METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING AND PROCESSING A WEB

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device (2) for exactly positioning and processing textiles or the like, in particular fitting pieces (1), having the following method steps:orienting and/or positioning (2) the fitting piece (1),supplying (3) the fitting piece (1) to a station (9),checking (4) the orientation and/or positioning of the fitting piece (1), wherein markings on the fitting piece (1) are captured by sensor means and the actual marking sequence is compared with a setpoint marking sequence,determining (5) correction requirements andtransmitting (6) the correction requirement to a correction station (12),correcting (7) the orientation of the fitting piece (1) by means of the correction station (12) in accordance with the correction requirement,supplying (8) the fitting piece (1) to a processing station (13),optionally repeating individual method steps or several method steps.

Claims

1. A method of precisely positioning and processing a textile or pattern pieces, the method comprising the following method steps: mechanically or manually feeding a aligned and/or positioned pattern piece to an apparatus checking alignment and/or positioning the pattern piece by reference to registration marks on the pattern piece by a sensor, and comparing the path of the marks with a desired mark path, determining correction values or correction specifications on determination of a deviation of the path of the marks from the desired mark path, and transmitting the correcting value of the correction specification to a correction station, manually or automatically correcting alignment of the pattern piece by the correction station in accordance with the correction values or correction specification to bring the determined mark path at least approximately into congruence with the desired mark path, and feeding the pattern piece in a travel direction to a processing station processing the pattern piece where a processing step is carried out.

2. A method of precisely positioning and processing a textile or pattern pieces, the method comprising the following method steps: mechanically or manually feeding a first aligned and/or positioned pattern piece to an apparatus, feeding the first pattern piece in a travel direction to a processing station processing the pattern piece, checking the alignment and/or positioning of the processed pattern piece by reference to registration marks on the pattern piece by a sensor, and comparing the path of the marks with a desired mark path, determining correction values or correction specifications on determination of a deviation of the path of the marks from the desired mark path, transmitting the correction value or the correction specification to a correction station, and manually or automatically correcting alignment of subsequent pattern pieces by the correction station in accordance with the correction values or correction specification to bring the determined mark path at least approximately into congruence with the desired mark path.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method steps take place during continuous or discontinuous travel of the pattern piece.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the correction is carried out immediately before feeding the textile or pattern piece in for processing and execution of the processing step.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a sensor unit with at least one sensor or a camera detects the marks of the pattern piece, and that the sensor unit or the camera communicates with a computer that compares the mark path actually detected with the desired mark path stored in a memory of the computer and, in case of deviations, provides the correction specification for automatic or manual correction.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the sensor unit or the camera detects the actual path of the deviation and the direction of the deviation.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the sensor detects the distance to the marks of the surface of the pattern piece.

8. The method according to characterized claim 1, further comprising the step of: inputting the correction values and the correction specification manually into a control element, the alignment being corrected in accordance with the manual input.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: displaying the deviations and/or the correction specification on a display panel.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the correction specification is transmitted directly to a correction station that automatically carries out the correction according to the correction specification.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the correction is performed by displacement of the textile or pattern piece transverse to the travel direction.

12. The method of aligning a surface region or edge region of a textile piece for manual or automatic correction by a correction station according to claim 1, wherein the web piece is transported at least near a surface region or edge region by a conveyor in a travel direction parallel to the edge region and is pressed by a driven conveyor of the conveyor against a support member of the conveyor and transported along the support member, and if the alignment of the web piece deviates from the target alignment of the web piece more toward the conveyor, the incorrectly aligned portion or edge region of the web piece is moved by an appropriate amount away from the conveyor by a force acting toward the plane spanned by the web piece or parallel to that plane by a means exerting a force transverse to the travel direction so that the deviating alignment of the web piece is corrected to the target alignment.

13. The method of aligning a surface region or edge region of a textile piece for manual or automatic correction by a correction station according to claim 1, wherein the web piece is transported at least near a surface region or edge region by a conveyor in a travel direction parallel to the edge region and pressed by a driven conveyor of the conveyor against a support member of the conveyor and transported along the support member, the edge region of the web piece is fixed in at least one second conveyor spaced apart from the conveyor and forms a clearance and is transported along in unison and, if the alignment of the web piece deviates from the target alignment of the web piece more toward the first conveyor, at least one actuator acts with a compressive force on the region of the textile piece spanning over the clearance, and the textile piece is thus moved transverse to the travel direction and transverse to the first conveyor by an appropriate amount away from the first conveyor, whereby the deviating alignment of the web piece is corrected to the target alignment.

14. The method of aligning a surface region or edge region of a textile piece for manual or automatic correction by a correction station according to claim 1, wherein the web piece is transported at least near a surface region or edge region by a conveyor in a travel direction parallel to the edge region and pressed by a driven conveyor of the conveyor against a support member of the conveyor and transported along the support member, the conveyor or a machine part associated with the conveyor is equipped with an aligning edge, or the support member forms an aligning edge, set in an alignment position so that, if the alignment of the web piece deviates from the target alignment of the web piece more toward the conveyor, the incorrectly aligned portion or edge region of the web piece is pulled over the aligning edge and is thus moved transverse to the travel direction and transverse to the conveyor by an appropriate amount away from the conveyor so that the deviating alignment of the web piece is corrected to the target alignment.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the support member has at least one recess or one aligning edge so that, if the alignment of the web piece deviates from the target alignment of the web piece more toward the conveyor, the incorrectly aligned portion or edge region of the web piece is pulled over the aligning edge running in the travel direction or over an aligning edge of the recess running in the travel direction and adjoining the conveyor and is thus moved transverse to the travel direction and transverse to the conveyor by an appropriate amount away from the conveyor so that the deviating alignment of the web piece is corrected to the target alignment.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the aligning edge extends parallel to the travel direction.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the traction is applied by a force effect oriented at least approximately perpendicular relative to the strip of material.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein, during the application of the force, a means being used to apply the force is moved in the travel direction at an angle to the travel direction of the conveyor, or also applies a movement component to the strip of material in the travel direction.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein movement of the means in the travel direction or the movement component is adapted to the transport speed of the conveyor in order to prevent the strip of material from puckering.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the web piece has a sensorially or optically recognizable edge or outer edge or mark, line, or step that runs parallel to the travel direction, is recognized by a means carrying out or monitoring the method to be out of alignment, and used for the precise alignment of the web piece by actuation of a technical means.

21. An apparatus for precisely positioning and processing a textile or pattern pieces, wherein the apparatus comprises: a station to which the pattern piece is fed in manually or mechanically aligned and/or positioned form, a conveyor connected to the station and begins upstream from the station for displacing the pattern piece through the apparatus, a checking station in which the path of the marks of marks of the pattern piece are detected by sensor and compared with a desired mark path, with a correction value or a correction specification being created, a correction station for the precise alignment of the pattern piece according to the correction value or according to the correction specification, a processing station to which the pattern piece is fed in at least approximately exactly aligned and processable form.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the checking station has a detector for sensorially detecting the path of the marks and a processor coupled therewith for comparing the detected mark path with the desired mark path stored in an electronic memory and for evaluating deviations and providing a correction specification.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the detector has a camera or a sensor unit with at least one sensor.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor or a sensor that performs distance measurements.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor and a light source is opposite the sensor unit or the camera, and that, while being transported through the apparatus, the pattern piece is between the sensor unit or the camera and the light source.

26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the processor has a computer with a memory and at least one desired mark path stored therein for comparing with the path of the marks.

27. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the correction station has a controller coupled with a control element for inputting correction values and correction specifications, and is controlled by the controller.

28. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising: a display panel coupled with the checking station and on which the correction specification provided by the checking station is displayed.

29. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the checking station is coupled with the correction station so as to communicate directly therewith and the correction specification is fed directly to a controller of the correction station by signals generated by a computer of the checking station.

30. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the conveyor has a machine frame for web pieces with at least one driven conveyor as well as a support member for the conveyor so that a region located near the surface region or edge region of the web piece is transported in a travel direction, the apparatus further comprising: at least one positioning means that can be moved from a home position in which its functional components lie outside of the plane spanned by the web piece into a working position in which it is at least approximately level with the plane and clamps the web piece, the positioning means being moved transverse to the conveyor and transverse to the travel direction during the adjusting movement when in the working position while entraining the region of the web piece adjoining the conveyor.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the positioning station has positioning means on both sides of the conveyor.

32. The apparatus for aligning a surface region or edge region of a flexible web piece a textile piece, in particular a correction station according to claim 21, consisting of a conveyor with a machine frame for web pieces with at least one driven conveyor a conveyor belt, as well as a support member for the conveyor, it being possible for a region located near the surface region or edge region of the web piece to be transported in a travel direction, wherein the apparatus has at least one second conveyor with a second conveyor at a spacing from the conveyor, with which second conveyor the edge region of the web piece can be fixed and transported, a clearance being between the second conveyor and the first conveyor spanned by a region of the web piece, has at least one positioning means rigidly fastened to the frame and can be moved from a home position in which its functional components lie outside of the plane spanned by the web piece into a working position in which it engages through this plane, the positioning means being moved into the clearance during the adjusting movement, while entraining the region of the web piece spanning over the clearance, and the web piece is moved relative to the first conveyor, transverse to the travel direction, and transverse to the plane for the purpose of carrying out the method according to claim 13 or 20.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the second conveyor is a pair of belt or a conveyor belt with a counter-surface.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the apparatus has second conveyors and positioning means on both sides of the conveyor.

35. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the conveyor has a machine frame for the web pieces with at least one driven conveyor, as well as a support member for the conveyor for displacing a region located near the surface region or edge region of the web piece in a travel direction, an aligning edge being provided on the machine frame or on a separate apparatus frame, or the support member has having an aligning edge or being settable in an alignment position, that at least one positioning means being fastened to the frame and movable from a home position in which its functional components lie outside of the plane spanned by the web piece into a working position in which it engages through this plane, the positioning means being moved during the adjusting movement transverse to the travel direction and transversely to the plane past the aligning edge while entraining the region of the web piece adjoining the conveyor.

36. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein a region of the web piece located near a surface region or edge region is clampable between the support member and the conveyor.

37. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the surface region or the edge region can be transported in a travel direction parallel to the edge region.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the support member projects over the conveyor on both sides transverse to the travel direction and has a recess in at least one of the two projecting regions with an outer edge aligned relative to the travel direction, and adjacent to the conveyor and aligned parallel to the travel direction, or forms an outer edge preferably aligned parallel to the travel direction, in which case the respective outer edge is the aligning edge.

39. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein a movable support is positioned or held on or fixed to the machine frame or to the support member or next to the support member or below the contact plane of the support member for the web piece, against which movable support at least a portion of the positioning means is placed upon displacement into the working position with interposition of a region of the web piece.

40. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the length of the displacement path of the positioning means from the home position to the working position can be adjusted for the purpose of correctly aligning the edge region of the web piece.

41. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the support is fastened in a resiliently pivoting manner to the machine frame or to the support member.

42. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the positioning means is embodied at its free end facing toward the web piece as a skid, roller, or ram.

43. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the positioning means is a driven roller or roll or a belt drive with a driven and at least one freewheeling roller or only with freewheeling rollers.

44. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising: a motorized rotary drive positioned so as to be fixed to the frame as a drive for the positioning means connected by a coupling means to a drive shaft supported in a mounting block and fixed to the frame, the positioning means being held so as to be pivotable about the drive shaft.

45. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the positioning means can be moved by a servo drive held on the frame.

46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the positioning means is held in a pivoting manner on a frame part and can be moved by the servo drive into the home position or a working position.

47. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the apparatus has a respective support member on both sides next to the conveyor with projecting regions and a positioning means.

48. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein a guide member is obliquely positioned downstream of the recess in the travel direction that transitions steplessly into the projecting region.

49. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the positioning means can be moved intermittently from the home position to the working position and back.

50. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the positioning means comprises a rotating actuator driven so as to circulate continuously at least at the beginning of transition from the home position to the working position and continuously in the working position.

51. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the actuator revolves co-directionally with the travel direction at a slight angle thereto or parallel thereto.

52. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the apparatus comprises a detection means for optical or sensory detection of an alignment of the web piece that deviates from the target alignment, that communicates with a servo drive for moving the positioning means from the home position into the working position.

53. The apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the detection means is a sensor or a camera.

Description

[0131] In the drawing:

[0132] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a method sequence;

[0133] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus;

[0134] FIG. 3 is a first variant of the apparatus;

[0135] FIG. 4 is a second variant of the apparatus;

[0136] FIG. 5 is a third variant of the apparatus;

[0137] FIG. 6 is a fourth variant of the apparatus;

[0138] FIG. 7 is a side view of another apparatus;

[0139] FIG. 8 is the other apparatus in a second functional position;

[0140] FIG. 9 is the apparatus of FIG. 7 in a position rotated by 180?;

[0141] FIG. 10 is the apparatus in a sectional view in a first working position; and

[0142] FIG. 11 is the same in a second working position.

[0143] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a method of exactly positioning and processing a textile or the like, particularly of pattern pieces 1, with the following method steps: [0144] mechanically or manually supplying 3 a (pre) aligned and/or positioned pattern piece 1 to an apparatus 2 or to a station 9 of the apparatus 2, [0145] checking 4 the alignment and/or positioning of the pattern piece by reference to registration marks preferably on the surface of the pattern piece or in the fabric of the pattern piece, preferably by a sensor, and with the path of the marks being compared with a desired mark path, [0146] determination 5 of correction values or correction specifications and optionally providing a correction specification on determination of a deviation of the path of the marks from the desired mark path, and [0147] transmission 6 of the correction value or the correction specification to a correction station 12, [0148] manual or automatic correction 7 of the alignment of the pattern piece 1 by the correction station 12 in accordance with the correction values or correction specification to bring the determined mark path into congruence with the desired mark path, and/or [0149] supplying 8 the pattern piece 1 in a travel direction 23 to a processing station 13 processing the pattern piece 1, preferably a fastening device where a processing step is carried out, and optionally, repeating one or more of the steps.

[0150] The pattern piece 1 can be removed manually by a worker from an upstream part of the apparatus or taken from a storage location, for example. The pattern piece 1 is then aligned and/or positioned manually before being fed 3 into the station 9 by the worker, who then transfers or places the pattern piece manually in the station 9.

[0151] Alternatively, it is possible for the (pre) alignment or positioning of the pattern piece 1 to be performed automatically, for example in an upstream part of the apparatus where the pattern piece is (pre) aligned and then automatically delivered or fed to the station 9.

[0152] After the pattern piece 1 is supplied 3 to the station 9, the alignment and/or positioning thereof is checked in a checking station 11, and a correction step 7 is performed as needed in a correction station 12. For this purpose, the pattern pieces 1 are transported by a conveyor 10 through the apparatus 2, the method steps preferably taking place during the continuous or discontinuous travel of the pattern piece. The checking step 4 and correction 7 during the passage of the pattern pieces 1 through the apparatus is especially advantageous because the pattern pieces 1 can shift particularly during travel, and the correction step 7 may be necessary before they are supplied 8 to the processing station 13 for execution of the processing step in order to align the pattern piece 1 exactly before processing. Continuous travel makes it possible in particular to carry out the process economically, it being possible for speeds of 20 m per minute to be achieved.

[0153] Alternatively, the checking 4 of a pattern piece 1 takes place only after processing in the processing station 13. This method sequence is not shown in FIG. 1. Deviations of marks from the desired mark path, for example a seam produced during processing that deviates from the target course, are detected after processing, and a correction specification or a correction value is determined and transmitted to the correction station 12. The correction station 12 then performs a corresponding correction for the subsequent pattern pieces 1 so that the subsequent pattern pieces 1 are aligned correctly upstream of the feed 8 to the processing station 13.

[0154] The checking 4 is carried out in a contactless manner, for example by optical detection of marks of the pattern piece 1. The marks are preferably on the surface of the pattern piece, for example in the form of a pattern, or in the fabric of a textile, for example in the form of the yarn course or of stitches, seams, or similar fabric marks, and detected optically. It is also possible however for other detectors to also be provided that are able to detect the marks in a contactless manner. For example, it is also possible to detect marks in the form of different pile heights by distance measurements. To achieve this, a sensor that performs distance measurements can be provided that detects the distance to the pile tips. If no deviation has been found during the checking 4, no correction 7 is required, and the process continues according to the dashed line Y so that, after the checking 4, feeding 8 to the processing station 13 ensues. Optical detection can be achieved by the human eye or appropriate optical devices. The optically detected mark path is compared with a predetermined desired mark path. This is also done either by humans or by a suitable processor 15, preferably a data processor. If detection and adjustment are to be performed by the human eye of a worker, the desired mark path can be displayed on the transport base for example or formed by the transport base over which the pattern piece is 1 transported. However, any other suitable implementation is possible in which the human is able to visually compare the mark path and the desired mark path. The worker detects a deviation of the path of the pattern piece from the target path and determines a correction value. This can be determined by the worker on the basis of empirical values and transmitted to the correction station 12, preferably by manual input into a control element 20 coupled therewith so that a manual correction 7 is performed according to the correction value. Optical detection is preferably carried out by a sensor unit 17 with at least one sensor or by a camera, the pattern piece 1 being transported by a conveyor 10 past the sensor unit 17 or the camera and marks of the pattern piece 1 being optically detected. The sensor unit 17 or the camera preferably detects the actual path of the deviation and the direction of the deviation so that the exact mark path is determined. With respect to the direction, it is determined for example whether the deviation extends transverse to the travel direction 23 on the left or right side. The path is also detected with exactitude, i.e. to what degree a deviation exists. The path can be determined in mm, for example. These recordings are then compared with the desired mark path so that an exact correction specification can be created in the relevant dimensions.

[0155] The sensor unit 17 or the camera communicates with a processor 15, and the detected mark path is transmitted to the latter. The processor 15 preferably has a computer 19 and a memory 16 coupled therewith where at least one desired mark path is stored with which the path of the marks is compared. A plurality of different desired mark paths can be programmed and stored in the memory 16 and selected depending on the product or production line for comparison.

[0156] In case of deviations, the computer 19 prepares a corresponding correction specification and makes it available so that the correction 7 can be carried out. The correction 7 can then take place automatically by transmission of the correction specification as a corresponding actuating signal to the correction station 12 that automatically carries out the correction 7 according to the correction specification so that no human intervention is necessary and a fully automatic correction 7 of the alignment of the pattern piece 1 takes place.

[0157] Alternatively, the calculated correction specification can also be displayed on a display panel 22, a monitor so that a worker can read this instruction and enter it into a control element 20 connected to the correction station 12. The correction specification can be displayed in the form of a numerical value or a comparable indication for example and read by a worker. The control element 20 is preferably coupled with the correction station 12 via a controller 21 thereof, the controller 21 controlling the correction station 12 in accordance with the input to the control element 20. A control element 20 and/or a display panel 22 can also be provided in the automatic correction 7 that routs the control signal directly to the correction station 12, for example as a safety precaution in case of failure of the automatic system or for individual adjustment.

[0158] The correction station 12 then performs the correction step 7 in accordance with the correction value or in accordance with the correction specification so as to bring the actual and desired mark paths into congruence.

[0159] The correction 7 can be preferably performed by transmission 6 of the correction value or correction specification to a controller 21 of a suitable mechanical component, in which case the controller 21 controls the mechanical component in accordance with the correction value or in accordance with the correction specification and the latter performs the correction 7 by appropriate mechanical action on the pattern piece 1 and brings the pattern piece 1 into correct alignment. The correction 7 is performed in both directions transverse to the travel direction 23, since the pattern pieces 1 can slip in both directions transverse to the travel direction 23 and the correction 7 in both directions is required. Only then can an exact alignment be achieved. Such a readjustment of the actual mark path and thus of the pattern piece 1 makes it possible to precisely position the pattern piece 1 in the apparatus 2 so that the pattern piece 1 can be processed with precision in the processing station 13, thus enabling an especially high-quality product to be produced. Preferably, the checking 4 and the correction 7 is therefore carried out immediately before the processing step so that the pattern piece 1 is fed in exact alignment for processing.

[0160] The contactless sensor checking 4 also makes it possible to align edgeless pattern pieces so that individual and precise alignment and positioning can be performed solely on the basis of patterns or, in textile pieces 1, on the basis of yarn courses or similar textile marks. The processing of the pattern piece 1 can be performed in any desired manner; for example, a hem can be sewn or the pattern piece 1 can be folded. After processing, another checking 4 and correction 7 can be performed if additional processing steps follow in which the pattern piece must be in exact alignment, it being possible for the method steps to be repeated as many times as desired.

[0161] FIG. 2 shows the schematic structure of an apparatus 2 for carrying out the method according to claim 1, the apparatus 2 comprising: [0162] a station 9 to which the pattern piece 1 is fed in manually or mechanically (pre) aligned and/or positioned form, [0163] a conveyor 10 connected to the station 9 and optionally starting upstream from the station 9 for displacing the pattern piece 1 through the apparatus 2, [0164] a checking station 11 where the path of the marks of marks of the pattern piece 1 is preferably detected by a sensor and can be compared with a desired mark path, with a correction value or a correction specification being created or creatable, [0165] a correction station 12 for the precise alignment of the pattern piece 1 according to the correction value or according to the correction specification, [0166] a processing station 13, preferably a fastening device, to which the pattern piece 1 is fed in exactly aligned and processable form.

[0167] The pattern piece 1 is automatically 9 fed preferably in (pre) aligned form from an upstream part of the apparatus or manually by a worker at the station 9.

[0168] A conveyor 10 is connected to the station 9, it being possible for the station 9 itself to be a conveyor 10 to which the pattern piece 1 is fed or optionally that the conveyor 10 is already positioned so as to have an upstream end upstream from the station 9 so that pattern pieces 1 can be transported from the station 9 or through the station 9 to the adjoining conveyor 10.

[0169] The station 9 can also be any other station 9, for carrying out a processing step, for example. With the conveyor 10, the pattern pieces 1 are transported through the apparatus 2 through the checking station 11 and the correction station 12 or through them into the processing station 13. The checking station 11 can be alternatively downstream from the processing station 13, which is not shown in the figures. The checking step 4 takes place in this case only after the processing of a first pattern piece 1. If a deviation from the target course is detected, a correction specification or a correction value is transmitted to the correction station 12 upstream from the processing station 13 so that a correction of the alignment takes place before processing. A readjustment of the pattern piece 1 takes place at the checking station 11 and the correction station 12 so that alignment of a pattern piece 1 shifted out of the target position by the apparatus 2 during the transfer or during travel is corrected before it is fed to the processing station 13 where the pattern piece 1 is processed into an intermediate or end product. This ensures a particularly high quality of the intermediate or end product.

[0170] FIG. 3 shows a first variant of the apparatus 2. The checking station 11 allows for contactless detection of the mark path. For this purpose, the checking station 11 has as detector 14 a camera or a sensor unit 17 with at least one optical sensor. The moving pattern piece 1 can thus be detected. Although it is possible to detect an outer edge or pile edge on the basis of which alignment can be performed since the edge is optically detectable, this is not absolutely necessary, since optical detection can be performed on the basis of any pattern or similar marks. Alternatively, marks can also be detected by distance measurements. To achieve this, a sensor that performs distance measurements is provided that detects the spacing to the pile tips. A processor 15 of the inspection station 11, which is coupled with the detector 14, then compares the detected mark path compared with the desired mark path and a correction specification is determined 5. This is done by appropriate technical means for data processing, with a computer 19 connected to a memory 16 being used in this embodiment. The mark path detected with the camera or the sensor unit 17 is transmitted to the processor 15, more particularly to the computer 19 contained therein. The computer 19 then performs a comparison of the mark path with a desired mark path stored in the memory 16, it being possible for various desired mark paths to be stored in the memory 16 or for new desired mark paths to be programmed in subsequently for new production lines. These are then selected according to the production line and are available for comparison with a corresponding detected mark path.

[0171] If the actual mark path deviates from the desired mark path, a correction specification is calculated by the computer 19. The correction specification is passed by appropriate technical means to a receiver of the correction station 12 that performs the correction step 7 in accordance with the correction specification. For example, the correction specification is transmitted in the form of a control signal of the computer 19 to a controller 21 of the correction station 12. In this case, the checking station 11 is coupled with the correction station 12 so as to communicate directly. The automatic, exact correction step 7 is thus performed without human intervention on the basis of the correction specification.

[0172] The correction 7 can be carried out for example by a suitable mechanical component, in which case the controller 21 controls the mechanical component on the basis of the correction specification, and the mechanical component performs the correction 7 by appropriate mechanical action on the pattern piece 1 and brings the pattern piece 1 into a correct alignment. If there is no deviation, no correction 7 takes place. The pattern piece 1 is then fed to the processing station 13. The processing station 13 can be a fastening device where the pattern pieces 1 are hemmed, glued, or stitched, for example. However, it can also be a device for folding the pattern pieces 1 or for carrying out any other processing aspect.

[0173] The processing station 13 produces an intermediate or end product of outstanding quality. A second variant of the apparatus 2 is shown in FIG. 4. The detection of the mark path and the comparison with a desired mark path is performed in the checking station 11 by the human eye. The comparison is performed for example by displaying the desired mark path used for the comparison on the transport underlay or by having the transport underlay over which the pattern piece 1 is transported form the desired mark path. The worker detects a deviation of the course of the pattern piece from the target course and determines a correction value. This correction value can be determined by the worker on the basis of empirical values and transmitted to the correction station 12 by manual input into a control element 20 coupled therewith so that a manual correction 7 is performed according to the correction value. The correction station 12 has the control element 20 for this purpose.

[0174] A third variant is shown in FIG. 5. The detection and comparison are carried out as in the first embodiment, namely in the inspection station 11 by the detector 14 (e.g. sensor) and the processor 15, with the computer 19 of the processor 15 being coupled with a display panel 22, and with the calculated correction specification displayed on the display panel 22 being transmitted to the computer 19. The displayed correction specification is read and entered manually into a control element 20 coupled with the correction station 12. The correction station 12 has a controller 21 coupled with the control element 20 and is controlled by same in accordance with the input. A fourth variant is shown in FIG. 6. Here, the detection is carried out with a sensor of a sensor unit 17, with a light source 18 being opposite same. During travel through the apparatus 2, the pattern piece 1 is between the sensor unit 17 and the light source 18 and illuminated by the light source 18 so that the sensor can better detect marks in the textile fabric of textile pieces 1, for example.

[0175] Both textile pieces and pattern pieces made of any material that can be processed in the same manner as a textile material are processed by the method and apparatus. These include pattern pieces made of paper or plastic, for example.

[0176] The apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 aligns an edge region of a preferably flexible web piece 102. This device can be used for example as a correction station 12 for exact alignment in the apparatus 2. The web piece is particularly a textile piece separated from a textile web and has a quasi rectangular basic shape. The apparatus consists substantially of a conveyor 103 with an indicated machine frame 104 for web pieces 102 with a driven conveyor 105, for example a conveyor belt and a support member 106 for the conveyor 105. In this embodiment, the support member 106 is a plate. The web piece 102 lies on this plate. The conveyor 105 in the form of a belt drive rests on top of the web piece 102 so that the latter is pressed against the support member 106. The support member 106 is preferably a flat, smooth plate. The conveyor 105, which is preferably a conveyor belt of a belt drive, is combined on the upper side with sprung support blocks 107 that resiliently biases the conveyor 105 toward the support member 106. These support blocks 107 are held on a component of the machine frame 104. The visible portion of the machine frame 104 is an L-shaped beveled piece of sheet metal, one leg of which extends parallel to the extension of the support member 106, while the other leg extends perpendicular thereto.

[0177] A portion thereof located near the edge region 101 of the web piece 102 is or also can be held clamped between the support member 106 and the conveyor 105 and is transported by the conveyor 105 in a travel direction 108 parallel to the edge region 101. As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 7 to 11, the edge region 101 is formed in a quasi wave shape in order to illustrate the alignment problem so that the edge region is not aligned exactly parallel to the travel direction but rather extends in different shapes and at different distances from the conveyor 105.

[0178] The support member 106 projects outward past the conveyor 105 on both sides transverse to the travel direction. The projecting regions are shown at 109 and 110. In this embodiment, a recess 111, 112 with an outer edge 113, 114 extending parallel to the travel direction 108 is provided in both projecting regions 109, 110 and adjoins the respective conveyor 105. Instead of this, a respective outer edge 115, 116 of the projecting regions 109, 110 of the supporting member 106 could be appropriately used, in which case this outer edge 115, 116 would also be oriented parallel to the travel direction 108. Moreover, a respective positioning means 117, 118 is fastened indirectly to the machine frame 104 above each of the outer edges 113 or 114 or also possibly above the outer edge 115 or 116 that can be moved from a home position shown for example in FIG. 7, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 and in which its functional components lie outside the plane spanned by the gap between support member 106 and conveyor 105, above this plane in this embodiment, to a working position shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 11 and in which the positioning means engages through the plane and is thus positioned with components quasi beneath the projecting region 109 or 110.

[0179] The positioning means 117 or 118 is moved transverse to the travel direction 108 and transverse to the above-mentioned plane past the outer edge 113 or 114 or also 115, 116 at a relatively close spacing therefrom, particularly while entraining the region of the web piece 102 located next to the conveyor 105, as is made clear particularly in FIGS. 8 and 11. Depending on the required orientation, the edge region 101 or the edge region 101a that lies beyond the conveyor 105 can thus be aligned with the positioning means 117 or 118. When the positioning means 117 moves from the position according to FIG. 7 into the position according to FIG. 8 or from the position according to FIG. 10 into the position according to FIG. 11, a transverse force is exerted on the corresponding edge region 101 or the region 101a of the web piece 102 that moves the region of the web piece 102 in engagement with the positioning means 117, 118 away from the conveyor 103 in order to align the course of the edge region 101 exactly as desired.

[0180] In order to achieve reliable entrainment of the web piece 102, particularly of the edge of the web piece 102, during movement of the positioning means 117, 118 from the home position to the working position, a pivoting support 119 is held in the displacement path of the positioning means 117, 118 on the support member 106, particularly in the vicinity of the recess 111, 112 on the front outer edge of this recess in the travel direction against which a portion of the positioning means 117, 118 presses during movement into the working position, pressing the support downward transverse to the travel direction as can be seen in FIG. 8, for example. The interposed edge region 101 of the web piece 102 is held between the positioning means 117, 118 and the support 119 so that the desired movement of the edge region 101 occurs downward transverse to the travel direction 108, as is made clear particularly in FIG. 11. The length of the displacement path of the positioning means 117, 118 from the home position to a working position for the purpose of correct alignment of the edge region 101, 101a of the web piece 102 can be adjusted by an operator for example so that a greater or lesser displacement is traveled depending on the deviation of the outer edge of the edge region 101, 101a from the desired position.

[0181] In particular, the support 119 is fastened in a resiliently movable manner to the support member 106, particularly to the front edge of the recess 111, 112 in the travel direction 108.

[0182] This ensures that the support 119 is automatically moved during displacement of the positioning means 117, 118 so as to follow the displacement path.

[0183] The drawing does not show that the positioning means 117, 118 is embodied at its free end facing toward the web piece 102 as a skid, roller, or ram. This is one possible design. In this case however the actuation of the positioning means, movement of the positioning means from the home position into the working position, would have to take place intermittently, in order for the respective edge region 101, 101a located beneath the positioning means to be able to be pulled appropriately by the positioning means during travel of the web piece 102 in the travel direction 108 in order to achieve the exact alignment.

[0184] A provision is preferably made here that the positioning means is a belt drive 120, 121 with a driven roller 122 and a freewheeling roller 123 around which the belt of the belt drive 120 or 121 circulates and is moved.

[0185] As a drive for the driven roller 122 of the positioning means 117, 118, a motorized rotary drive 124 is held on and fixed to frame parts, for example parts of the machine frame 104 connected to a drive shaft 126 via a coupling means 125 (a drive belt in this embodiment). For this purpose, the drive shaft 126 also has a roller 127 securely connected to the shaft. The drive shaft 126 is supported and guided in a mounting block 128, the mounting block 128, in turn, being securely fixed to parts of the machine frame 104. The drive shaft 126 is securely connected to the driven rollers 122 of both positioning means 117, 118 so that the belt drive 120, 121 is set in motion by rotation of the drive shaft 126. The direction of rotation of the coupling means 125 (the drive belt) is indicated at 129. In addition, the positioning means 117, 118 can be moved by a servo drive 130 fastened to the machine frame 104. For this purpose, the servo drive 130 consists of an electric motor 131 for example that can be set to run alternately in limited fashion to the left and to the right. Via an output shaft 132, a support disk 133 is rotated in limited fashion in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about the axis formed by the output shaft 132. Components 138, 139 of the positioning means 117, 118 can be pivoted about the drive shaft 126 on this support via coupling rods 134, 135 and connecting rods 136, 137. Rotation of the support 133 by the drive 131 in one direction (clockwise, for example) moves the positioning means 117 into the working position in which the entire element having the belt drive is pivoted from a home position to the working position in which the freewheeling roller 123 is displaced downward, as can be seen in FIG. 11, for example. The positioning means 118 located on the other side is raised as a result of this movement of the support 133. When the support 133 is rotated in the opposite direction, the positioning means 117 is raised, whereas the positioning means 118 is lowered analogously as a result of the freewheeling roller 123 being moved downward. By virtue of this arrangement, it is ensured that the two positioning means 117, 118 are not able to act simultaneously on the web piece, but rather only the respectively selected positioning means 117, 118 as determined by the user.

[0186] In order to achieve flawless guidance of the edge region 101, 101a of the web piece 102 in the travel direction 108 even after passing over the recess 111, 112, a respective obliquely positioned guide member 140 is positioned downstream of this recess 111, 112 that transitions steplessly into the subsequent region of the projecting region 109 or 110 of the support member 106 in the travel direction.

[0187] In this embodiment, the positioning means 117, 118 is formed by actuators, particularly belt drives 120, 121, that circulate in the travel direction 108, the circulating actuators continuing at least when the corresponding positioning means is to be moved from the home position into the working position and being driven so as to circulate continuously in the working position. In this way, in adaptation to the travel direction and the travel speed of the web piece 102, a processing of the edge region 101, 101a is performed in order to achieve the correct alignment of the edge region 101 or 101a.

[0188] The deviating position of the edge region 101, 101a from the target position can be detected visually by the operator, thus enabling the operator to actuate the corresponding device in the specified manner. However, it is also conceivable and possible for the edge region 101, 101a or the outer edge thereof to be detected by suitable detectors in terms of its position and for the positioning means 117, 118 to be actuated in the specified manner by appropriate machine controls.

[0189] The apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 is suitable and intended to enable a method of aligning an edge region 101, 101a of a web piece 102, particularly of a textile piece, to be carried out. The web piece 102 near an edge region 101, 101a is transported for this purpose by a conveyor, for example the conveyor 105, in a travel direction 108 parallel to the edge region. The web piece is pressed by the driven conveyor 105 of the conveyor 103 against the support member 106 of the conveyor 103 and transported along the support member 106 in the travel direction. As will readily be understood, the described device and procedure can be provided on both sides of the web piece 102 so that corresponding devices are positioned and installed on both edge regions. The web piece can hang down freely between the parts of the apparatus on either side, for example by forming a loop.

[0190] As specified, the support member 106 projects over the conveyor 105 on both sides transverse to the travel direction 108. A recess 111, 112 located below the corresponding region of the web piece 102 is provided in the two projecting regions 109, 110. If the alignment of the web piece 102 deviates from an exact target alignment of the web piece 102, if the edge region 101 or 101a thereof extends so as to be pulled closer toward the conveyor 105, the incorrectly aligned portion or edge region 101, 101a of the web piece 102 is pulled over the edge of the support member 106 running parallel to the travel direction 108 or over the edge region of the recess 111, 112 running parallel to the travel direction 108 and adjoining the conveyor 105 and thus pulled away from the conveyor 105 by an appropriate amount transverse to the travel direction 108 and transverse to the conveyor 105, whereby the deviating alignment of the web piece 102 is corrected to the exact target alignment.

[0191] The traction acting on the strip of material in the vicinity of a corresponding positioning means 117, 118 is applied by vertical force so that good force transmission and alignment is achieved. While the tensile force is being applied, the means applying the tensile force is preferably moved parallel to the travel direction 108 of the conveyor 105 or also applies a movement component to the strip of material parallel to the travel direction in order to prevent distortion of the web piece. Movement of the means parallel to the travel direction 108 or the movement component is adapted to the speed of the conveyor 105 in order to achieve trouble-free action on the strip of material and, in particular, to avoid puckering. To facilitate alignment, the web piece 102 has a visually recognizable edge or outer edge or mark, line, or step that runs parallel to the travel direction so that the alignment deviating from the target alignment is recognized by means carrying out or monitoring the alignment method to be out of alignment, and the web piece is aligned precisely in the target alignment by actuation of a technical means. The monitoring means can be the eye of an operator or also an electrical, electronic, or other detection means.

[0192] Use of the specified device and of the specified method provides an outstanding way to appropriately align the edge region of a flexible web piece according to the intended purpose so that subsequent operations such as the formation of a hem and the stitching of a hem can then follow mechanically. In particular, the alignment is performed during normal operation of the conveyor 103, thus enabling exact alignment to be performed during normal travel. The invention is not limited to the embodiment, but rather can be varied in many respects within the framework of the disclosure.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference symbols 1 pattern piece 2 device 3 machine or manual feeding 4 check 5 determination of correction values 6 transmission 7 correction 8 feeding the pattern piece 9 station 10 conveyor 11 checking station 12 correction station 13 processing station 14 detector 15 processor 16 memory 17 sensor unit 18 light source 19 computer 20 control element 21 controller 22 display panel 23 travel direction 101 edge region 101a edge region 102 web piece 103 conveyor 104 machine frame 105 conveyor 106 support member 107 support block 108 travel direction 109 projecting region of 106 110 projecting region of 106 111 recess 112 recess 113 outer edge of 111 114 outer edge of 112 115 outer edge of 109 116 outer edge of 110 117 positioning means 118 positioning means 119 support 120 belt drive 121 belt drive 122 driven roller 123 freewheeling roller 124 rotary drive 125 coupling means 126 drive shaft 127 roller 128 mounting block 129 direction of circulation of 25 130 servo drive 131 drive 132 drive shaft 133 support 134 coupling rods 135 coupling rods 136 connecting rod 137 connecting rod 138 components of 117, 118 139 components of 117, 118 140 guide member