System and method for joining fabric items

Abstract

A system that includes a fabric joining device for manufacturing a fabric item. The fabric joining device includes a first section configured to releasably hold at least a first portion of a fabric item onto a surface of the first section. The fabric joining device also includes a second section configured to releasably hold at least a second portion of the fabric item onto a surface of the second section. One or more first actuators coupled to the second section and configured to rotate the second section toward the first section to fold the second portion of the fabric item onto the first portion of the fabric item and to press the first portion of the fabric item and the second portion of the fabric item together to join the first and second portions of the fabric item.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fabric joining device comprising:
 a first section configured to releasably hold a first portion of a fabric item on a surface of the first section, wherein the first section comprises a first plurality of sectors, wherein each sector is configured to selectively apply heat to the first portion of the fabric item;   a second section configured to releasably hold a second portion of the fabric item on a surface of the second section, wherein the second section comprises a second plurality of sectors, wherein each sector is configured to selectively apply heat to the second portion of the fabric item; and   one or more first actuators coupled to the second section and configured to move the second section toward the first section to fold the second portion of the fabric item onto the first portion of the fabric item and to press the first portion of the fabric item and the second portion of the fabric item together to join the first and second portions of the fabric item.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , wherein the first section, the second section, or both are further configured to move along an X-Y-Theta planar space to facilitate alignment of the second portion of the fabric item relative to the first portion of the fabric item prior to the one or more first actuators moving the second section toward the first section. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , further comprising a vision system configured to:
 determine a location of the first portion of the fabric item, the second portion of the fabric item, or both; and   determine one or more instructions that cause the first section, the second section, or both to move to a location to align the first portion of the fabric item with the second portion of the fabric item.   
     
     
         4 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , wherein the second section includes a pivot point configured to rotate, via the one or more first actuators, the second section toward the first section until the second section is parallel to the first section with a gap between the second section and the first section. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric joining device of  claim 4 , wherein the gap enables a sector from the first plurality of sectors, the second plurality of sectors, or both, to be linearly actuated to facilitate equal pressure distribution and heat to join the first and second portions of the fabric item. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more third sections configured to releasably hold one or more third portions of the fabric item to respective surfaces of the one or more third sections, wherein the third section comprises a third plurality of sectors, wherein each sector is configured to selectively apply heat to the one or more third portions of the fabric item; and   one or more second actuators coupled to the one or more third sections and configured to move the one or more third sections to fold the one or more third portions of the fabric item onto the first portion of the fabric item, the second portion of the fabric item, or both, to position the one or more third portions of the fabric item for formation of a joint.   
     
     
         7 . The fabric joining device of  claim 6 , wherein each of the one or more third sections are further configured to move along an X-Y-Theta planar space to facilitate alignment of the one or more third sections of the fabric relative to the second portion of the fabric item, the first portion of the fabric item, or both prior to the one or more first actuators moving the second section toward the first section, the one or more second actuators moving the one or more third sections to fold the one or more third portions of the fabric item onto the first portion of the fabric item, the second portion of the fabric item, or both. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric joining device of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more third sections rotate about non-parallel axes of rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first actuators, one or more sectors of the first plurality of sectors, one or more sectors of the second plurality of sectors, or a combination thereof, are configured to apply a pressure to a joint region of the second portion of the fabric item and a joint region of the first portion of the fabric item to form a joint therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric joining device of  claim 9 , further comprising a spacer positioned with respect to the first section and the second section to support a non-joint region of the first portion of the fabric item, a non-joint region of the second portion of the fabric item, or both. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more additional sections configured to releasably hold one or more additional portions of the fabric item, wherein the one or more additional sections comprise a plurality of one or more additional sectors, wherein each additional sector is configured to selectively apply heat to the one or more additional portions of the fabric item; and   one or more additional actuators coupled to the one or more additional sections and configured to move the one or more additional sections to fold the one or more additional portions of the fabric item onto one or more third portions of the fabric item.   
     
     
         12 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive applicator configured to, before movement of the second section, apply an adhesive to a first joint region of the first portion of the fabric item, to a second joint region of the second portion of the fabric item, or both, such that pressing together and heating the first portion of the fabric item and the second portion of the fabric item adheres the first joint region and the second joint region to form a joint. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment sensor configured to generate sensor data indicating a first position of the first portion of the fabric item, a second position of the second portion of the fabric item, or both. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric joining device of  claim 13 , wherein the first section, the second section, or both are configured to move to a location to align the first portion of the fabric item with the second portion of the fabric item based on the sensor data. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to send control signals to control the one or more first actuators, the first plurality of sectors, the second plurality of sectors, or a combination thereof, during manufacturing of the fabric item. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , wherein the first section, the second section, or both, further comprise a retention mechanism to releasably hold a respective portion of the fabric item, wherein the retention mechanism includes one or more of:
 a vacuum assembly,   a fold down frame assembly,   a hook and loop fastener assembly, or   a releasable adhesive assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The fabric joining device of  claim 1 , further comprising a placement apparatus comprising one or more sections configured to releasably hold and place the first portion of the fabric item, the second portion of the fabric item or both, onto the fabric joining device, wherein the one or more sections are further configured to include a third plurality of sectors, wherein each sector is configured to selectively apply heat to the first portion of the fabric item, the second portion of the fabric item, another portion of the fabric item, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a fabric item, the method comprising:
 mounting a first portion of the fabric item on a surface of a first section of a fabric joining device;   mounting a second portion of the fabric item on a surface of a second section of the fabric joining device; and   moving, using one or more first actuators of the fabric joining device, the second section toward the first section to fold the second portion of the fabric item on top of the first portion of the fabric item and to press the first portion of the fabric item and the second portion of the fabric item together to join the first portion of the fabric item and second portion of the fabric item.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising moving, using one or more second actuators of the fabric joining device, one or more third sections to fold one or more third portions of the fabric item on top of the first portion of the fabric item, the second portion of the fabric item, or both. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 applying an adhesive to a first joint region of the first portion of the fabric item, to a second joint region of the second portion of the fabric item, or both, such that pressing together and heating the first portion of the fabric item and the second portion of the fabric item adheres the first joint region and the second joint region to form a joint.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 generating sensor data indicating a first position of the first portion of the fabric item, a second position of the second portion of the fabric item, or both, relative to alignment indicia of the fabric joining device; and   positioning the first section of the fabric joining device, the second section of the fabric joining device, or both, based on the sensor data.   
     
     
         22 . A system comprising:
 a fabric joining device comprising:
 a first section configured to releasably hold a first portion of a fabric item on a surface of the first section, wherein the first section comprises a first plurality of sectors, wherein each sector is configured to selectively apply heat to the first portion of the fabric item; 
 a second section configured to releasably hold a second portion of the fabric item on a surface of the second section, wherein the second section comprises a second plurality of sectors, wherein each sector is configured to selectively apply heat to the second portion of the fabric item; and 
 one or more first actuators coupled to the second section and configured to move the second section toward the first section to fold the second portion of the fabric item on top of the first portion of the fabric item and to press the first portion of the fabric item and the second portion of the fabric item together to join the first and second portions of the fabric item; and 
   a placement apparatus comprising one or more sections configured to releasably hold and place the first portion of the fabric item, the second portion of the fabric item or both, onto the fabric joining device, wherein the one or more sections are further configured to include a third plurality of sectors, wherein each sector is configured to selectively apply heat to the first portion of the fabric item, the second portion of the fabric item, another portion of the fabric item, or a combination thereof.