Embroidery Frame Clamping for Variable Cloth Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional embroidery frames with air cylinders for holding workpiece cloth are complex, costly, and fail to provide a consistent clamping force across varying cloth thicknesses and materials, leading to potential displacement during embroidery.
Innovation Solution
A clamp-type embroidery frame utilizing a hold assisting member with adjustable thickness and material, such as thin plates, pile, abrasive grain sheets, or urethane foam, attached to either the upper or lower frame to enhance holding force without the need for air cylinders, ensuring reliable clamping of workpieces with different thicknesses and materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If air cylinders are used as drive source for clamp mechanism, then sufficient clamping force can be obtained, but construction becomes complicated and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pneumatic system (air cylinders) with a purely mechanical spring-based clamp mechanism. The spring member provides the necessary clamping force through elastic deformation, eliminating the need for complex pneumatic components while maintaining sufficient holding capability for workpiece cloths of various thicknesses
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member automatically adjusts to provide appropriate clamping force based on the workpiece cloth thickness. The elastic nature of the spring allows it to self-regulate the force applied, eliminating the need for external control systems or drive sources while maintaining reliable clamping
2Device complexity
If spring force is used to press upper frame against lower frame, then construction is simplified, but sufficient holding force cannot be obtained for slippery or thin materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the surface properties of the spring member by providing a hold assisting member with high-friction surface treatment. This changes the friction parameter between the clamping surface and workpiece cloth, enabling the spring force to effectively hold even slippery or thin materials without increasing construction complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The hold assisting member acts as an intermediary between the spring member and the workpiece cloth. It enhances the interaction by providing a high-friction surface that prevents slipping, allowing the spring force to be effectively transmitted to hold the workpiece securely
3Ease of manufacture
If spring force is used for clamping, then production cost decreases, but amount of flexure increases for thick workpiece cloth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the physical parameters of the spring member, specifically its stiffness and dimensions, to optimize the balance between flexure and clamping force. By carefully selecting spring characteristics, the system achieves sufficient clamping capability with controlled flexure while maintaining simple construction and low production cost
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution simplifies the frame's construction, provides a stable clamping force across various cloth thicknesses and materials, prevents displacement, and improves holding performance, making it suitable for diverse embroidery tasks without the complexity and cost of air cylinder systems.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member has been proposed to be used in the above-described clamp mechanism to press the upper frame against the lower frame by a spring force thereof
Implementation Method 2
provides a hold assisting member... having a function of enhancing hold of the workpiece cloth
Data Source
AI summary
An embroidery frame holding workpiece cloth for embroidery sewing includes a lower frame receiving a lower side of the workpiece cloth and having a cloth clamping side, an upper frame holding the workpiece cloth in cooperation with the lower frame between the frames and having a cloth holding side, a clamp mechanism pressing the upper frame against the lower frame and retaining the upper frame in a pressing state, and a hold assisting member enhancing hold of the workpiece cloth and detachably attached to the cloth holding side of at least one of the upper and lower frames.