Sewing System Cloth Conveyor Suction Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sewing systems face challenges in maintaining productivity due to inefficiencies in feeding cloth to sewing machines, leading to potential errors and defects in sewn products, particularly in aligning and stitching clothing components like T-shirts.

Innovation Solution

A sewing system incorporating a cloth conveyor with a robot and conveying member that uses suction surfaces to hold and adjust the position of cloth components, along with a cloth position adjustment device and fine movement mechanisms, ensures precise alignment and feeding of cloth parts to sewing machines, enabling accurate stitching and preventing defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional cloth feeding methods are used, then the sewing system can operate, but productivity deteriorates due to inefficiencies in feeding cloth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproductivity of sewn productsVSAvoidtime for feeding cloth
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical cloth feeding mechanisms with a robot system that uses suction surfaces to hold and convey cloth components. This substitution enables more precise and efficient cloth handling, directly improving productivity by eliminating the time losses associated with traditional feeding methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs suction surfaces that utilize pneumatic principles to hold and transport cloth components. The robot system uses controlled suction to grasp and move cloth accurately, replacing mechanical feeding methods and significantly reducing the time required for cloth feeding operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional cloth feeding methods are used, then the system can function, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to alignment errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment of cloth componentsVSAvoidaccuracy of stitching
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces imprecise mechanical feeding mechanisms with a robot system equipped with suction surfaces. This substitution provides superior control over cloth positioning and alignment, ensuring that cloth components are accurately aligned before stitching, thereby improving manufacturing precision and stitching reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates a detector that acquires images of cloth components and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit processes this image data to determine precise positions and adjusts the robot's cloth handling accordingly, ensuring accurate alignment and positioning for reliable stitching operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional feeding methods are used, then operation is simple, but device complexity increases to achieve precise alignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidcomplexity of feeding system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a robot system that performs multiple functions: it holds cloth with suction surfaces, conveys cloth to the sewing machine, positions cloth components, and adjusts alignment. This multi-functional approach achieves precise alignment while consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate devices into a single integrated system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a control unit as an intermediary that coordinates between the detector, robot system, and sewing machine. The control unit processes image data from the detector and translates it into precise robot movements, serving as a smart mediator that enables precise alignment through intelligent control rather than mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 system enhances productivity by ensuring accurate and efficient feeding of cloth components, reducing defects and improving the alignment of clothing parts, thus maintaining high-quality production of sewn products.

Implementation Method 1

a conveying member (6) that conveys the cloth (C) to the sewing machine (2)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3581693B1Sewing system
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 JUKI CORP
  • EP3581693B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3581693B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3581693B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sewing system which includes a detector for detecting an edge of a cloth installed on an installation table, a cloth conveyor for conveying the cloth from the installation table to a sewing machine, and a controller, wherein the cloth conveyor includes a holding member that holds the cloth, and the controller includes a holding position decision portion that determines a holding position of the cloth based on detection data of the detector, and a conveyance control portion that controls the cloth conveyor such that the holding member holds the holding position. In the sewing system according to the above, it is possible to prevent deterioration in productivity of sewn products.