Multi-Needle Tape Guide for Single-Pass Quilted Handle Attachment

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for applying tape strips or handles to quilted mattress covers require separate post-quilting sewing steps, increasing production time and costs.

Innovation Solution

Integrating the application of tape strips into the quilting process using a multi-needle quilting machine with a tape guiding device, where the same stitching sequences that join the quilted material layers also secure the tape strips to the mattress border panel, allowing for the creation of handles or decorative strips during the border quilting process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tape strips are applied to quilted mattress covers using separate post-quilting sewing steps, then the tape strips can be securely attached to the quilted product, but the production time increases and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the tape strip attachment process with the quilting process by integrating a tape guide into the multi-needle quilting machine. The same stitching sequences that join the quilted material layers are used to secure the tape strips, eliminating the need for separate post-quilting sewing steps and reducing production time while maintaining attachment security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The quilting machine is modified to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it both quilts the mattress cover by joining layers and attaches tape strips to the surface. The stitching mechanism serves dual purposes, creating both the quilted pattern and securing the tape strips in one operational pass

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If tape strips are applied to quilted mattress covers using separate post-quilting sewing steps, then the tape strips can be securely attached to the quilted product, but the production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the tape strip attachment process with the quilting process by integrating a tape guide into the multi-needle quilting machine. The same stitching sequences that join the quilted material layers are used to secure the tape strips, eliminating the need for separate post-quilting sewing steps and reducing production time while maintaining attachment security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The quilting machine is modified to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it both quilts the mattress cover by joining layers and attaches tape strips to the surface. The stitching mechanism serves dual purposes, creating both the quilted pattern and securing the tape strips in one operational pass

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate sewing processes are used to apply tape and join quilted layers, then each function can be performed with dedicated stitching, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestitching function specializationVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the tape strip attachment process with the quilting process by integrating a tape guide into the multi-needle quilting machine. The same stitching sequences that join the quilted material layers are used to secure the tape strips, eliminating the need for separate post-quilting sewing steps and reducing production time while maintaining attachment security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The quilting machine is modified to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it both quilts the mattress cover by joining layers and attaches tape strips to the surface. The stitching mechanism serves dual purposes, creating both the quilted pattern and securing the tape strips in one operational pass

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8776295B2Multi-needle quilting tape guide apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2014.07.15 GRIBETZ LLC

AI summary

A multi-needle quilting machine (20) is provided with a tape or ribbon guide (30) that is operated by a method by which a narrow strip (32) is fed against a facing layer (11a) of a wide multi-layered material (24) as it is fed into the quilting machine. In the quilting machine (20), series of chain stitches are sewn, at least one of which joins the tape (32) and layers of the multi-layered material (24) together with the same thread in a quilting process, thereby applying the tape (32) to the quilted product in a single quilting operation without the need for a post-quilting tape application step. The tape may form a decorative strip or have unsewn sections that serve as handles for a mattress when the quilted product is formed into a mattress cover.