U.S. patent application number 14/361443 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-11 for sewing machine and process for sewing together, by means of said sewing machine, at least two overlapping flaps of textile.
The applicant listed for this patent is SANTONI S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Tiberio Lonati.
Application Number | 20140360419 14/361443 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45571653 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140360419 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lonati; Tiberio |
December 11, 2014 |
SEWING MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR SEWING TOGETHER, BY MEANS OF SAID
SEWING MACHINE, AT LEAST TWO OVERLAPPING FLAPS OF TEXTILE
Abstract
A sewing machine of an "overlook" "cut-and-sew" type for sewing
together at least two flaps (3a, 3b) of textile that are
overlapping and belonging to one or more textile articles,
comprising at least a needle plate (2) suitable for supporting at
least two overlapping flaps (3a, 3b) of textile of one or more
textile articles which are sliding for forming sewing stitches
(10a, 10b, 10c), the needle plate (2) being provided with
through-openings defining respective seatings (4) for passage of
sewing needles (5) and at least a lateral appendage (6) defining a
sliding line (7) for the sewing stitches (10a, 10b, 10c); a lower
crochet hook (14); an upper crochet hook (15); and at least a
sewing needle bearing device (11) with at least three sewing
needles (5) mounted on the device (11), reciprocally flanked,
aligned to one another and supplied with respective sewing threads
(10), and being suitable for passing through the seatings (4) of
the needle plate (2) for sewing the over-lapping flaps (3a, 3b) of
textile, the needle plate (2) being provided with at least three of
the seatings (4) for passage of the sewing needles (5), each of the
seatings (4) for passage of the sewing needles (5) being configured
for being crossed by at least a respective sewing needle, the
needle plate (2) being provided with respective separating portions
(8) suitable for at least partially separating each seating for
passage of sewing needles (5) from the adjacent seatings (4) for
passage of needles (5), at least at the passage zone (9) of the
needles (5), such as to enable formation in parallel of at least
three sewing stitches (10a, 10b, 10c) that are distinct and
reciprocally distanced from one another.
Inventors: |
Lonati; Tiberio; (Brescia,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SANTONI S.P.A. |
BRESCIA |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
45571653 |
Appl. No.: |
14/361443 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
November 21, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2012/056593 |
371 Date: |
May 29, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/475.26 ;
112/129; 112/130; 112/162; 112/242 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05B 73/12 20130101;
D05B 1/20 20130101; D05B 37/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/475.26 ;
112/129; 112/162; 112/242; 112/130 |
International
Class: |
D05B 1/20 20060101
D05B001/20; D05B 73/12 20060101 D05B073/12; D05B 37/04 20060101
D05B037/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2011 |
IT |
MI2011A002188 |
Claims
1. A sewing machine of an overlock cut-and-sew type for sewing
together at least two flaps (3a, 3b) of textile that are
overlapping and belonging to one or more textile articles,
comprising at least: a needle plate (2) suitable for supporting at
least two overlapping flaps (3a, 3b) of textile of one or more
textile articles which are sliding for forming sewing stitches
(10a, 10b, 10c), the needle plate (2) being provided with
through-openings defining respective seatings (4) for passage of
sewing needles (5) and of at least a lateral appendage (6) defining
a sliding line (7) for the sewing stitches (10a, 10b, 10c); a lower
crochet hook (14); an upper crochet hook (15); an advancing device
suitable for advancing said overlapping flaps (3a, 3b) of textile
along an advancement direction with respect to said needle plate
(2) during a sewing operation; a device (12) for cutting said
overlapping flaps (3a, 3b) of textile in correspondence of a
cutting line (20) of the textile, in proximity and upstream of said
lateral appendage (6) along said advancement direction of said
flaps (3a, 3b) of textile; at least a thread feeder (13) for
needles suitable for supplying sewing thread (10) to the needles
(5) of said sewing machine; at least a tying thread feeder (16) for
supplying tying thread (17) to at least one from between said upper
crochet (15) and said lower crochet (14); a stretcher device (18)
of the tying thread (17) from said upper crochet (15) and/or said
lower crochet (14); at least a sewing needle-bearing device (11);
characterised in that it comprises at least three sewing needles
(5) mounted on said sewing needle-bearing (11) device, reciprocally
flanked, aligned to one another and supplied with respective sewing
threads (10), said sewing needles (5) being suitable for passing
through said seatings (4) of the needle plate (2) for sewing the
overlapping flaps (3a, 3b) of textile, said needle plate (2) being
provided with at least three of said seatings (4) for passage of
the sewing needles (5), each of said seatings (4) for passage of
the sewing needles (5) being configured for being crossed by at
least a respective sewing needle, the needle plate (2) being
provided with respective separating portions (8) suitable for at
least partially separating each seating for passage of sewing
needles (5) from the adjacent seatings (4) for passage of needles
(5), at least at the passage zone (9) of the needles (5), such as
to enable formation in parallel of at least three sewing stitches
(10a, 10b, 10c) that are distinct and reciprocally distanced from
one another.
2. The sewing machine of claim 1, characterised in that each of
said seatings (4) for passage of sewing needles (5) is dimensioned
and configured for the passage of a single and corresponding sewing
needle.
3. The sewing machine of claim 1, characterised in that said
seatings (4) for passage of sewing needles (5) are entirely
separated from one another over their whole extension by means of
said separating portions (8) and/or are defined by through-openings
that are completely distinct from one another.
4. The sewing machine of claim 1, characterised in that said
needles (5) are mounted on the needle-bearing device (11) at a
reciprocal distance defined by an interaxis comprised between 1.4
and 2.8 mm, or between 1.5 and 2.5 mm or between 1.6 and 2.0 mm
and/or wherein said needles (5) are reciprocally equidistanced,
being mounted on the needle-bearing device (11) at equal distances
between adjacent needles (5).
5. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein at least said lateral
appendage (6) defining a sliding line (7) and/or at least one of
said separating portions (8) and/or all said separating portions
(8) are inferiorly terminated or tapered for enabling the passage
of said lower crochet (14) in proximity of said needle plate
(2).
6. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein said sliding line (7) of
said lateral appendage (6) exhibits, at least in a tract extending
between the passage zone (9) of the sewing needles (5) and a front
end portion of the appendage (6), or over a whole extension
thereof, a conformation which is substantially straight and
transversal with respect to a prevalent longitudinal development
direction of the lateral appendage (6) and/or to the sliding
direction of said flaps (3a, 3b) of textile.
7. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein said lateral appendage
(6) exhibits a front portion having a narrowed end, having a
thickness measured in a plane passing through an upper rest surface
of said needle plate (2) of less than 2 mm or 1 mm or 0.5 mm, and a
rear base portion, opposite the front end portion, having a
thickness, transversal to its longitudinal extension, comprised
between 4 mm and 7 mm, or between 5 mm and 6.5 mm, or between 5.5
and 6 mm.
8. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein said lateral appendage
(6) exhibits, at said passage zone (9) of the sewing needles (5), a
thickness transversal to its longitudinal extension that is
comprised between 3 mm and 6 mm, or between 4 mm and 5.5 mm, or
between 4.2 and 5 mm, or wherein said transversal thickness is
greater than 3 mm, or greater than 3.5 mm, or greater than 4 mm, or
greater than 4.2 mm.
9. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein four of said sewing
needles (5) are comprised, mounted on the needle-bearing device
(11) and wherein said needle plate (2) is provided with four of
said openings for the passage of sewing needles (5).
10. A process for sewing at least two overlapping flaps (3a, 3b) of
textile together, by means of an overlock cut-and-sew sewing
machine (1), comprising at least steps of: arranging at least two
overlapping flaps (3a,3b) of textile in correspondence of a needle
plate (2) of a sewing machine (1) of the overlock cut and sew type,
the needle plate (2) being provided with at least three openings,
at least partially distinct from one another, for passage of sewing
needles (5); advancing said flaps (3a, 3b) of textile with respect
to said needle plate (2); progressively cutting a lateral portion
of the flaps (3a, 3b) of textile; passing at least a respective
sewing needle, fed with a respective sewing thread (10), through
each of the three openings for the passage of sewing needles (5),
such that the at least three reciprocally-flanked sewing needles
(5) sew said flaps (3a, 3b) of textile one to the other realising
at least three distinct sewing stitches (10a, 10b, 10c),
cooperating with at least a lower crochet (14) and at least an
upper crochet (15), at least one of the crochets being fed with a
tying thread (17).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a sewing machine of the
"overlock" "cut-and-sew" type for sewing together at least two
superposed flaps of textile and belonging to one or more textile
articles. The invention further relates to a process for sewing
together at least two superposed flaps of textile by means of a
sewing machine of the overlock cut-and-sew type.
[0002] The "overlock" "cut-and-sew" sewing machine can be for
example a machine of the type products by UNION SPECIAL.RTM. in one
of the models from the 9M series, or the like, as described for
example in the relative instruction manual and catalog, 103XQA-GR,
of November 2006.
[0003] The type of stitch known as overlock or also as overedge is
in itself widely known in the sector and will therefore not be
described in further detail in the present description. As is
known, this type of sewing machine can be used for numerous
applications, among which also the sewing of light-textile articles
such as ladies' tights, and the like. These sewing machines are in
particular applicable as components of known machines for
assembling textile articles automatically, in which a plurality of
articles are assembled to one another (for example the assembling
of two tubular stocking legs to form a single textile article known
as panty-hose).
[0004] In the field of these assembly machines of textile articles,
sewing machines of the overlock cut-and-sew type completely
automatically perform the cutting of at least two flaps of textile,
by moving appropriate sewing needles and elements of known type
known as "crotchets", without any intervention by an operator.
[0005] It is known that the type of sewing realised by sewing
machines of the overlock cut-and-sew type, in which two flaps of
textiles are sewn superposed on one another, can in some cases
exhibit an excessive thickness for an optimal use of the product,
and thus can be aesthetically unattractive and uncomfortable for
the wearer of the product.
[0006] An example of this known type of sewing machine is described
in patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,079,882A (Washburn) which illustrates a
sewing machine of the overedge type with a specific needle plate
and two sewing needs and the content of which, relatively to the
description of the formation of the sewing stitches is to be
considered incorporated in the present text, for reference.
[0007] The two-stitch sewing realised by this machine enables
effective sewing of the two flaps of the textile, but is
excessively thick for some particular applications, for example for
sewing tights and in general light textiles, with respect to which
the presence of the stitching in relief can be annoying.
[0008] A further example of a sewing machine of the overedge type
is illustrated in patent U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,509A (Cox), which
describes a machine provided with three sewing needles cooperating
with a needle plate having two passage seatings for the needles, so
that a first needle passes in the relative seating, and the
remaining two needles pass in another common seating. This solution
is proposed in the attempt to obtain a stitching that is less thick
and equally efficient, but the result is only partially
satisfying.
[0009] A third solution that has been proposed is illustrated in
patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,825 (Marchetti), in which the sewing
machine of the overlock type is equipped with two sewing needles
and with a needle plate having a lateral appendage having a first
portion with substantially parallel sides and a second portion
which narrows. The contents of the patent, relatively to the
description of the structure of the textile machine and the forming
of the sewing stitches, is to be considered as incorporated in the
present text for reference.
[0010] Such solution was aimed at enabling obtaining an "overlock"
stitching which might thereafter be better stretched out, better
separating the two sewn flaps of textile, and therefore having a
less thick seam. This solution too is not without drawbacks, as the
presence of the first parallel position can obstruct the sliding of
the sewing stitches and as the conformation of the needle plate
illustrated in the patent determines a stitching that is not very
tight at the point of join of the two textile flaps, with the risk,
especially in the case of light textiles, of an opening appearing
in the stitching at some points, with aesthetic and functional
drawbacks.
[0011] The aim of the present invention is to obviate one or more
of the above-described drawbacks.
[0012] An aim of the invention is to provide a sewing machine of an
overlock cut-and-sew type which enables sewing together at least
two flaps of textile that are overlapping and belonging to one or
more textile articles, such as to realise textile articles of high
quality and substantially free of imperfections.
[0013] A further aim of the invention is to provide a sewing
machine of an overlock cut-and-sew type which enables reducing
production waste.
[0014] A further aim of the invention is to provide a sewing
machine of an overlock cut-and-sew type which enables obtaining
sewing of a high quality and perfectly "closed" at the joining
point between the two flaps of textile.
[0015] A further aim of the invention is to provide a sewing
machine of an overlock cut-and-sew type which enables obtaining
stitched seams which are controlledly extendable to achieve a
sewing effect that is wider and/or flatter with respect to known
stitched seams.
[0016] A further aim of the invention is to provide a sewing
machine of an overlock cut-and-sew type which enables obtaining
products having a high degree of uniformity within the range of the
various articles produced.
[0017] A further aim of the invention is to provide a sewing
machine of an overlock cut-and-sew type which enables obtaining
stitched seams simply, rapidly and automatically, in particular
also integrating the sewing machine in an automatic machine for
assembly of textile articles.
[0018] A further aim of the invention is to provide a sewing
machine of an overlock cut-and-sew type which is simple, sturdy and
economical to manufacture, also in terms of modest modifications
with respect to the sewing machines of known type.
[0019] These and other aims besides, which will better emerge
during the course of the following description, are substantially
attained by a sewing of an overlock cut-and-sew type, and a process
for use thereof, according to the appended claims, in any
combination with one another and/or with one or more of the aspects
indicated herein below.
[0020] In an aspect, taken alone or in combination with any one of
the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the invention
further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one of the
appended claims or indicated aspects, in which the upper crochet is
supplied with the tying thread and the lower crochet is not
supplied with the tying thread and is therefore "blind", or wherein
the lower crochet is supplied with the tying thread and the upper
crochet is not supplied with the tying thread and is therefore
"blind", or wherein both the upper and lower crochets are supplied
with the tying thread.
[0021] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, wherein at least one
of the seatings for passage of sewing needles is dimensioned and
configured for the passage of two adjacent sewing needles.
[0022] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, comprising at least
two separating portions or wherein the separating portions each
exhibit a thickness of at least 0.6 mm or at least 0.8 mm or at
least 1 mm.
[0023] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, wherein the separating
portions exhibit a longitudinal extension along an advancement
direction of the flaps of textile of at least 0.5 cm, or at least 1
cm, or at least 1.5 cm.
[0024] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, wherein the needle
plate is made of a metal material and wherein the openings defining
the seatings are realised by slot-milling of the needle plate.
[0025] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, wherein the separating
portions are defined by separating elements mounted on the needle
plate at the corresponding mounting seatings.
[0026] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, wherein the sliding
line of the lateral appendage exhibits, at least in a tract
extending between the passage zone of the sewing needles and an end
portion of the appendage, or over a whole extension thereof, a
conformation which is substantially curved and transversal with
respect to a prevalent longitudinal development direction of the
lateral appendage and/or to the sliding direction of said flaps of
textile.
[0027] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, wherein the
substantially curved conformation is substantially concave or
wherein the substantially curved conformation is substantially
convex.
[0028] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, wherein the stretching
device of the tying thread from the upper crotchet and/or the lower
crotchet is a stretcher blade oscillating in synchrony with the
sewing needle-bearing device.
[0029] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, wherein the sewing
machine is automatic and/or integrated in a machine for assembling
textile articles.
[0030] In a further aspect, taken alone or in combination with any
one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following, the
invention further relates to a sewing machine, according to any one
of the appended claims or indicated aspects, wherein the needle
thread feeder and the tying thread feeder are of an active type,
able to actively supply the thread to the needles or the crotchets
or wherein the needle thread feeder and the tying thread feeder are
passive and able to passively supply the thread which is pulled
directly by the needles or crochets.
[0031] In a further aspect, the invention further relates to a
needle plate according to the characteristics indicated in any one
of the claims or aspects indicated in the following.
[0032] In a further aspect, the invention further relates to a
needle-bearing device according to the characteristics indicated in
any one of the claims or aspects indicated in the following.
[0033] In a further aspect, the invention further relates to a
sewing device of the overlock cut-and-sew type, comprising at least
a needle plate and at least three sewing needles, according to the
characteristics denoted in any one of the claims or aspects
indicated herein below.
[0034] In a further aspect, the invention further relates to a
machine for assembling textile articles comprising a sewing machine
according to any one of the appended claims or the aspects
indicated herein.
[0035] In a further aspect, the invention further relates to
equipment for a sewing machine of an overlock cut-and-sew type for
sewing together at least two flaps of textile that are overlapping
and belonging to one or more textile articles, the equipment
comprising at least a needle plate suitable for supporting at least
two overlapping flaps of textile of one or more textile articles
which are sliding for forming sewing stitches, the needle plate
being provided with through-openings defining respective seatings
for passage of sewing needles and at least a lateral appendage
defining a sliding line for the sewing stitches; and further
comprising at least a sewing needle-bearing device, provided with
three sewing needles mounted on said sewing needle-bearing device,
reciprocally flanked, aligned to one another and supplied with
respective sewing threads, the sewing needles being suitable for
passing through the seatings of the needle plate for sewing the
overlapping flaps of textile, the needle plate being provided with
at least three of said seatings for passage of the sewing needles,
each of the seatings for passage of the sewing needles being
configured for being crossed by at least a respective sewing
needle, the needle plate being provided with respective separating
portions suitable for at least partially separating each seating
for passage of sewing needles from the adjacent seatings for
passage of needles, at least at the passage zone of the needles,
such as to enable formation in parallel of at least three sewing
stitches that are distinct and reciprocally distanced from one
another.
[0036] Further characteristics and advantages will more fully
emerge from the detailed description of a preferred but not
exclusive embodiment, according to the accompanying figures of the
drawings, in which:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of some components of a sewing
machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of some components of a sewing
machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 3 is a larger-scale view of a component of FIG. 1, in
particular a needle-bearing device;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a larger-scale view of a component of FIG. 1, in
particular a lower crotchet;
[0041] FIG. 5 is a larger-scale view from above of a component of
FIG. 1, in particular a needle plate;
[0042] FIG. 6 is a detail of the sewing machine of FIG. 1 relating
to a forming step of the sewing stitches, with a needle plate
sectioned for the sake of clarity;
[0043] FIG. 7 is a view from above of a forming step of sewing
stitches on two flaps of textile, at the needle plate of FIG.
5;
[0044] FIG. 8 is a front view in section of the needle plate of
FIG. 7, with the sewing stitches illustrated, realised at the
needle plate;
[0045] FIG. 9 is a plan view of two flaps of textile sewn with a
process according to an embodiment of the present invention, as
illustrated in FIG. 7, in which the textiles have been partially
separated, stretching the stitches sewn;
[0046] FIG. 10 is a lateral view of the two flaps of textile of
FIG. 9, sewn using a process according to an embodiment of the
present invention and partially separated by stretching the
stitches sewn.
[0047] With reference to the figures, 1 denotes in its entirety a
sewing machine of an overlock cut-and-sew type for sewing together
at least two flaps 3a, 3b of textile that are overlapping and
belonging to one or more textile articles.
[0048] FIG. 1 illustrates some essential components of the sewing
machine 1. The remaining parts of the sewing machine 1 are of known
type and therefore are not illustrated in the accompanying drawings
and are not described in detail in the present description.
[0049] The sewing machine 1 comprises at least a needle plate 2
able to support at least two superposed flaps 3a, 3b of textile, of
one or more sliding textile articles, for forming sewing
stitches.
[0050] The needle-bearing plate 2 is provided with through-openings
defining respective seatings 4 for the passage of sewing needles 5
and at least a lateral appendage 6 defining a sliding line 7 for
the sewing stitches 10a, 10b, 10c.
[0051] The needle-bearing plate 2 is provided with at least three
seatings 4 for passage of sewing needles 5, each of the seatings 4
for passage of sewing needles 5 being configured such as to be
crossed by at least a respective sewing needle 5.
[0052] The needle-bearing plate 2 is provided with respective
separating portions 8 able to at least partly separate each seating
for passage of sewing needles 5 from the seatings 4 for the passage
of adjacent sewing needles 5, at least at the passage zone 9 of the
needles 5, so as to enable forming at least three sewing stitches
10a, 10b, 10c that are distinct and reciprocally distant from one
another.
[0053] Each of the seatings 4 for the passage of sewing needles 5
can be dimensioned and configured for passage of a single and
corresponding sewing needle, as in the embodiment illustrated in
the appended drawings. The seatings 4 for the passage of sewing
needles 5 can be entirely separate from one another over the whole
extension thereof by means of the separating portions 8. The
seatings 4 for the passage of sewing needles 5 can be defined by
through-openings that are entirely distinct from one another.
[0054] The needle plate 2 can comprise at least two separating
portions or in which the separating portions 8 each exhibit a
thickness of at least 0.6 mm or at least 0.8 mm or at least 1 mm.
The separating portions 8 can exhibit a longitudinal extension
along an advancement direction of the flaps 3a, 3b of textile of at
least 0.5 cm, or at least 1 cm or at least 1.5 cm.
[0055] The needle plate 2 can be made of a metal material and the
openings defining the seatings 4 can be realised by slot-milling of
the needle plate 2. Alternatively, for example, the separating
portions 8 can be defined by separating elements mounted on the
needle plate 2 at corresponding mounting seatings.
[0056] In a variant embodiment, not illustrated, at least one of
the seatings 4 for sewing needle 5 passage can be dimensioned and
configured for enabling passage of two adjacent sewing needles 5,
and therefore four needles 5 can be provided, passing in three
seatings 4, two needles 5 being passing in a common seating. The
sewing machine 1 further comprises at least a sewing needle-bearing
device 11, such as for example a needle-bearing bar.
[0057] The sewing machine 1 further comprises at least three sewing
needles 5 mounted on the sewing needle-bearing 11 device,
reciprocally flanked, aligned to one another and supplied with
respective sewing threads 10 for needles. The sewing needles 5 are
suitable for passing through the seatings 4 of the needle plate 2
for sewing the overlapping flaps 3a, 3b of textile.
[0058] The needles 5 can be mounted on the needle-bearing device 11
with a reciprocal distance defined by an interaxis comprised
between 1.4 e 2.8 mm, or between 1.5 and 2.5 mm or between 1.6 and
2.0 mm, corresponding to the distances between the eyelets 19 of
the needles 5 from which the respective sewing threads exit.
[0059] The needles 5 can be equi-distanced, being mounted on the
needle-bearing device (11) at equal distances between adjacent
needles (5).
[0060] In a variant which is not illustrated the needles can be
mounted with different interaxes between them. The needles can be
of a same size and can be supplied with identical threads, or
different threads of the same size. Alternatively the needles can
exhibit different sizes and be supplied with threads of different
sizes.
[0061] As can be seen in FIG. 7, the sliding line of the lateral
appendage 6 exhibits, at least in a tract extending between the
sewing needle 5 passage zone 9 and a front end portion of the
appendage 6, or over the whole extension thereof, a substantially
straight conformation that is transversal with respect to a
prevalent longitudinal direction of the lateral appendage 6 and/or
the sliding direction of the flaps 3a, 3b of textile.
[0062] The lateral appendage 6 can exhibit a front portion 6a
having a narrowed end, having a thickness, measured in a
through-plane for an upper rest surface of the needle plate 2, of
less than 2 mm or less than 1 mm or less than 0.5 mm.
[0063] The lateral appendage 6 can exhibit a rear base portion 6b,
opposite the front end portion, having a transversal thickness at
the longitudinal extension comprised between 4 mm and 7 mm, or
between 5 mm and 6.5 mm, or between 5.5 e 6 mm.
[0064] The lateral appendage 6 can exhibit, at the passage zone 9
of the sewing needles 5, a thickness 6c transversal to the
longitudinal extension, comprised between 3 mm and 6 mm, or between
4 mm and 5.5 mm, or between 4.2 and 5 mm. The transversal thickness
can be greater than 3 mm, or greater than 3.5 mm, or greater than 4
mm, or greater than 4.2 mm.
[0065] Alternatively the sliding line 7 of the lateral appendage 6
can exhibit, at least in a portion extending between the passage
zone 9 of the sewing needles 5 and a terminal end of the appendage
6, or in all the extension thereof, a substantially curved
conformation that is transversal with respect to a prevalent
longitudinal extension direction of the lateral appendage 6 and/or
to the sliding direction of the flaps 3a, 3b of textile. The
substantially curved conformation can be substantially concave or
substantially convex.
[0066] As can be seen in FIG. 8, at least the lateral appendage 6
defining a sliding line and/or at least one of the separating
portions 8 and/or all the separating portions 8 can be inferiorly
terminated or tapered to allow for passage of the lower crochet in
proximity of the needle plate 2.
[0067] The sewing machine 1 can further comprise an advancing
device (not illustrated as of known and conventional type) able to
advance the flaps 32a, 3b of superposed textile along an
advancement direction with respect to the needle plate 2 during a
sewing operation.
[0068] The sewing machine 1 can further comprise a device 12 for
cutting the flaps 3a, 3b of superposed textile at a cutting line 20
of the textile, in proximity to and upstream of the lateral
appendage 6 along the advancement direction of the flaps 3a, 3b of
textile, as illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0069] The sewing machine 1 can further comprise at least a thread
feeder for needles 5 able to supply sewing thread 10 to the needles
5 of the sewing machine.
[0070] The sewing machine 1 further comprises at least a lower
crochet 14 and at least an upper crochet 15, able to contribute to
the forming of the stitches 10a, 10b, 10c.
[0071] The sewing machine 1 further comprises at least a tying
thread feeder 16 able to supply tying thread to at least from
between the upper crochet 15 and the lower crochet 14.
[0072] In a first embodiment, illustrated in the figures, the lower
crochet 14 is supplied with the tying thread 17 and the upper
crochet 15 is not supplied with the tying thread 17 and therefore
is of the "blind" type.
[0073] In a variant that is not illustrated, the upper crochet 15
can be supplied with the tying thread 17 and the lower crochet 14
can be not supplied with the tying thread 17 and therefore of the
"blind" type.
[0074] In a further variant, not illustrated, both the upper
crochet 15 and the lower crochet can be supplied with the tying
thread 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower crochet 14,
supplied with tying thread 17, contributes to the formation of the
sewing stitches 10a, 10b, 10c with the respective tying thread 17
which cooperates with the sewing thread 10, while the upper crochet
15, not supplied, or "blind", contributes to the forming of the
sewing stitches 10a, 10b, 10c by operating on the tying thread 17
supplied by the lower crochet 14.
[0075] The sewing machine 1 further comprises a stretcher device 18
of the tying thread 17 from the upper crochet 15 and/or from the
lower crochet 14. The stretcher device 18 of the tying thread 17
from the upper crochet 15 and/or from the lower crochet 14 can be
for example a stretcher blade oscillating in synchrony with the
sewing needle-bearing device 11.
[0076] The thread feeder 13 for needles 5 and the thread feeder 16
of tying thread can be of the active type, able to actively supply
the thread to the needles 5 or to the crochets, or alternatively
the needle thread feeder 13 and the tying thread feeder 16 can be
of the passive type and able to passively supply the thread which
is pulled directly by the needles 5 or by the crochets.
[0077] In a variant that is not illustrated, the sewing machine 1
can comprise four of the sewing needles 5 mounted on the
needle-bearing device 11 and the needle plate can be provided with
four of the openings for the passage of sewing needles 5.
[0078] The invention further relates to an equipment for a sewing
machine 1 of the overlock sew-and-cut type, the equipment
comprising at least a needle plate 2 and at least three sewing
needles 5, such as to enable the formation of at least three sewing
stitches 10a, 10b, 10c distinct and reciprocally distanced from one
another, as described above.
[0079] The equipment essentially comprises the components
illustrated in FIG. 1. The sewing machine 1 can be automatic, in
particular in the case in which it is integrated in a machine for
assembly of the textile articles.
[0080] The invention further relates to a machine for assembling
textile articles, of known type and thus not described in the
present text, comprising a sewing machine 1 of the above-described
type. The sewing machine will not be described in greater detail as
the remaining parts thereof are conventional and of known type.
[0081] The present invention further relates to a process for
sewing together at least two superposed flaps 3a, 3b of textile
with a sewing machine 1 of the overlock cut-and-sew type,
comprising at least steps of: providing at least two superposed
flaps 3a, 3b of textile at a needle plate 2 of a sewing machine 1
of the overlock cut-and-sew type, the needle plate 2 being provided
with at least three openings, at least partially distinct from one
another, for the passage of sewing needles 5; advancing the flaps
3a, 3b of textile with respect to the needle plate 2; progressively
cutting a lateral portion of the flaps 3a, 3b of textile; causing
each of the three openings for the passage of sewing needles 5 to
be passed through by at least a respective sewing needle supplied
with a respective sewing thread 10, such that the at least three
reciprocally-flanked sewing needles 5 sew the flaps 3a, 3b of
textile to each other, realising at least three distinct sewing
stitches 10a, 10b, 10c, cooperating with at least a lower crochet
14 and with at least an upper crochet 15, at least one of the
crochets being supplied with a tying thread 17.
[0082] Various aspects of the process, corresponding to the further
aspects described above in relation to the sewing machine, are not
repeated herein.
[0083] The further aspects of the forming process of the sewing
stitches not described in detail in the present description and not
deriving from peculiar characteristics of the sewing machine as
described above are to be considered of conventional type.
[0084] The invention as it is conceived is susceptible to numerous
modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the
inventive concept, and the cited components can be substituted by
other technically-equivalent elements.
[0085] The invention provides important advantages
[0086] Primarily the invention enables obviating at least some of
the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0087] The invention further enables sewing together at least two
superposed flaps of textile belonging to one or more textile
articles, realising textile articles of high quality and
substantially free of imperfections.
[0088] The invention further enables obtaining high-quality and
perfectly "closed" seams in the join points between the two flaps
of textile and/or reducing production waste.
[0089] The invention further enables obtaining seams that are
extendable in a controlled way such as to provide a wider stitching
effect and/or a flatter stitching effect with respect to the known
stitching.
[0090] The invention further enables obtaining productions with
high levels of uniformity between the various articles
produced.
[0091] The invention further enables realising stitching simply,
rapidly and automatically, in particular also by integrating the
sewing machine in an automatic machine for assembling textile
articles of known type.
[0092] The invention is also simple, sturdy and relatively
economical to manufacture, and guarantees high standards of
repeatability and safety.
* * * * *