SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR IRONING AND SEWING POCKETS ON A PIECE OF CLOTH

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a system for ironing and sewing pockets on a piece of cloth. The reference sector is the manufacturing of garments with pockets.

Systems for sewing pockets on a piece of cloth are known.

Such systems comprise a sewing station provided with a sewing unit to sew the pocket of the piece of cloth.

In particular, such systems comprise a loader suitable for taking the pocket to be sewn to the sewing station.

For this reason, moving means are connected to the loader in order to move the loader to the sewing station.

Although it is used to sew the pockets on the piece of cloth, the pocket sewing system of the prior art is impaired by the fact that bulging is sometimes formed on the pockets that are applied on the piece of cloth, with negative consequences on the aesthetics of the garment. Such a bulging is especially formed when the pocket is made of a thin fabric, such as in the case of shirts.

Ironing devices are known, which comprise a plate with an external edge that corresponds to the external edge of the pocket to be formed. The plate is suitable for supporting the pocket and is slightly smaller than the pocket.

The ironing device comprises a folding body, which is suitable for cooperating with the plate for folding and ironing the pocket. Said folding body has an upper surface that comprises a rigid shaped cavity with a profile that corresponds to the one of the pocket to be formed. Alternatively, the folding body has a soft deformable surface, in such a way that the plate penetrates said soft deformable surface.

The ironing device comprises moving means to push the plate towards the folding body in such a way to press the pocket against the folding body. In particular, the moving means move the plate in such a way that the plate is moved from up downwards in order to be inserted in the shaped cavity of the folding body and from down upwards in order to be extracted from the shaped cavity of the folding body.

Moreover, the machine comprises folding blades to fold the lateral edges of the pocket onto the plate.

Although they are used to fold and iron the pocket before applying it on the piece of cloth, said ironing devices of known type are impaired by some drawbacks.

A first drawback consists in the fact that the ironing device is separated from the pocket sewing system of the prior art. Therefore, the ironed pockets need to be moved from the ironing device to the loading station of the pocket sewing system. While it is transferred, the pocket may lose the shape given by the ironing device. In such a case, an operator responsible for loading the pocket on the plate must shape the pocket manually until the pocket is given the shape that was obtained with ironing.

A second drawback consists in the fact that said ironing devices are completely manual. For this reason, one operator is needed for ironing and one operator is needed for loading the ironed folded pocket on the plate. Moreover, another operator is needed to transport the ironed pockets from the ironing device to the pocket sewing system.

The need for three operators in charge of ironing, sewing and transferring the pocket results in a high production cost of the garments with pockets.

EP1331298 discloses a machine for sewing pockets on a piece of cloth, comprising a support surface suitable for supporting one or more pieces of cloth. Two sewing plates are disposed along the support surface. In particular, each sewing plate is disposed onto the piece of cloth and the pocket, which is disposed on the piece of cloth, in order to hold the pocket onto the piece of cloth. Moreover, said machine comprises a sewing head that is slidingly mounted along the support surface for sewing each pocket on the corresponding piece of cloth. In particular, moving means are connected to the sewing head to move the sewing head towards each one of the two sewing plates, in such a way as to sew each pocket on the corresponding piece of cloth. Said machine does not comprise an ironing station used to iron the pocket before being sewed onto the piece of cloth. Therefore, said machine is impaired by all the aforementioned drawbacks of the systems used for sewing pockets on a piece of cloth according to the prior art. In fact, the pocket needs to be ironed in an ironing device that is separated from the machine. So, after ironing, the ironed pockets must be moved from the ironing device to the pocket sewing machine. While it is transferred, the pocket may lose the shape that was given by the ironing device.

EP236031 1 discloses a machine for forming and ironing folds on pieces of cloth, which is not part of a system provided with a sewing station. Therefore, said machine comprises an ironing device that is not provided with automatic means to support the piece of cloth to be ironed during ironing.

The purpose of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by disclosing a system used for sewing pockets on a piece of cloth without bulging.

Another purpose is to disclose a system wherein the ironing and the application of the pocket on the piece of cloth are performed rapidly, with reduced costs and in sequential order, avoiding the risk of undoing the ironed pocket.

The system of the invention is defined by claim 1 .

The advantages of the system according to the invention are evident: the provision of the ironing station and of the plate, which is suitable for supporting the pocket and is transferred by the moving device from the ironing station to the transfer station, makes it possible to iron the pocket before it is sewn on the piece of cloth, thus avoiding the formation of anti-aesthetic bulging when sewing the pocket on the piece of cloth.

For the purpose of clarity, the description of the system according to the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which only have an illustrative, not limiting value, where:

- Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of the system according to the invention;

- Fig. 1 A is an enlargement of the detail enclosed in circle A of Fig. 1 , seen in an axonometric bottom view; - Figs. 2 to 17 are axonometric views of the system of the invention during the ironing and the sewing of pockets.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 17, a system according to the invention is disclosed, which is generally indicated with reference numeral (100).

The system (100) for ironing and sewing pockets on a piece of cloth comprises two plates (1 ); each plate (1 ) is suitable for supporting a pocket that has been previously cut out. In particular, the system (100) comprises a first plate (1 a) and a second plate (1 b).

Advantageously, each plate (1 ) has the same shape as the pocket, but it is smaller than the pocket, in such a way that lateral edges of the pocket protrude from the plate (1 ).

Optionally, the plates (1 ) comprise fastening means (not shown in the figures) to fasten the pocket to the plate (1 ).

The system (100) comprises two independent moving devices (4); each moving device (4) is connected to one of the two plates (1 ) in such a way to move the two plates (1 ) independently.

Each moving device (4) comprises a vertical support (41 ) connected to the plate (1 ) to support the plate (1 ), and actuation means (not shown in the attached figures) connected to the support (41 ) to make the support (41 ) slide along at least one of the three Cartesian axes. In particular, the actuation means move the plate (1 ) in horizontal and vertical travels along the three Cartesian axes.

Although not shown in the attached figures, the system (100) may comprise only one plate and only one moving device, or more than two plates, each of them being connected to a moving device that is independent from the other moving devices.

The system (100) comprises a rectangular support surface (6) with a longitudinal axis (X). The moving devices (4) move the plates (1 ) in forward and backward travels along an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6).

Alternatively, the support surface (6) has a circular shape, and the moving devices (4) move the plates along a circular trajectory. The system (100) comprises an ironing station (5) provided with an ironing device (50) suitable for cooperating with the plates (1 ) in order to fold and iron the pocket. With reference to Fig. 1 A, the ironing device (50) advantageously comprises a lower wall (51 ) provided with a shaped cavity (52) having the same profile as the pocket. The lower wall (51 ) of the ironing device (50) comprises an upper wall (54) that defines the shaped cavity (52).

The ironing device (50) comprises folding blades (57) connected to the lower surface of the ironing device (50) and actuated by actuation means (58).

In particular, the actuation means (58) are configured in such a way as to move the folding blades (57) between two positions, i.e. a diverged position, wherein the folding blades (57) are spaced out in order to insert the plate (1 ) in the shaped cavity (52), and a contracted position, which is only possible when the plate (1 ) is inside the shaped cavity (52), wherein the folding blades (57) are close to each other in such a way that the plate (1 ) is partially disposed between the folding blades (57) and the lower wall (51 ) of the ironing device (50).

The plate (1 ) is configured in such a way to be inserted in the shaped cavity (52). In particular, the moving device (4) of the plate (1 ) pushes the plate (1 ) from the bottom upwards, in such a way to press the pocket against the upper wall (54).

Because of the insertion of the plate (1 ) in the shaped cavity (52), the perimeter edge of the pocket that protrudes towards the exterior of the plate (1 ) is folded downwards. The folding blades (57) go from the diverged position to the contracted position, so that the lateral edges of the pocket are folded and adhered under the plate (1 ).

The ironing device (50) comprises heating means (not shown in the attached figures as they are of known type), arranged below the lower wall (51 ) and the folding blades (57) of the ironing device (50), in order to heat and iron the lateral edges of the pocket folded by the folding blades (57) under the plate (1 ).

Optionally, the plate comprises holes (not shown in the attached figures) that are obtained in lower position on the plate (1 ), and extraction means (not shown in the attached figures) that are suitable for extracting air from the holes, in order to keep the lateral edges of the pocket in contact with a lower surface of the plate (1 ).

According to an alternative embodiment, which is not shown in the attached figures, the lower surface (51 ) of the ironing device (50) is made of elastic deformable material. In view of the above, when the plate (1 ) pushes the pocket towards the lower surface (51 ), said lower surface (51 ) is deformed and folds the lateral edges of the pocket.

Optionally, according to an alternative embodiment, also the ironing device (50) comprises moving means that make the ironing device (50) slide along a vertical axis, in such a way to move farther or closer with respect to the plate (1 ).

As shown in Figs. 1 to 17, the system (100) comprises a transfer station (32) wherein the pocket is transferred onto a piece of cloth that is disposed on the support surface (6).

The system (100) comprises a sewing station (3) to sew the pocket on the piece of cloth.

The sewing station (3) comprises a sewing unit (30) to sew the pocket on the piece of cloth.

The sewing unit (30) comprises a sewing machine (35) suitable for sewing the pocket to the piece of cloth. The sewing machine (35) comprises a needle (35a) with an eye wherein a sewing thread is inserted.

Moreover, the sewing unit (30) also comprises a plate (36) disposed above the support surface (6) and under the sewing machine (35). The plate (36) is suitable for being disposed onto the piece of cloth and the pocket in order to hold the piece of cloth and the pocket and sew the pocket onto the piece of cloth.

The plate (36) of the sewing unit (30) comprises an external portion (36a) that is provided with a housing having the same shape as the pocket, but higher dimensions than the pocket. The plate (36) of the sewing unit (30) comprises an internal portion (36b) with the same shape as the pocket, but lower dimensions than the pocket, suitable for being disposed onto the pocket, in order to hold the pocket while it is sewn along the perimeter edge. The internal portion (36b) of the plate (36) is disposed inside the housing of the external portion (36a).

The internal portion (36b) has lower dimensions than the housing of the external portion (36a), in such a way that an opening (36c) is formed between the internal portion (36b) and the external portion (36a), wherein the needle (35a) of the sewing machine (35) is disposed in order to sew the pocket to the piece of cloth.

Optionally, the plate (36) of the sewing unit (30) comprises moving means to raise and lower the plate (36) with respect to the support surface (6).

The system (100) comprises a loader (33) that is slidingly mounted on the support surface (6) to transfer the piece of cloth from the transfer station (32) under the sewing machine (35) of the sewing unit (30). In particular, the loader (33) is slidingly mounted on the support surface (6) along the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6).

Moreover, the loader (33) is configured in such a way to be raised and lowered with respect to the support surface (6), in such a way to be disposed on the piece of cloth in the transfer station (32), moving the piece of cloth and the pocket from the transfer station (32) to the sewing unit (30).

The loader (33) has a plate-like shape and comprises a housing (33a) with the same shape as the pocket, but with slightly lower dimensions that the pocket, in such a way to be disposed onto the perimeter edge of the folded pocket.

In such a way, when the loader (33) moves the piece of cloth and the pocket from the transfer station (32) to the sewing unit (30), the pocket does not change its position with respect to the piece of cloth.

Alternatively, the housing (33a) of the loader (33) may have higher dimensions that the folded pocket. In such a case, the pocket can be held in position manually, onto the piece of cloth, by an operator or by suitable means.

The sewing station (3) comprises moving means (34) connected to the loader (33) to move the loader (33) along forward and backward travels from the transfer station (32) under the sewing machine (35) of the sewing unit (30) and from the sewing unit (30) to the transfer station (32). Advantageously, said moving means (34) comprise an actuator. Moreover, advantageously, said moving means (34) move the loader (33) in ascending and descending travels in such a way to raise or lower the loader (33) on the piece of cloth.

In order to iron and sew a pocket on a piece of cloth with the system

(100), the pocket must be loaded onto the first plate (1 a), as shown in Fig. 2.

With reference to Fig. 3, the moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated in such a way that the first plate (1 a) can slide along the axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6) until the ironing station (5).

Another pocket can be loaded on the second plate (1 b).

With reference to Fig. 4, the moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated, in such a way that the first plate (1 a) is raised in correspondence of the ironing device (50). In particular, the first plate (1 a) is moved from the bottom upwards in order to insert the first plate (1 a) in the shaped cavity (52) of the ironing device (50). In view of the above, the pocket is pushed against the upper wall (54) of the ironing device (50). The lateral edges of the pocket are folded downwards. The folding blades (57) are actuated in such a way as to fold the lateral edges of the pocket under the first plate (1 a).

The heating means of the ironing device (50) heat and iron the lateral edges of the pocket folded by the folding blades (57) under the first plate (1 a).

The moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated, in such a way that the first plate (1 a) is lowered, coming out of the shaped cavity (52) of the ironing device (50).

With reference to Fig. 5, the moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated in such a way that the first plate (1 a) can slide along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6) until the transfer station (32).

With reference to Fig. 6, the moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated, in such a way that the first plate (1 a) is lowered on the piece of cloth and the pocket is positioned on the piece of cloth in correspondence of the transfer device (32). The loader (33) of the system is lowered on the piece of cloth disposed in the transfer station (32), with the housing disposed in correspondence of the pocket, in such a way that the loader (33) can hold the pocket.

The moving device (4) of the second plate (1 b) is actuated in such a way that the second plate (1 b) can slide along the axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6) until the ironing station (5).

With reference to Fig. 7, the moving device (4) of the second plate (1 b) is actuated, in such a way that the second plate (1 b) is raised in correspondence of the ironing device (50) and is inserted in the shaped cavity (52) of the ironing device (50).

In particular, the second plate (1 b) is moved from the bottom upwards in order to insert the second plate (1 b) in the shaped cavity (52) of the ironing device (50). In view of the above, the pocket is pushed against the upper wall (54) of the ironing device (50). The lateral edges of the pocket are folded downwards. The folding blades (57) are actuated in such a way as to fold the lateral edges of the pocket under the second plate (1 b). The heating means of the ironing device (50) heat and iron the lateral edges of the pocket folded by the folding blades (57) under the second plate (1 b).

The moving device (4) of the second plate (1 b) is actuated, in such a way that the second plate (1 b) is lowered, coming out of the shaped cavity (52) of the ironing device (50).

With reference to Fig. 8, the moving device (4) of the second plate (1 b) is actuated in such a way that the second plate (1 b) can slide along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6) until the transfer station (32).

The moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated in such a way to permit the backward extraction of the first plate (1 a) from the pocket.

With reference to Fig. 9, the loader (33) slides along the support surface (6) from the transfer station (32) under the sewing machine (35) of the sewing unit (30), in such a way that the piece of cloth and the pocket are disposed under the plate (36). With reference to Fig. 10, the first plate (1 a) leaves the transfer station (32). The loader (33) slides along the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6), moving away from the sewing unit (30).

The plate (36) is lowered on the piece of cloth, in such a way that the internal portion (36b) is disposed on the pocket and the external portion (36a) is disposed in external position with respect to the pocket. The sewing machine (35) sews the pocket on the piece of cloth.

An additional piece of cloth is disposed on the support surface (6), in correspondence of the transfer station (32).

With reference to Fig. 1 1 , the piece of cloth comes out of the sewing unit

(30). The moving device (4) of the second plate (1 b) is actuated in such a way that the second plate (1 b) slides along the axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6) until the ironing station (32).

Another pocket can be loaded on the first plate (1 a).

With reference to Fig. 12, the moving device (4) of the second plate (1 b) is actuated, in such a way that the second plate (1 b) is lowered on the additional piece of cloth and the pocket is positioned on the additional piece of cloth in correspondence of the transfer device (32).

The loader (33) of the system is lowered in such a way as to be placed on the additional piece of cloth disposed in the transfer station (32).

The moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated in such a way that the first plate (1 a) slides along the axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6) until the ironing station (5).

With reference to Fig. 13, the moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated, in such a way that the first plate (1 a) is raised and is inserted in the shaped cavity (52) of the ironing device (50) in order to fold and iron the pocket.

The moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated, in such a way that the first plate (1 a) is lowered, coming out of the shaped cavity (52) of the ironing device (50).

With reference to Fig. 14, the moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated in such a way that the first plate (1 a) can slide along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6) until the transfer station (32).

The moving device (4) of the second plate (1 b) is actuated in such a way to permit the backward extraction of the second plate (1 b) from the pocket.

With reference to Fig. 15, the loader (33) slides along the support surface (6) from the transfer station (32) under the sewing machine (35) of the sewing unit (30), in such a way that the piece of cloth and the pocket are disposed under the plate (36).

With reference to Fig. 16, the second plate (1 a) leaves the transfer station (32). The loader (33) slides along the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6), moving away from the sewing unit (30).

The plate (36) is lowered on the piece of cloth, in such a way that the sewing machine (35) sews the pocket on the piece of cloth.

An additional piece of cloth is placed on the support surface (6), in correspondence of the transfer station (32).

With reference to Fig. 17, the piece of cloth comes out of the sewing unit. The loader (33) is moved in such a way to be disposed on the additional piece of cloth.

The moving device (4) of the first plate (1 a) is actuated in such a way that the first plate (1 a) can slide along the axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (X) of the support surface (6) until the transfer station (5).

Another pocket can be loaded on the second plate (1 b).

Because of the provision of two plates (1 ) with independent moving means (4), the ironing device (50) and the sewing machine (35) are always in operation. In fact, while the first pocket, which has been already ironed, is sewn on the piece of cloth, the second pocket is in the ironing device (50) in order to be ironed. This makes it possible to speed up the ironing and the sewing operations of the pockets on the piece of cloth.

Although not shown in the attached figures, the piece of cloth can be loaded directly in the sewing station (3). In such a case, the loader (33) is configured in such a way as to move only the pocket from the transfer station (32) to the sewing station (3). Moreover, advantageously, in such a case the loader (33) consists in a clamp or a plate, in such a way to receive the pocket to be sewn from the plate (1 ) in the transfer station (32), and support said pocket from the transfer station (32) until the sewing station, wherein the loader (33) places the pocket on the piece of cloth.