Drop stitch tethers alignment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11325806-B2
Application number	US-202016903423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2020
Priority date	Jun 20, 2019
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method performed by an alignment system for aligning tethers of a drop stitch fabric prior to feeding the drop stitch fabric to a drop stitch fabric processing machine. The alignment system feeds a drop stitch fabric having a first layer and a second layer tethered by drop stitch tethers, wherein the first layer is moving with a first velocity and the second layer is moving with a second velocity. The disclosure also relates to an alignment system in accordance with to the foregoing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method performed by an alignment system for aligning tethers of a drop stitch fabric prior to feeding the drop stitch fabric to a drop stitch fabric processing machine, the method comprising:
feeding a drop stitch fabric having a first layer and a second layer tethered by drop stitch tethers, wherein the first layer is moving with a first velocity and the second layer is moving with a second velocity; and
first determining an offset between the first layer and the second layer in a running direction of the drop stitch fabric.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first velocity and/or the second velocity is determined based on the offset.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein a relation between the first velocity and the second velocity is adapted to rectify the offset.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the feeding comprises feeding the first layer with support from at least a first roll and/or feeding the second layer with support from at least a second roll, an axial direction of the at least first and/or second roll being perpendicular to a running direction of the drop stitch fabric.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the at least first roll comprises a vacuum roll and the at least second roll comprises a vacuum roll positioned in parallel with the at least first vacuum roll forming a gap there between, the feeding comprising feeding the drop stitch fabric through the gap.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the determining the offset comprises determining the offset based on a misalignment of drop stitch tethers at the gap.

7. A computer program product comprising a computer program containing computer program code means arranged to cause a computer or a processor to execute the steps of a method according to claim 1 , stored on a computer-readable medium or a carrier wave.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
subsequently feeding the drop stitch fabric to a drop stitch fabric processing machine adapted for cutting, sewing, patching and/or welding of the drop stitch fabric.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining the offset comprises determining the offset with support from one or more sensors.

10. An alignment system for aligning tethers of a drop stitch fabric prior to feeding the drop stitch fabric to a drop stitch fabric processing machine, the alignment system comprising:
a velocity controlling unit for controlling feeding a drop stitch fabric having a first layer and a second layer tethered by drop stitch tethers, wherein the first layer is moving with a first velocity and the second layer is moving with a second velocity; and
an offset determining unit for first determining an offset between the first layer and the second layer in a running direction of the drop stitch fabric.

11. The alignment system according to claim 10 , wherein the velocity controlling unit is adapted for determining the first velocity and/or the second velocity based on the offset.

12. The alignment system according to claim 11 , wherein a relation between the first velocity and the second velocity is adapted to rectify the offset.

13. The alignment system according to claim 10 , wherein the velocity controlling unit is adapted for controlling feeding the first layer with support from at least a first roll and/or controlling feeding the second layer with support from at least a second roll, an axial direction of the at least first and/or second roll being perpendicular to a running direction of the drop stitch fabric.

14. The alignment system according to claim 13 , wherein the at least first roll comprises a vacuum roll and the at least second roll comprises a vacuum roll positioned in parallel with the at least first vacuum roll forming a gap there between, the velocity controlling unit being adapted for controlling feeding the drop stitch fabric through the gap.

15. The alignment system according to claim 14 , wherein the offset determining unit is adapted for determining the offset based on a misalignment of drop stitch tethers at the gap.

16. The alignment system according to claim 10 , further comprising:
a feeding controlling unit for controlling subsequently feeding the drop stitch fabric to a drop stitch fabric processing machine adapted for cutting, sewing, patching and/or welding of the drop stitch fabric.

17. The alignment system according to claim 10 , wherein the offset determining unit is adapted for determining the offset with support from one or more sensors.

18. A drop stitch fabric processing machine comprising the alignment system according to claim 10 .

Assignees

• Volvo Car Corp

Inventors

• Hjerpe Erik
• Nuzzo Nathan

Classifications

• B65H2513/10

  Speed · CPC title

• B65H2701/1864

  Superposed webs · CPC title

• B65H2404/147

  both nip rollers being driven · CPC title

• B65H23/1886

  Synchronising two or more webs · CPC title

• B65H2553/42

  Cameras · CPC title