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 and—transmitting (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.

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.