APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING FABRIC FOR COVERINGS FOR ARCHITECTURAL OPENINGS

Abstract

An apparatus for forming fabrics for use, by way of example, in coverings for architectural openings includes a system for handling single or multi-layered fabrics by suspending the fabric from a lift tower, threading the fabric through various clamp systems within a housing for the apparatus, and subsequently forming horizontal rows of hobbles, tunnels, and/or attached rings by gripping and releasing the fabric with a vacuum clamp, upper and lower clamps, and a tucker blade clamp while a reciprocating tucker blade forms horizontal tucks in the fabric. The tucks which are selectively treated by forming a tunnel or attaching guide rings. Hobbles can also be formed in one layer of the fabric through use of the vacuum clamp which gathers a portion of one layer of the fabric while the other layer is handled differently. In doing so, hobbles are formed between tucks in the fabric with the hobbles establishing a fabric resembling a Roman shade.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic fragmentary isometric of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front isometric of a fabric formed from the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear isometric of the fabric shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an isometric similar to FIG. 1 showing the sewing machines separated as they might be for maintenance purposes.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic isometric of the apparatus illustrating a first step in treating a fabric.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic isometric similar to FIG. 5 showing a second step in the treatment of a fabric.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic isometric similar to FIG. 6 showing a third step in the treatment of a fabric.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic isometric similar to FIG. 7 showing a fourth step in the treatment of a fabric.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic isometric similar to FIG. 8 showing a fifth step in the treatment of a fabric.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic isometric similar to FIG. 9 showing a sixth step in the treatment of a fabric.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic isometric similar to FIG. 10 showing a seventh step in the treatment of a fabric.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic isometric similar to FIG. 11 showing an eighth step in the treatment of a fabric.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged diagrammatic fragmentary section taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged diagrammatic fragmentary section taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 15 is a section similar to FIG. 14 showing the vacuum chamber advanced into a clamping position with the fabric.

FIG. 16 is a section similar to FIG. 15 with the vacuum chamber having drawn the fabric thereinto.

FIG. 17 is a section similar to FIG. 16 with one layer of fabric having been gripped by a lower clamp and removed from the vacuum chamber.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged diagrammatic section taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 19 is a section similar to FIG. 18 with the tucker blade having been tilted.

FIG. 20 is an enlarged diagrammatic fragmentary section taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged diagrammatic fragmentary section taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic section similar to FIG. 21 showing hobbles and rings having been formed in the fabric in a plurality of horizontal rows.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 is a section taken along line 24-24 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary section taken along line 26-26 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a section similar to FIG. 25 showing the ring and fabric having been shifted for receipt of the sewing needle within the ring.

FIG. 28 is a section taken along line 28-28 of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary section taken along line 29-29 of FIG. 14 showing the lower clamp in a soft clamping position.

FIG. 30 is a section similar to FIG. 29 showing the lower clamp in a full clamping position.

FIG. 31 is a section similar to FIG. 29 showing the lower clamp in an open position.

FIG. 32 is a fragmentary section taken along line 32-32 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 33 is a top plan view of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 34-34 of FIG. 32.

FIG. 35 is a fragmentary section taken along line 35-35 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 36 is a section taken along line 36-36 of FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a section similar to FIG. 36 showing the ring clamp in an open position.

FIG. 38 is a section taken along line 38-38 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 39 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to FIG. 38 showing the drive mechanism for linearly translating the sewing machines with the view taken at the left end of the apparatus when the sewing machines are positioned at the left end.

FIG. 40 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG. 39 with the sewing machines positioned at their home position at the right end of the apparatus.

Claims

1. The combination of a fabric and an apparatus for stitching the fabric comprising in combination: a vertically adjustable lift bar to which said fabric can be attached and suspended substantially vertically,a housing including a lower clamp for releasably securing a portion of said fabric beneath said lift bar, a generally horizontally reciprocal tucker blade for selectively engaging and forming a tuck in said fabric when said tucker blade is extended, a second clamp for releasably gripping said tuck in said fabric, andat least one sewing machine mounted on said housing for traversing movement across the width of said fabric while stitching said tuck.

2. The combination of claim 1 further including a vacuum chamber in said housing for selectively gathering at least a portion of said fabric.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said fabric includes two layers and only one of said layers is gathered in said chamber when tucks are formed in said fabric.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tucker blade is selectively removed from said second clamp when said second clamp is releasably gripping said fabric.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said vacuum chamber is reciprocally movable to clamp said fabric in an extended position and release said fabric in a retracted position.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said fabric has two layers and when said vacuum chamber is in said extended position both layers of said fabric are clamped.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said vacuum chamber is operative to draw a portion of both layers of said fabric into said chamber when said layers are clamped.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said vacuum chamber is operative to retain said portion of both layers therein when said vacuum chamber is in said retracted position.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said lower clamp is movable up and down and is further movable between a clamping position and an open position, said lower clamp in said clamping position gripping one layer of said fabric such that downward movement of said lower clamp while gripping said one layer is operative to withdraw said one layer from said vacuum chamber to leave only the other layer in said vacuum chamber.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein with only one layer of said fabric in said vacuum chamber and said lower clamp in said open position, said tucker blade is operative to extend and form a tuck in said fabric.

11. The combination of claim 1 further including a second sewing machine mounted on said housing for traversing movement across the width of said fabric while attaching rings to said fabric.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said first and second sewing machines are commonly mounted for unitary traversing movement across the width of said fabric.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said first sewing machine is operative in a first traverse of the sewing machines for sewing a stitch in said tuck and said second sewing machine is operative in a second traverse of the sewing machines for attaching rings to said fabric.

14. The combination of claim 10 further including a second sewing machine mounted on said housing for traversing movement across the width of said fabric while attaching rings to said fabric.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said first and second sewing machines are commonly mounted for unitary traversing movement across the width of said fabric.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said first sewing machine is operative in a first traverse of the sewing machines for sewing a stitch in said tuck and said second sewing machine is operative in a second traverse of the sewing machines for attaching rings to said fabric.

17. The combination of a fabric and an apparatus for attaching rings to the fabric comprising in combination: a vertically adjustable lift bar to which said fabric can be attached and suspended substantially vertically,a housing including a lower clamp for releasably securing a portion of said fabric beneath said lift bar, a generally horizontally reciprocal tucker blade for selectively engaging and forming a tuck in said fabric when said tucker blade is extended, a second clamp for reliably gripping said tuck in said fabric, andat least one sewing machine mounted on said housing for traversing movement across the width of said fabric while attaching rings to said fabric.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said tuck defines a folded edge of said fabric and said rings are attached to said folded edge.

19. The combination of claim 18 further including a second sewing machine for forming a stitch in said tuck spaced from said folded edge.