Sewing Machine Workpiece-Moving Device with Decoupled Rotation Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sewing machines face a challenge in quickly shifting the rotation motor, which increases the load on the conveyance device and reduces its capability due to the weight of the rotation motor, leading to deteriorated sewing quality, especially in regions requiring unbalanced stitches.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a workpiece-moving device that separates the drive unit from the conveyance motor, using a transmission system with a first rail, a second rail, and a linking component to transmit driving force to a rotatable loading table, allowing for independent operation and reduced load on the conveyance device, enabling efficient translation and rotation of the workpiece.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the rotation motor is integrated with the conveyance device, then the workpiece can be rotated during conveyance, but the conveyance device's load increases and shifting speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece rotation capabilityVSAvoidconveyance shifting speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the workpiece-moving function into two independent parts: the conveyance device for translating the workpiece and a separate rotation device for rotating it. The rotation device includes its own motor and drive mechanism that operates independently from the conveyance device, allowing each to be optimized for its specific function without bearing unnecessary load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation motor and its drive mechanism are extracted from the conveyance device and placed as a separate rotation device. This extraction removes the rotation motor's weight from the conveyance device's load, enabling faster shifting while maintaining the ability to rotate the workpiece during conveyance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the rotation motor is integrated with the conveyance device, then the workpiece can be rotated, but the drive unit's load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworkpiece rotation capabilityVSAvoiddrive unit load
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The drive system is segmented into a conveyance drive unit and a rotation drive unit. The rotation drive unit includes the rotation motor, transmission means (gears, belts, or chains), and drive mechanism that operates independently, so the conveyance drive unit only needs to provide force for translation, not rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation motor and its entire drive mechanism are extracted from the conveyance device's drive unit. This separate rotation device bears the rotational load independently, reducing the conveyance drive unit's load and allowing each drive unit to be sized appropriately for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This solution allows for high-speed, high-accuracy conveyance and rotation of the workpiece, reducing the influence of the rotation motor's weight on the conveyance process and improving sewing quality by enabling efficient and precise movement of the workpiece during sewing operations.

Implementation Method 1

a linking component that slidably links the first rail to the second rail; to transmit driving force of the drive unit to the loading table to rotate the loading table

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

a first pulley; and a holding component that links the second rail to the first pulley, to transmit driving force of the drive unit to the loading table to rotate the loading table

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulley: Pulley

Implementation Method 3

a first gear; and a holding component that links the second rail to the first gear, to transmit driving force of the drive unit to the loading table to rotate the loading table

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP3101166B1Workpiece-moving device and sewing machine using same
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3101166B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3101166B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3101166B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a workpiece-moving device that is installed to a sewing machine without depending thereon, and does not share a drive unit's weight with a conveyance device, and can rotate without any restriction. The workpiece-moving device that translates and rotates a workpiece during operation of a sewing machine, includes a frame to be translated by a conveyance motor, a loading table on which the workpiece is put, the loading table being disposed rotatably to the frame and translated together with the frame, a drive unit that is installed so as to keep unchanged the drive unit's relative position to the sewing machine even when the frame and the loading table are translated by the conveyance motor's driving, and a transmission means to transmit driving force of the drive unit to the loading table to rotate the loading table. Furthermore, another workpiece-moving device includes a frame to be translated by a conveyance motor, a loading table on which the workpiece is put, the loading table being disposed rotatably to the frame and translated together with the frame, and a regulation means to regulate part of movement of the loading table translated with the frame, into movement in a direction different from a direction in which the whole loading table is translated.