Method and apparatus for stitching a three dimensional formed component and components formed from the method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12209343-B2
Application number	US-202318130639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2023
Priority date	Apr 4, 2022
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus and method for applying stitches to a decorative component having a three dimensional configuration is provided. A head for applying stitches to a decorative component having a three dimensional configuration, including: a needle bar assembly operatively coupled to the head; a looper configured to cooperate with the needle bar assembly in order to provide a plurality of stitches in the decorative component, the looper rotating in a plane parallel to the decorative component; a post assembly configured to drive the looper in a reciprocating fashion in the plane, wherein the post assembly is operatively coupled to a motor configured to drive the needle bar assembly in a reciprocating fashion, the post assembly being operatively coupled to the head via a cylinder arm assembly and a downshaft assembly; and wherein the cylinder arm assembly is rotated in a synchronized manner with a rock frame through mechanical linkage connecting a rock frame drive shaft to the cylinder arm assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head for applying stitches to a decorative component having a three dimensional configuration, comprising:
a needle bar assembly operatively coupled to the head;
a looper configured to cooperate with the needle bar assembly in order to provide a plurality of stitches in the decorative component, the looper rotating in a plane parallel to the decorative component;
a post assembly configured to drive the looper in a reciprocating fashion in the plane, wherein the post assembly is operatively coupled to a motor configured to drive the needle bar assembly in a reciprocating fashion, the post assembly being operatively coupled to the head via a cylinder arm assembly; and
wherein the cylinder arm assembly is rotated in a synchronized manner with a rock frame through mechanical linkage connecting a rock frame drive shaft to the cylinder arm assembly, the mechanical linkage comprising a cylinder arm drive link operably coupled to the rock frame drive shaft, the cylinder arm drive link being pivotally connected to a cylinder arm driven link, the cylinder arm driven link being pivotally connected to a cylinder arm rotational drive clamp that is connected to the cylinder arm assembly.

2. The head as in claim 1 , wherein the needle bar assembly is reciprocally driven by an upper driveshaft operatively coupled to the motor and the post assembly is also reciprocally driven by the upper driveshaft via an intermediary driveshaft.

3. The head as in claim 2 , wherein at least one of the cylinder arm assembly and/or the mechanical linkage are removably secured to the head such that another cylinder arm assembly and/or another mechanical linkage is capable of being secured to the head such that the post assembly is relocated with respect to the needle bar assembly of the head.

4. The head as in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the cylinder arm assembly and/or the mechanical linkage are removably secured to the head such that another cylinder arm assembly and/or another mechanical linkage is capable of being secured to the head such that the post assembly is relocated with respect to the needle bar assembly of the head.

5. The head as in claim 1 , wherein the cylinder arm assembly and the mechanical linkage are interchangeable with another cylinder arm assembly and another mechanical linkage such that the post assembly can be relocated with respect to the needle bar assembly.

6. The head as in claim 1 , further comprising another needle and another looper configured to cooperate with the another needle in order to simultaneously provide two discrete patterns of a plurality of stitches in the decorative component, the another looper rotating in the plane parallel to the decorative component.

7. The head as in claim 6 , wherein the post assembly is configured to drive the looper and the another looper in a reciprocating fashion in the plane, wherein the post assembly is operatively coupled to a motor configured to drive the needle bar assembly containing two needles in a reciprocating fashion.

8. The head as in claim 7 , further comprising an upper thread brake configured to control a size and stabilize a position of a loop of a top thread prior to and during engagement of the loop of the top thread with the looper.

9. The head as in claim 2 , further comprising an upper thread brake configured to control a size and stabilize a position of a loop of a top thread prior to and during engagement of the loop of the top thread with the looper.

10. The head as in claim 1 , further comprising an upper thread brake configured to control a size and stabilize a position of a loop of a top thread prior to and during engagement of the loop of the top thread with the looper.

Assignees

• Inteva Products Llc

Inventors

• Wenzel Edward J
• Habhab Ramez M

Classifications

• D05C11/06

  Needle-driving or control mechanisms · CPC title

• B60R13/02

  {Internal} Trim mouldings {; Internal} Ledges; Wall liners {for passenger compartments}; Roof liners (B60R13/01 takes precedence {; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18}) · CPC title

• D05B69/12

  using rotary electric motors · CPC title

• D05B47/04

  Automatically-controlled tensioning devices · CPC title

• D05B57/36

  in lock-stitch sewing machines · CPC title