Stitcher drive
View Patent ↗A stitcher is provided including a carriage having a center of gravity, the carriage movable between an extended position and a retracted position; at least one bearing for supporting the carriage; and an operating link for driving the carriage, a driving force of the link being applied through the center of gravity or between the center of gravity and the bearing. Another stitcher also is provided including a movable carriage having a center of gravity, the carriage movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and an operating link for driving the carriage, a driving force of the link being applied through the center of gravity when the carriage is in the extended or retracted position. A saddle stitcher is also provided. Methods for stitching are also provided.
1. A stitcher comprising:
a carriage having a center of gravity, the carriage movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
at least one bearing for supporting the carriage; and
a drive including a crank, the crank connected to an operating link, the operating link connected to the carriage for imparting a driving force to the carriage;
the driving force of the operating link being applied through the center of gravity or between the center of gravity and the bearing.
2. The stitcher as recited in claim 1 wherein the at least one bearing includes two bearings.
3. The stitcher as recited in claim 2 wherein the bearings are connected to a bearing rail.
4. The stitcher as recited in claim 1 wherein the crank is connected to a drive motor.
5. The stitcher as recited in claim 1 further comprising a second link connected to a drive.
6. The stitcher as recited in claim 5 wherein the drive includes a crank.
7. The stitcher as recited in claim 6 wherein the crank is connected to a drive motor.
8. The stitcher as recited in claim 5 further comprising a rocker arm connecting the operating link to the second link.
9. The stitcher as recited in claim 8 wherein the rocker arm is rotatably connected to a clevis.
10. The stitcher as recited in claim 9 wherein the driving force is transferred from the second link to the operating link via the rocker arm and clevis.
11. The stitcher as recited in claim 1 wherein the driving force of the link is applied through the center of gravity when the carriage is in an extended or retracted position.