Sewing method for a cover material

• US 8,739,713 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ishii, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tejash
• Application Number:
  US13/894,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20130305974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 112/475.08, 112/475.01, 112/475.02, 112/470.03, 112/470.13, 112/10, 297/217.3, 297/180.12, 297/180.1, 219/605, 219/635, 219/636, 219/202
• US Class Current: 112/475.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5891 characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: D05B 23/00 Sewing apparatus or machines not otherwise provided for for making zip closures A44B19/00

Abstract

A sewing machine is provided with a sensor member, and a feed rate of cover pieces is changed after detecting a conductive thread that is arranged in front, in a direction of travel, of a sewing needle. A position through which the sewing needle will pass is changed to a position other than a position where the conductive thread is arranged, which is different from an initially set position.

Claims

1. A sewing method for a cover material, comprising:

sewing a plurality of cover pieces together with a sewing machine to form a cover material that covers a vehicle structure member;

arranging a plurality of conductive threads that extend linearly parallel to each other in at least one of the plurality of cover pieces;

forming a stitch line formed of a plurality of perforations that crosses the plurality of conductive threads, by passing a sewing needle of the sewing machine through the cover material at a predetermined pitch, while moving the cover material at a predetermined feed rate with respect to the sewing machine; and

providing the sewing machine with a sensor member, and changing a position through which the sewing needle will pass to a position other than a position where the plurality of conductive threads are arranged, which is different from an initially set position, by changing the feed rate of the cover material, after detecting one of the plurality of conductive threads that is arranged in front, in a direction of travel, of the sewing needle.

2. The sewing method according to claim 1, wherein the feed rate of the cover material is changed such that a size of the plurality of perforations changes.

3. The sewing method according to claim 1, wherein the feed rate of the cover material is changed such that the sewing needle is arranged at top dead center at a position where the one of the plurality of conductive threads detected by the sensor member is arranged.

4. The sewing method according to claim 1, wherein the feed rate of the cover material is changed after it is detected that the one of the plurality of conductive threads is in a planned position through which the sewing needle will pass.