Method and apparatus for inserting an insert into a cover

Abstract

A method and apparatus for inserting a supporting insert, such as a set insert (bun) for a vehicle, into a cover, such as a seat cover for a vehicle. The apparatus of the present invention includes a bench upon which a cover holding assembly and a stuffing bracket are provided. The holding assembly comprises four self-adjusting blades which are substantially grouped together at the beginning of the fitting cycle. After an inside-out seat cover's open end is fitted onto the blades, the blades move away from each other into the corners of the cover to expand the cover to its maximum size. The insert is then positioned between the top (closed) end of the covering material and the stuffing bracket. The stuffing bracket then drives the seat insert into the inside-out covering material, gradually turning the material outside-out as the insert is moved forward.

1. An apparatus for fitting a covering material over a supporting insert, said apparatus comprising:
 a stuffing bracket for stuffing the supporting insert into the covering material;  
 a material holding assembly comprising a plurality of blades upon which said covering material is placed;  
 power means for moving said blades back and forth along an axis so as to adjust a distance between said blades;  
 said stuffing bracket and said material holding assembly being movable with respect to each other from a spaced apart position to an insert position where said covering material is fitted over said supporting insert;  
 a driver system for selectively moving said stuffing bracket and said holding assembly between said spaced apart position and said insert position.  
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said blades includes a tip, said tip further including at least one rolling body rotatably attached to said tip, said covering material being passable along said at least one rolling body. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said blades have a low friction surface. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said material is a polymerized material. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said polymerized material is polymerized. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said material is a metal. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said metal is aluminum. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said power means for moving said blades comprises a driver for moving said blades to expand said covering material positioned therein. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each said driver includes means for limiting the movement of said blade associated therewith whereby the movement of said blade is limited to the maximum size to which said covering material may be expanded. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said driver is a pneumatic driver. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said power means for moving further comprises an electronic control system. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1  and including a programmer operable with said driver system for selectively positioning said stuffing bracket and its associated insert and said material holding assembly at selected positions between said spaced apart position and said insert position. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , including a pre-set timer that provides for al pre-set increment of stop time before the relative motion of the stuffing bracket and said material holding assembly restarts. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said driver system includes a manually-operable control knob and a control board, said control knob being movable upon said control board to select relative positions for said stuffing bracket and said material holding assembly. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said stuffing bracket further includes a ledge upon which an end of said insert may be rested. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  and in which said driver system is operative to move said stuffing bracket toward said holding assembly. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as defined in  claim 1  and in which said plurality of blades includes at least two blades spaced from each other and said power means selectively moves said two blades away from each other. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus for fitting a covering material over a supporting insert, said apparatus comprising:
 a stuffing bracket for stuffing the supporting insert into the covering material;  
 a material holding assembly comprising a plurality of blades upon which said covering material is placed;  
 a first power means for moving said blades back and forth along a first axis so as to adjust a distance between said blades;  
 a second power means for moving said blades back and forth along a second axis perpendicular to said first axis;  
 said stuffing bracket and said material holding assembly being movable with respect to each other from a spaced apart position to an insert position where said covering material is fitted over said supporting insert;  
 a driver system for selectively moving said stuffing bracket and said holding assembly between said spaced apart position and said insert position.  
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein each of said blades includes a tip, said tip further including at least one rolling body rotatably attached to said tip, said covering material being passable along said at least one rolling body. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said first power means for moving said blades comprises a driver for moving said blades to expand said covering material positioned thereon. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein each said driver includes means for limiting the movement of said blade associated therewith whereby the movement of said blade is limited to a maximum size to which said covering material may be expanded.