Patent US3722441A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3722441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic feeding mechanism for peripheral operations
Assignee: USM Corp
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Filing: 1971-01-18
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-01-18
Abstract
Abstract An electro-pneumatically controlled mechanism is provided, for instance for use with a sewing machine having a rectilinear feed means, to enable the curved and/or straight marginal portions of flexible sheet-like material to be automatically fed and processed continuously through the operating zone of a tool (such as a needle) of the machine. To aid in attaining bias of an edge of the work against an edge gage a work supporting table has an at least partly arcuate periphery over which the work may be draped. A corner sensing means actuates a mechanism for gripping a portion of the work at the proper time and swinging it approximately about a turning center thereby progressively positioning the work relative to the tool. In an illustrative over-edging machine, which is provided with conventional trimming means, a rectangular work piece thus progressively has its successive corners trimmed to a predetermined radius and sewn. A second sensor counts the successive corners turned in order to automatically stop operations when all or a desired portion of a periphery has been processed. A third sensor automatically serves to check pressure of the engagement of a work edge with the edge gage to prevent unwanted buckling or folding of the work edge.
Inventors
- 👤 C Kitchener
- 👤 P Rumball
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:33
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05B; D05B35/00; D05B35/10; D05B35/102; D05B33/00; D05D; D05D2207/00; D05D2207/02; D05D2305/00; D05D2305/32; D05D2305/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A machine for progressively operating on the margin of a flexible work piece having curved and/or straight peripheral portions, comprising an operating tool, a work support, an edge gage on the support ahead of the tool, feed means for rectilinearly moving the work piece on the support past the gage and to and through the operating zone to the tool, work guidance mechanism responsive to the position of an edge of the work ahead of the tool for urging the work edge toward progressive contact with the gage, and a work spreader plate movable toward and from parallel operative relation to the work support to aid said guidance mechanism in progressively presenting the work edge to the tool with the work outspread.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A machine for progressively operating on the margin of a flexible work piece having curved and/or straight peripheral portions, comprising an operating tool, a work support, an edge gage on the support ahead of the tool, feed means for rectilinearly moving the work piece on the support past the gage and to and through the operating zone to the tool, work guidance mechanism responsive to the position of an edge of the work ahead of the tool for urging the work edge toward progressive contact with the gage, and a work spreader plate movable toward and from parallel operative relation to the work support to aid said guidance mechanism in progressively presenting the work edge to the tool with the work outspread.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination with an overedging machine having stitch forming instrumentalities including a needle and a folder, a flat bed for slidably supporting a flexible work piece to be overedged, rectilinear feed mechanism adjacent to the needle, means including an edge gage ahead of the needle for progressively guiding an edge of the work piece to and through the operating zone of the needle and said folder, said guidance mechanism comprising a spreader plate mounted for relative movement heightwise of the bed for accommodating a work piece on the bed substantially in its own plane, a work turning member engageable with the work on the bed, and means automatically operable to rotate said member while engaging one locality of the work to slidably swing the work between the spreader plate and the table and tend to maintain an edge of the work to be overedged progressively in contact with the folder and contact or near contact with said edge gage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination with an overedging machine having stitch forming instrumentalities including a needle and a folder, a flat bed for slidably supporting a flexible work piece to be overedged, rectilinear feed mechanism adjacent to the needle, means including an edge gage ahead of the needle for progressively guiding an edge of the work piece to and through the operating zone of the needle and said folder, said guidance mechanism comprising a spreader plate mounted for relative movement heightwise of the bed for accommodating a work piece on the bed substantially in its own plane, a work turning member engageable with the work on the bed, and means automatically operable to rotate said member while engaging one locality of the work to slidably swing the work between the spreader plate and the table and tend to maintain an edge of the work to be overedged progressively in contact with the folder and contact or near contact with said edge gage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein the guidance mechanism includes a control circuit comprising a sensor responsive to movement of the work edgewise relative to the edge gage for operating said work turning member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein the work turning member is operatively connected to said control circuit for effecting heightwise movement of the member into and out of work engaging relation to a work piece on the bed at the limits of swinging movement of the piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said circuit includes a second sensor arranged to be actuated by said edgewise movement of the work for counting corners of the work to be overedged.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second sensor is adapted to predeterminedly stop operation of the machine and elevate the spreader plate from the bed prior to said cessation of operation of the machine on the work whereby beginning and terminal overedging may overlap without interference from the plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said circuit includes a sensing means adjacent to the edge gage for controlling by air flow the pressure of edgewise engagement of the work with said gage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sensor includes a pair of fluidic elements respectively having graded orifices aligned for communication and interruption by the work edge to provide a range of sensitivity in accommodating work pieces having different degrees of perviousness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a machine having a tool for progressively operating on the margin of a flexible work piece having convex corner portions, a work support having an edge gage positioned thereon ahead of the tool, a work spreading plate smaller than and overlying the work support and movable heightwise thereof to accommodate reception of the work piece therebetween, means operative adjacent to the operating zone of the tool for rectilinearly feeding the margin through said zone, a work turning member cooperative with the work support and movable heightwise thereof, and corner sensing means responsive to relative movement of approach of the work edge with respect to said gage for angularly operating the turning member to urge a corner portion of the work piece to progressively pass through said zone while other portions of the work continue to be acted on by said rectilinear marginal feed means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a machine having a tool for progressively operating on the margin of a flexible work piece having convex corner portions, a work support having an edge gage positioned thereon ahead of the tool, a work spreading plate smaller than and overlying the work support and movable heightwise thereof to accommodate reception of the work piece therebetween, means operative adjacent to the operating zone of the tool for rectilinearly feeding the margin through said zone, a work turning member cooperative with the work support and movable heightwise thereof, and corner sensing means responsive to relative movement of approach of the work edge with respect to said gage for angularly operating the turning member to urge a corner portion of the work piece to progressively pass through said zone while other portions of the work continue to be acted on by said rectilinear marginal feed means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein a control circuit includes a corner counting means responsive to operation of said corner sensing means a predetermined number of times for terminating operation of the machine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
A machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said corner counting means is adapted to separate the work spreading plate and said work support heightwise in response to operation of the corner sensing means a predetermined number of times.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein said control circuit is adapted to maintain said work turning member in work engaging relation after a predetermined number of corners are sensed by said corner sensing means whereby angular return of the member is effective to remove the work piece from said tool and edge gage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |