Belt Loop Sewing Apparatus Fork Unit Fold Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional belt loop sewing methods often result in a 'dog ear' defect, where the end of the belt loop is not folded back straight, leading to a poor appearance and reduced commercial value of the sewn product, especially when using materials with oblique textures that are difficult to fold.
Innovation Solution
A belt loop sewing apparatus with a holding unit, clamp unit, and fork unit that allows for precise control of the belt loop's fold-back direction, using a controller to move the loop clamp and rotate the fork unit to ensure proper alignment and folding of the belt loop ends, preventing protrusions and dog ear formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a guide member is provided on both side ends of a belt loop to regulate the fold-back portion, then the belt loop can be folded back in the longitudinal direction, but the end of the belt loop still protrudes beyond the guide member when the raw material has oblique texture and bends obliquely, resulting in dog ear formation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the static guide member with a dynamic fork unit that can rotate around an axis. The fork unit includes a fork that interposes the belt loop and rotates to fold the end toward the central side, adapting to different material characteristics through controlled rotation rather than relying on fixed geometric constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The controller moves the loop clamp holding the belt loop by a predetermined amount in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction before rotating the fork unit to fold the end. This preliminary positioning action ensures proper alignment is established before the folding operation begins
2Ease of manufacture
If the end of the belt loop is folded back toward the central side without proper regulation, then the sewing process is simple, but the end protrudes from the central side causing dog ear and poor appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The fork unit acts as an intermediary tool between the loop clamp and the belt loop end. The fork interposes the belt loop and provides a controlled rotation mechanism that mediates the folding action, ensuring the end is folded precisely toward the central side without protrusion
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces manual or simple mechanical folding with an automated control system that coordinates the loop clamp movement and fork unit rotation. The controller automates the sequence of operations to achieve precise fold-back alignment
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a belt loop sewing apparatus including: a holding unit which holds one of ends in a longitudinal direction of a belt loop disposed in the longitudinal direction; a clamp unit which includes a loop clamp capable of clamping or releasing the other end of the belt loop from a holding position set by the holding unit and which moves the loop clamp in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction; a fork unit which includes, on a tip, a fork formed into a forked shape and interposing the belt loop between the holding unit and the loop clamp, which is rotatable around an axis in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction and movable in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction together with the loop clamp, and which folds one of the ends of the belt loop back toward a central side of the belt loop by a rotation of the fork unit; and a controller which controls the rotation of the fork unit in order to fold the one of the ends of the belt loop back toward the central side of the belt loop, wherein the held belt loop is moved in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction to place the belt loop in a sewing position of a sewing machine, and wherein the controller moves the loop clamp holding the belt loop by a predetermined amount in the direction crossing the longitudinal direction and then rotates the fork unit to fold the end of the belt loop.