to the invention;

[0021] - Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the movable press part in Figure 5;- Figure 7 is a perspective view, with exploded portions, of an enlarged detail of the movable press part in Figure 5; and

[0022] - Figure 8 is an exemplary schematic view of the electrical connections of the machine according to the invention.

[0023] Reference is made initially to Figure 1 and Figure 2, which are a general perspective view of the zipper repair machine according to the invention and a partially exploded perspective view thereof, respectively.

[0024] The zipper repair machine according to the present invention comprises a base 1, a load-bearing structure 2, a cover 3, a front wall 4, and additional side covering walls 41, 42, 43, supported externally by the load-bearing structure 2 to form a container. The front wall 4 has an opening 40 designed to allow the positioning of a zipper end, such as a zipper pin or a zipper box, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figure 7.

[0025] Also referring to Figure 3, which is a perspective view of the machine according to the invention but shown without a container, the load-bearing structure 2 is represented as consisting of a front quadrilateral frame 20 and a rear quadrilateral frame 21, arranged vertically on the base 1. The front quadrilateral frame 20 and the rear quadrilateral frame 21 are joined by an upper horizontal crosspiece 22 and a lower horizontal crosspiece 23, better visible in Figure 4, which is an exploded perspective view of the machine shown in Figure 3.

[0026] Inside the load-bearing structure 2, a press 5 is mounted, which includes, among other things, a movable part 6, a power and control unit 7, a power supply 8, a motor 9 for the rotation of the movable part 6, an actuator 10. The power and control unit 7 and the power supply 8 are preferably arranged on the rear quadrilateral frame 21, the motor 9 is on the upper horizontal crosspiece 22, and the actuator 10 is on the front quadrilateral frame 20. The movable part 6, as shown, isolated from the rest, in perspective view in Figure 5, includes an upper wheel 60 and a lower wheel 61, coaxial with eachother and configured so as to rotate synchronously. In fact, a turret 62 is connected above and below to the load-bearing structure 2, as schematically shown in Figure 3, by means of a shaft 63 pivoted, at its ends, in the upper horizontal crosspiece 22 and in the lower horizontal crosspiece 23. The turret 62 comprises, facing each other, an upper ring 64 integral with the lower wheel 61 and a lower ring 65 integral with the upper wheel 60. To create this connection, the upper wheel 60 is equipped with a plurality of first through holes generally indicated as 66, and the lower ring 65 is equipped with a plurality of second through holes generally indicated as 67. The first through holes 66 of the upper wheel 60 and the second through holes 67 of the lower ring 65 are coaxial and are crossed by a plurality of first vertical rods 68 that rigidly connect the lower wheel 61 and the upper ring 64. A plurality of second vertical rods 69 rigidly coaxially connect the lower ring 65 and the upper wheel 60.

[0027] Reference is made now also to Figure 6, which is an exploded perspective view of the movable part of the press in Figure 5, and to Figure 7 that is a perspective view, with exploded portions, of an enlarged detail of the same movable part. The figures show that a plurality of first seats 70 are formed peripherally in the upper wheel 60 and a plurality of second seats 71 are formed peripherally in the lower wheel 61. The first seats 70 and the second seats 71 face each other.

[0028] Each second seat 71 of the lower wheel 61 is configured to house a mould, individually designated as 811...81n. Each mould is shaped to receive a zipper end, such as a pin or a box. It should be clear that each mould is different from the other to be suitable for receiving a specific zipper pin or a specific zipper box. Obviously, each mould has a cavity shaped as a negative impression, while the zipper pin and the zipper box are the positive model. Since different zippers may have zipper pins or zipper boxes of the same shapeand size, it is possible that the same mould is suitable for receiving a pin or a box of different zippers.

[0029] Each first seat 70 of the upper wheel 60 is configured to accommodate a punch 80i...80ndesigned to press on a zipper end received in the seat of the lower wheel 61 for attachment to a zipper reinforcing tape.

[0030] Returning to Figure 1, the aforementioned opening 40 in the front wall 4 allows an operator to manually position, although not shown, the appropriate zipper end onto a mould together with the tape (not shown) for mutual attachment. Provided in the front wall 4 is a control device with display 11 connected to the power and control unit 7. This device can be housed in a window 44 in the front wall 4, as shown in Figure 2.

[0031] The positioning in the opening 40 of a punching station, consisting of a punch and a mould arranged in the respective facing seats of the upper and lower wheels, is achieved via the display control device 11 and the power and control unit 7. For this operation, the motor 9 is used, which is connected via a belt 72 to a pulley 73, or other type of transmission, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The pulley 73 is integral with the top of the turret 62 and allows it to rotate to obtain the positioning of the desired punching station in front of the opening 40 in the front wall 4 of the machine container. The desired punching station is positioned using a rotation sensor 12 located on the horizontal crosspiece 22 and facing the movable part 6. The rotation sensor 12 is also connected to the power and control unit 7.

[0032] Once the desired punching station is reached, using the display control device 11, an operator places the zipper end to be attached to the reinforcing tape on the respective mould of the lower wheel 61. At this point, the actuator 10 of the press 5, mounted in the front quadrilateral frame 20 of the load-bearing structure 2, can be activated. The actuator 10 pushes the upper wheel 60 against the lower wheel 61, causing the punch to press onto the zipper end positioned in the mould to lock it to the reinforcing tape, not shown. After thisoperation, an elastic return component is arranged to move the upper wheel 60 away from the lower wheel 61, by sliding the upper wheel 60 along the plurality of first vertical rods 68. The elastic return component is represented as a spiral spring 13, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. It should be understood, however, that the elastic return component could be designed differently. The sliding of the upper wheel 60 is aided by bearings positioned at the multiplicity of first through holes 66 of the upper wheel 60 and of second through holes 67 of the lower ring 65, such as that indicated as 14 in Figure 5, through which the multiple rods 68 pass.

[0033] A vertical position sensor 15, capable of detecting the vertical position of the upper wheel 60, is mounted on the front quadrilateral frame 20 to monitor the movement of the upper wheel 60 and communicate it to the power and control 7.

[0034] With reference to Figure 8, which is a schematic view illustrating the electrical connections of the machine according to the invention, the main connections of the power and control 7 with the power supply 8, with the motor 9 for the rotation of the movable part 6 of the press 5, with the actuator 10 for pushing the upper wheel 60 against the lower wheel 61, with the display control device 11, with the rotation sensor 12 and the vertical position sensor 15.

[0035] In summary, the machine according to the present invention, electronically controlled via the display control device 11 or digital display, allows zipper repair or assembly by punch pressing the ends. These ends, generally made of metal, which serve to attach and release a zipper, are the so-called divisible part of the zipper.

[0036] The machine consists of two coaxial horizontal wheels that rotate synchronously and are then pressed in front of the opening in the front wall by the actuator that compresses the two wheels at the point corresponding to the punching station having the mould relevant to the zipper end and the corresponding punch. The number of seats can be chosen as desired.The moulds and their respective punches have different sizes and different distances from station to station, depending on the zipper end to be applied. Both are housed in the respective seats of the lower wheel and the upper wheel in a rigid or replaceable manner. In the first box, the moulds and the punches can be welded into the seats, in the second box can be inserted into guides with prismatic coupling.

[0037] The main steps of the machine operation are as follows:

[0038] the operator

[0039] - finds among the zipper ends Tl...Tn at his / her disposal the pin and the box for a zipper to be repaired;

[0040] - uses the display control device 11 located on the front wall 4 to select the punching station represented by the mould (81i...81n) and punch (80i...80n) for applying the appropriate end to the zipper to be repaired;

[0041] - receives the selected punching station into the opening 40 via the power and control unit 7, which uses the motor 9 to rotate the movable part 6 of the press 5;

[0042] - positions the zipper end in the mould;

[0043] - operates the actuator 10, via the control and power unit 7, which uses the rotation sensor 12 and the vertical position sensor 15, to push the upper wheel 60 against the lower wheel 61, so that the punch presses the end against the mould at the punching station selected for application of the end to the reinforcing tape;

[0044] - extracts the repaired zipper from the punching station after the upper wheel 60 has automatically moved away from the lower wheel 61 thanks to the elastic return component 13.

Claims

8Claims1. A zipper repair machine, comprising:a base (1),a load-bearing structure (2),a cover (3), a front wall (4) and side covering walls (41, 42, 43) supported externally by the load-bearing structure (2), anda press (5) mounted internally to the load-bearing structure (2),the press (5) being characterised in that it comprises:- a movable part (6) including an upper wheel (60) and a lower wheel (61), the upper wheel (60) and the lower wheel (61) being configured to rotate synchronously,- an actuator (10) mounted on the load-bearing structure (2) and suitable of pushing the upper wheel (60) against the lower wheel (61),- an elastic return component (13) suitable of moving the upper wheel (60) away from the lower wheel (61),- a plurality of first seats (70) obtained peripherally in the upper wheel (60) and a plurality of second seats (71) obtained peripherally in the lower wheel (61), the first seats (70) and the second seats (71) being facing each other, each second seat (71) of the lower wheel (61) being configured so as to house a mould (81i...81n) shaped to receive a zipper end (Tl...Tn), each first seat (70) of the upper wheel (60) being configured so as to house a punch (80i...80n) suitable for pressing on said zipper end (Tl...Tn) received in the mould (81i...81n) of the lower wheel (61) for its fixing to a zipper reinforcing tape.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said movable part (6) of the press (5) has the upper wheel (60) equipped with a multiplicity of first through holes (66), and includes a turret (62), connected above and below to the load-bearing structure (2),9the turret (62) comprising, facing each other, an upper ring (64) integral with the lower wheel (61) and a lower ring (65), equipped with a multiplicity of second through holes (67) and integral with the upper wheel (60), and a motor (9) for the rotation of the turret (62) mounted on the load-bearing structure (2), the turret (62) being joined to the motor (9) by a flexible transmission (72).

3. The machine according to claim 2, wherein- the upper ring (64) is joined to the lower wheel (61) by a first multiplicity of vertical rods (68), passing through said multiplicity of first through holes (66) and said multiplicity of second through holes (67) that are obtained coaxially in the upper wheel (60) and in the lower ring (65), respectively, and- the lower ring (65) is joined to the upper wheel (60) by a second multiplicity of vertical rods (69).

4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said front wall (4) has an opening (40) suitable for allowing the positioning of said zipper end (Tl...Tn) on said mould (81i...81n) shaped to receive said zipper end (Tl...Tn).

5. The machine according to claim 2, wherein said load-bearing structure (2) consists of a front quadrilateral frame (20) and a rear quadrilateral frame (21), arranged vertically on said base (1) and joined by at least one upper horizontal crosspiece (22) and a lower horizontal crosspiece (23).

6. The machine according to claim 5, wherein said motor (9) for the rotation of the turret (62) is mounted on said upper horizontal crosspiece (22), and said actuator (10) is mounted on said front quadrilateral frame (20).

7. The machine according to claim 5, further comprising a power supply (8) and a power and control unit (7), both mounted on the rear quadrilateral frame (21), the power and control unit (7) being connected to said actuator (10) and said motor (9) for the rotation of the turret (62).i o8. The machine according to claim 7, wherein the power and control unit (7) is further connected to a display control device (11) positioned on said front wall (4).

9. The machine according to claim 7, wherein the power and control unit (7) is further connected to a rotation sensor (12) suitable for detecting the rotation of the upper wheel (60) and the lower wheel (61), and to a vertical position sensor (15), suitable for detecting the vertical position of the upper wheel (60).

10. The machine according to claim 9, wherein said rotation sensor (12) is mounted centrally on said upper horizontal crosspiece (22), and said vertical position sensor (15) is mounted on said front quadrilateral frame (20).

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