Patent Application
20050082333
The present invention relates to a machine for automatically applying buttons or other metal fittings in general on a support, such as a fabric support, the machine including a mechanism for controlling or compensating for the excessive pressure or pushing force due to the presence of enlarged thickness portions.
More specifically, the field of the invention is that of the machine used for applying buttons (for example pressure buttons) and other metal fittings in general on a support such as a fabric support or other sheet material support in general.
As is known, prior machines for applying buttons on a fabric piece or sheet conventionally comprise a bottom punch element and a top punch element, the punch elements being driven in different driving directions, so as to mutually clamp, on respective faces of the fabric support, the two parts forming the button to be applied.
Said machines usually comprise moreover load or loading rods entraining respective portions of the buttons to be applied to the driving axis of the punches, said punches in turn operating for pressure crushing the button parts on the fabric support, to clamp said parts on the latter.
A drawback of the above mentioned machines is that the driving means or mechanism included therein for driving or operating the top punch element, are not adapted to provide a reliable holding, on the button parts which must be coupled to one another, of the pressure necessary for closing said button parts, and this, in particular, if the thickness of the support fabric is changed with respect to a rated fixed thickness value based on which the machine is calibrated.
Moreover, in prior machines of the above mentioned type, the load or loading rods are usually driven by a specifically designed servo-mechanism, which is separated from the punch element driving systems.
Such prior solution has the drawback that the machine construction is very complex thereby the machine cannot operate in a reliable manner and must be frequently switched off to repair possible jammings occurring therein.
Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a novel machine for automatically applying buttons and other metal fittings in general, which, with respect to prior like machines, is very simple construction wise and very reliable in operation.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a machine which is adapted to provide a desired closing force on the punch elements, at the point at which the button is applied to the fabric support, independently from the thickness both of the fabric support and of the parts forming said buttons.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a machine which is further adapted to indicate possible failures in applying the button or metal fittings to the fabric support.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by the machine as claimed in claim 1.
Preferred embodiments of the inventive machine are defined in the dependent claims.
Owing to the provision of a driving mechanism including a telescopic system for controlling the displacement of the top punch element, the inventive machine allows to hold a constant pressure on the button being applied, independently from the thickness of the button and the fabric support therefor.
With respect to the prior art in this field, and owing to the unified or standardized mechanism for driving both the punch elements and loading rods, the inventive machine provides moreover the advantage that it is much more simple construction wise and reliable in operation.
Finally, the provision in the system of a load cell allows to indicate possible failures in applying the buttons or metal fittings on the fabric support.
The above mentioned and further advantages, objects and features will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated by way of a non limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where:
The inventive machine has been generally indicated by the reference number 1 in
Said machine essentially comprises two loaders 2 and 3 for feeding button parts or components, as respectively indicated by the reference numbers 4 and 5, at a button applying axis 6 for applying said button to a support 7 (for example a support fabric, see
Said button parts 4 and 5 are moreover driven toward their applying region, thereat operate a top punch element 8 and bottom punch element 9, through respective guides 10 and 11.
As is clearly shown in
Said lever 14 is pivoted on a pivot pin 16 and presents end portions 17, 18 which respectively operate on the cam 15 and a middle lever 19 for controlling the movement of the bottom punch element 9.
On said lever 14 a pawl 20 is moreover provided, which, as it is engaged inside a corresponding fork element 21, drives said loading rods 12 and 13 through a rigid bush assembly 22, rigid with the fork element 21 and designed for sliding on a guide rod 23 and small plate 24 in turn clamped to corresponding end portions of said loading rods 12 and 13.
The front end portions of said loading rods push said respective button parts 4, 5 into corresponding guides 25 and 26, so as to drive them to their applying axis 6.
At a middle position between said lever 14 and bottom punch element 9, a further lever 19 is arranged, said further lever 19 being pivoted on a pivot pin 27 and having an end portion 28 abutting against the roller 18 of the lever 14, whereas the end portion 29 drives the bottom punch element 9.
More specifically, the pivot pin 27 of the lever 19 is of a cam or eccentric pivot pin, including a drive disc element 30 (see
Due to the above construction, the vertical position of the lever 19 can be modified by causing the drive disc 30 to turn with respect to the machine body or frame.
On said cam 15, which is driven by a suitable geared unit (not shown), is pivoted an end portion 33 of a telescopic rod 34, the other end portion 35 of which will drive the top punch element 8 through knee joint 36 in turn pivoted to the machine body at its pivot pin 37.
As is clearly shown in
Inside said cylinder 40 are moreover arranged, in succession, a loading cell 41, a cup spring pack 42 and a spacer element 43.
This assembly is held in a set position, by pressurizing the spring pack 42, and engaging the threaded bar 44, also arranged inside the cylinder 40, by a nut 45.
A firm connection of the rod construction 34 is made by engaging the arm 38 on a corresponding end portion of the cylinder 40 (in the shown embodiment by engaging a pin, not shown, in respective engaging holes, as shown).
The threaded bar 44 is in turn rigid with the top arm 46 of the rod 34, said top arm 46 being pivoted at 47 on the articulated or knee joint 36 (see
The preloading condition of the cup spring pack 42 is obtained by screwing on the nut 45 on the threaded bar 44, and being sensed or measured by a loading cell 41.
Thus, as the cam 15 is rotatively driven (according to the arrow F1 of
the telescopic rod 34 will be driven in the direction of the arrow F2;
the knee joint 36 will be opened by causing it to turn about its pivot pin 37 (arrow F3);
the top punch element 8 will be lowered (arrow F4) in the direction of the button piece or part 4 supported by a respective button grip (not shown);
the lever 14 will be turned about its pivot pin 16 (arrow F5);
the loading rods 12, 13 will be moved away or withdrawn from the button applying region (arrow F6);
the middle lever 19 will be rotatively driven about its pivot pin 27 (arrow F7) by abutting the end portion 18 of the lever 14 against the corresponding portion of the lever 19 (arrow F8);
the bottom punch element 9 will be raised toward the respective button part or piece 5 (arrow F9).
Thus, owing to the above disclosed movements, the button will be brought to its closure or applying condition clearly shown in
If, in such a closing or closure position, the thickness encountered by the punch elements 8, 9 is larger than the above disclosed one, then the status of the machine will be that shown in
As is herein shown, in particular, the knee joint 36 has an opening angle f larger than that shown in
This displacement of the cylinder 40 will transfer to the cup spring pack 42, the excess pushing due to the movement of the cam 15 toward its limit position, thereby preventing such excessive pushing from affecting the end portion of the top punch element 8, thereby holding, at the button applying point, a preset pressure value.
The load cell 41, in particular, operates to indicate to an operator a possible excessive or insufficient pushing of the spring, with respect to a present pushing range, which would indicate a failure in the button applying operation.
The machine as disclosed is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all of which will come within the scope of the following claims.
Thus, for example, the telescopic rod 34 can be replaced by a cylinder (either of a pneumatic or of a hydraulic type), the piston of which will affect the knee joint 36 and the pushing force of which would be controlled by a central control unit.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI 2003A 002396 | May 2003 | IT | national |
