Development of the Intelligent Pneumatic Sewing Platform for Mask Production

This study fabricated a two-dimensional pneumatic servomechanism-based mask sewing platform. The platform has a simple structure, operates quickly, and is energy-efficient. SOLIDWORKS was used to design the platform, which comprises two rod-less pneumatic cylinders, one auxiliary cylinder, and a fabric-clamping mechanism. These parts are integrated with a sewing machine. The mask sewing platform has two degrees of freedom, as indicated by a mobility analysis of its mechanism. To control the highly nonlinear and time variant pneumatic system, a mathematical model for the pneumatic servo control system was developed and then analyzed in analytical form. An intelligent parameter adjustment feature with a sliding-mode controller was formulated to control the mask sewing platform. An experimental mask sewing platform was then designed and constructed. Finally, a personal computer–based system was developed using MATLAB Simulink for real-time control of the platform. The hybrid and fifth-order paths were successfully implemented in the test rig, and this study’s platform was experimentally verified as being capable of automatically producing masks.