Suction apparatus for a work machine, such as a laser bridge, for an embroidery/sewing machine

Abstract

Suction apparatus for a work machine, such as a guide, or laser bridge, for an embroidery/sewing machine, suitable to take in the harmful fumes generated by work operations, having at least a cutting unit to carry out work operations, a suction channel, provided with at least a longitudinal aperture, a cover element to cover the longitudinal aperture, a suction pipe and a lifting element solid with the cutting unit, interposed between the suction pipe and the suction channel and defining a compartment.

Claims

1. A work machine comprising: a suction apparatus said suction apparatus configured to take in the harmful fumes generated by work operations, the work machine having at least a cutting unit to carry out work operations, a suction channel, provided with at least a longitudinal aperture, a cover element to cover said longitudinal aperture, a suction pipe and a lifting element solid with said cutting unit, interposed between said suction pipe and said suction channel and defining a compartment, wherein said lifting element comprises at least a lifting roller suitable to selectively lift said cover element and to define a passage in correspondence to the position of said lifting element, so that at least part of said compartment is closed by said cover element and the only part connected to said suction pipe is the one corresponding to the raised part of said cover element.

2. The work machine as in claim 1, wherein said lifting element comprises at least two fixed walls, two lower rollers to keep said cover element adherent to said longitudinal aperture in front of and behind said lifting element, and two upper rollers so that said compartment has a trapezoid shaped profile.

3. The work machine as in claim 2, wherein it comprises an omega profile element, associated to said two fixed walls, so as to generate and seal said compartment communicating with said suction channel and with said suction pipe.

4. The work machine as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said fixed walls of said lifting element has a hole for the connection to said suction pipe.

5. The work machine as in claim 1, wherein said cover element is a tape made of a rubber material.

6. The work machine as in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal aperture of said suction channel comprises a grid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of one form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a work machine comprising a suction apparatus according to the present invention in a first working position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the work machine in FIG. 1 in a second working position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of the work machine in FIG. 1 in a third working position;

(5) FIG. 4 is a partial section of the work machine in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of one element of the work machine in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a part of the element in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of the element in FIG. 5;

(9) FIG. 8 is a part of the work machine in FIG. 1;

(10) FIG. 9 is a part of the work machine in FIG. 2;

(11) FIG. 10 is a part of the work machine in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a suction apparatus 10 according to the present invention is associated with a work machine, in this case an embroidery/sewing machine 11, in order to aspirate the harmful fumes from a zone of the machine during the cutting operation.

(13) The embroidery/sewing machine 11 in this case comprises a lower frame 15, on which a work bench 16 is attached. A fabric on which a material or decorative pattern is embroidered is attached during use on at least one of the work benches 16. A plurality of fixed embroidery heads 17, in this case one associated with each work bench 16, has the function of embroidering a material on the fabric attached to the work bench 16. A cutting unit, in this case a laser head 20, sliding on a longitudinal guide or laser bridge 21, suspended and positionable in correspondence with each embroidery head 17, has the function of cutting and possibly removing the superfluous part of material surrounding the part of fabric embroidered by the embroidery head 17, generating harmful fumes.

(14) The suction apparatus 10 according to the present invention aspirates the harmful fumes, also using a filter 32 positionable upstream or downstream, generated by the laser head 20, to direct them toward a suction device 24 that aspirates the harmful fumes and expels them to the outside.

(15) The suction apparatus 10 comprises a lifting element, in this case a mobile shuttle 27 (FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7) solid with the laser head 20 and disposed sliding on the longitudinal guide 21, a suction channel 28 connected to the suction device 24 and a suction pipe 29, which connects the mobile shuttle 27 with the laser head 20.

(16) The mobile shuttle 27 comprises a first fixed wall 35 and a second fixed wall 36, shaped according to an arc of a circumference at their ends, parallel to each other and to the longitudinal guide 21. Two lower rollers 39 and two upper rollers 40, attached to the fixed walls 35 and 36 and having parallel axes of rotation, guide and stretch a cover element, in this case a tape 42, in order to lift it up in correspondence with the mobile shuttle 27, defining a cover shaped like a trapezoid and a compartment 45 inside the mobile shuttle 27. An omega profile element 48 is welded to the first fixed wall 35 and to the second fixed wall 36, creating a compartment 45 and sealing said compartment 45 from the surrounding environment, but not from the suction channel 28 and the suction pipe 29 with which it communicates. The first fixed wall 35 of the mobile shuttle 27 is provided with a hole 49, suitable to allow connection with the suction pipe 29.

(17) The suction channel 28, disposed below, parallel to and solid with the longitudinal guide 21, communicates with the mobile shuttle 27 by means of a longitudinal aperture, in this case a grid 51 made over the whole longitudinal extension of the upper surface of the suction channel 28.

(18) The tape 42 adheres to the grid 51, covering it along its whole longitudinal extension, except in correspondence with the part where the mobile shuttle 27 is positioned, where it is raised by the upper rollers 40 and lower rollers 39. The laser head 20, sliding in use along the longitudinal guide 21, translates together with the mobile shuttle 27 which, through the disposition of the upper 40 and lower rollers 39, allows to uncover the grid 51 and to define the compartment 45, and hence allows the operation to aspirate the harmful fumes, in correspondence with its position.

(19) The suction pipe 29 is attached perpendicularly to the first fixed wall 35 of the mobile shuttle 27, putting the laser head 20 and mobile shuttle 27 in connection. Therefore a connection is obtained between the laser head 20 and the suction device 24, passing in sequence through the suction pipe 29, the mobile shuttle 27 and the suction channel 28.

(20) FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show the mobile shuttle 27 in relation respectively to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. It can be seen how the mobile shuttle 27, irrespective of its position, lifts the tape 42 and uncovers the grid 51, defining the compartment 45 and allowing communication between the suction pipe 29, which aspirates the harmful fumes from the laser head 20, and the suction channel 28 connected to the suction device 24 which expels the harmful fumes to the outside.

(21) In this way, the invention requires less frequent maintenance operations than in the state of the art, since it is not provided with pipes that are subjected to a continuous variation in flexion and curvature. Consequently there is less wear and fewer load losses.

(22) Furthermore, the diminished load losses allow to use suction devices with a lower suction power than those in the state of the art.

(23) It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the suction apparatus 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

(24) For example, a device to clean the suction channel 28 may be solidly associated with the mobile shuttle 27, so that it can move inside the suction channel 28.

(25) It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of suction apparatus, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.