Sewing device, workpiece holding jig, and sewing method

Abstract

A sewing device that, when interposing a workpiece-to-be-sewn between a post head and a pressing mechanism and sewing same by penetrating a machine needle therethrough, shapes the workpiece-to-be-sewn in a prescribed shape and sews same, by seating the workpiece-to-be-sewn in a workpiece holding jig having a plurality of seats arranged along a sewing line for the workpiece-to-be-sewn.

What is claim is: 
     
         1 . A sewing device for performing sewing along a certain sewing line on a workpiece-to-be-sewn in a state of the workpiece-to-be-sewn having been shaped in a certain shape, the sewing device comprising:
 a sewing mechanism including: a sewing machine needle configured to, by moving in a reciprocating manner, penetrate through or withdraw from the workpiece-to-be-sewn; a post bed that faces the sewing machine needle across the workpiece-to-be-sewn; and a pressing mechanism configured to press the workpiece-to-be-sewn against the post bed from a side of the sewing machine needle;   a drive mechanism configured to move the sewing mechanism; and   a workpiece holding jig configured to hold the workpiece-to-be-sewn, wherein   the workpiece holding jig includes:   a plurality of seating portions disposed in a moving direction of the sewing mechanism, each of the seating portions being configured to hold the workpiece-to-be-sewn shaped in a certain shape by the workpiece-to-be-sewn being seated on a seating surface of a certain shape; and   a retraction mechanism configured to, according to a position of the sewing mechanism, retract at least one of the seating portions from the workpiece-to-be-sewn in such a manner that interference between the sewing mechanism and the seating portion is avoided.   
     
     
         2 . The sewing device according to  claim 1 , wherein in a retraction region where both surfaces of the workpiece-to-be-sewn have been set adrift due to retraction of the seating portion, sewing is performed with the sewing mechanism pinching the workpiece-to-be-sewn to adjust the surface of the workpiece-to-be-sewn to a flat surface. 
     
     
         3 . The sewing device according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of suction holes provided in the seating surface of the seating portion, wherein the workpiece-to-be-sewn is held by being sucked through the suction holes. 
     
     
         4 . The sewing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second workpiece holding jig disposed in a position not interfering with the moving direction of the sewing mechanism, and configured to support the workpiece-to-be-sewn. 
     
     
         5 . The sewing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retraction mechanism is configured by a cylinder or cam mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . A workpiece holding jig used in a sewing device that includes a sewing mechanism and a drive mechanism configured to move the sewing mechanism, the sewing mechanism including: a sewing machine needle configured to, by moving in a reciprocating manner, penetrate through or withdraw from a workpiece-to-be-sewn; a post bed that faces the sewing machine needle across the workpiece-to-be-sewn; and a pressing mechanism configured to press the workpiece-to-be-sewn against the post bed from a side of the sewing machine needle,
 the workpiece holding jig comprising:   a plurality of seating portions disposed in a moving direction of the sewing mechanism, each of the seating portions being configured to hold the workpiece-to-be-sewn maintained in a certain shape by the workpiece-to-be-sewn being seated on a seating surface of a certain shape; and   a retraction mechanism configured to, according to a position of the sewing mechanism, retract at least one of the seating portions from the workpiece-to-be-sewn in such a manner that interference between the sewing mechanism and the seating portion is avoided.   
     
     
         7 . A sewing method for performing sewing along a certain sewing line on a workpiece-to-be-sewn in a state of the workpiece-to-be-sewn having been shaped in a certain shape, the sewing being performed using a sewing mechanism including: a sewing machine needle configured to, by moving in a reciprocating manner, penetrate through or withdraw from the workpiece-to-be-sewn; a post bed that faces the sewing machine needle across the workpiece-to-be-sewn; and a pressing mechanism configured to press the workpiece-to-be-sewn against the post bed from a side of the sewing machine needle,
 the sewing method comprising:   a step of shaping the workpiece-to-be-sewn in a certain shape by the workpiece-to-be-sewn being seated on a plurality of seating portions disposed along a sewing line of the workpiece-to-be-sewn;   a step of forming a retraction region where both surfaces of the workpiece-to-be-sewn have been set adrift by retracting some of the seating portions; and   a step of performing sewing with the both surfaces of the workpiece-to-be-sewn being pinched by the sewing mechanism, in the retraction region of the workpiece-to-be-sewn.