Multi-needle quilting machine and corresponding quilting method

Abstract

Multi-needle quilting machine comprising at least a base, an introduction unit configured to feed at least a material to be quilted in a direction of feed and at least a stitching unit to make stitches on at least one material. The machine comprises a first stitching unit and at least a second stitching unit each provided with at least a row of needles with an oblong development along a respective longitudinal axis, at least one of either the first stitching unit or the second stitching unit being installed on at least one platform selectively translatable, with respect to the base, in a direction of movement substantially orthogonal to the direction of feed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention concerns a multi-needle quilting machine and a method for quilting textile products or manufactured articles in general, for example consisting of an upper layer, a possible lower layer and an intermediate layer of padding, to make a piece of cloth or a panel of the textile type, and also manufactured articles obtained with said method.[0002]The machine can therefore be the type used to make stitches of the desired type on fabrics, bands, panels for mattresses, quilts or textile products, for example used to make a mattress, quilts, clothing, garments or other similar or comparable manufactured article.[0003]The quilting machine and method allow to make any type of pattern, also very sophisticated such as cording, similar to embroidery and defined by stitches located even at a very close reciprocal distance.[0004]Quilting machines can operate with different types of stitches depending on the equipment provided.BACKGROUND OF THE INVEN...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a quilting machine that can be used for various applications such as quilting and simultaneously making a plurality of bands for mattresses starting from a single material. The machine has great operating flexibility and can make stitches in a precise and linear way. The stitching units can be controlled and managed translationally, allowing them to make desired stitches while activating or de-activating the necessary needles of the rows. The machine also has a blade that can make a clean, linear cut, leaving a small edge of material at the side of every needle. This makes the quilting process more efficient and effective.

Problems solved by technology

The need to move the material to be quilted, both in the direction parallel to the longitudinal positioning axis of the needles and also in an orthogonal direction, causes deformation or curling of the materials being worked: this compromises the correct execution of the stitches and hence patterns are made with distorted geometries.

Furthermore, this condition limits the possibility of making patterns.

In fact, the double movement of the material to be quilted on the work plane does not allow to simultaneously make patterns elaborated according to an orientation that is parallel and transverse to the direction of feed of the material to be quilted.

The precut materials wound on bobbins are normally quilted by single machines that quilt one band at a time, therefore they are machines used for this purpose only and not suitable for quilting panels for mattresses.

These machines cannot be used to make products having, for example, bigger sizes, such as the panel for mattresses or quilts.

However, this solution does not allow to simultaneously make both rectilinear stitches and complex patterns.

The presence of a plurality of stitching heads, moreover, greatly limits the surface extension of the patterns that can be made, because each head sews a limited size of the fabric.

Furthermore, the machine described in US-A-2011 / 290166 is particularly bulky and has a support base that has shape and sizes suitable to receive a fabric with a predetermined unit of size.

This greatly limits the flexibility of the machine, rendering it suitable for quilting articles of sizes limited to the size of the machine.

The presence of independent stitching heads installed on both the first and second platform make the operations to manage the whole machine rather complex, and also limit the surface extension of the patterns obtainable.

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