Pallet drive system for moving a work-piece

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10323347-B2
Application number	US-201615509096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 11, 2015
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

A pallet drive system is provided that is operable for use on a sewing system. The pallet drive system has a pallet that is configured to hold a work-piece in position. A pair of alignment posts is coupled to the pallet. In exemplary aspects, each alignment post has a shape with surfaces extending in three dimensions along x, y and z axes. A corresponding pair of gripping fingers is coupled to a sewing machine, corresponding to each alignment post, that are moveable between an open position, allowing the alignment post to be positioned between the gripping fingers, and a closed position where the gripping fingers surround the alignment post. The gripping fingers define a cavity in the closed position to surround the alignment post in the x, y and z axes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pallet drive system for a sewing system, the sewing system having a sewing head with a sewing needle operable to perform a sewing operation on a work-piece, and a mounting horn operable to move the work-piece relative to the sewing needle, the pallet drive system comprising:
a pallet adapted to hold the work-piece in position;
a pair of alignment posts spaced from one another and coupled to the pallet, each alignment post having surfaces extending in three-dimensions along x, y and z directions; and
at least two pairs of gripping fingers operably coupled to the mounting horn, and each pair of gripping fingers spaced to correspond to the spacing of the alignment posts on the pallet, each pair of gripping fingers moveable between an open position and a closed position, the gripping fingers defining a cavity in the closed position configured to surround a corresponding alignment post in the x, y and z directions.

2. The pallet drive system of claim 1 , wherein each alignment post has a first lower section having a generally cylindrical shape, and a second upper section having a generally cylindrical shape, the first section having a diameter less than the second section.

3. The pallet drive system of claim 2 , wherein the defined cavity of each pair of the gripping fingers has a shape corresponding to the shape of the first and second sections of the alignment post.

4. The pallet drive system of claim 3 , wherein each gripping finger of a pair of gripping fingers is a mirror-image of the other, such that the fingers are interchangeable.

5. The pallet drive system of claim 4 , wherein the alignment posts are coupled to the pallet using a pair of post-holders, each of the post holders being secured to the pallet, and each alignment post being coupled to a corresponding post holder.

6. The pallet drive system of claim 5 , wherein the post holders are secured to the pallet using a pair of dowel pins.

7. The pallet drive system of claim 6 , further comprising a sensor flag coupled to each post holder, and a corresponding sensor coupled to the mounting horn, the sensor positioned on the post holder to indicate proximity to the mounting horn when the pallet is in position to close the gripping fingers.

8. A pallet drive apparatus for a sewing machine, the sewing machine having a sewing head with a sewing needle operable to perform a sewing operation on a work-piece held within a pallet, the pallet having a pair of spaced apart alignment posts, and a mounting horn operable to move the pallet and work-piece relative to the sewing needle, the pallet drive apparatus comprising:
a yoke coupled to the mounting horn;
a spacer plate coupled to the yoke; and
two spaced apart sets of gripping fingers, each set operably coupled to the spacer plate and positioned to engage the alignment posts of the pallet, each set of gripping fingers moveable between an open position and a closed position, the gripping fingers defining a cavity in the closed position configured to surround a corresponding alignment post in the x, y and z directions.

9. The pallet drive apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cavity of each set of gripping fingers corresponds in shape to the shape of the alignment posts.

10. The pallet drive apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the cavity surrounds elements of the alignment post in x, y and z directions.

11. The pallet drive apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a pair of proximity sensors coupled to the spacer plate and positioned to detect proximity of the alignment posts to indicate the work-piece is in position for closing the gripping fingers prior to sewing.

12. A pallet for a holding a work-piece in place relative to a drive apparatus for a sewing machine, the sewing machine having a sewing head with a sewing needle operable to perform a sewing operation on the work-piece, and a mounting horn operable to move the pallet and work-piece relative to the sewing needle, the mounting horn having a pair of grippers coupled thereto to engage the pallet, the pallet comprising:
a frame;
an access window defined in the frame, sized to allow the work-piece to be placed within the access window;
two spaced apart alignment posts coupled to the frame and positioned to correspond to the location of the grippers, each alignment post having surfaces extending in three dimensions along the x, y and z directions;
a pair of post-holders, each post-holder coupled between the pallet and a corresponding alignment post; and
a sensor flag coupled to each post holder, and a corresponding sensor coupled to the mounting horn, the sensor positioned on the post holder to indicate proximity to the mounting horn when the pallet is in position to close the gripping fingers.

13. The pallet of claim 12 , wherein the alignment posts each have a first lower section having a generally cylindrical shape, and a second upper section having a generally cylindrical shape, the first section having a diameter less than the second section.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hughes Michael D
• Lee Yongseon
• Cao Son Thai
• Tran Hieu Q
• Wachtel Edward F

Classifications

• D05C9/04

  Work holders, e.g. frames · CPC title

• D05B39/00 Primary

  Workpiece carriers (for automatically controlling movement of work-carrier to obtain particular configuration of seam D05B21/00; in general A41H15/00) · CPC title