Abstract:
Apparatus such as a sewing machine, having means, e.g., a feed dog cooperating with a presser foot, to pass sheet material over a work surface through a work point, is improved by adapting it to automatically steer or guide the sheet material through the machine. A rotatable gripping means such as a contact ring about the work point is arranged to intermittently engage the sheet material, synchronously with the action occurring at the work point. Associated therewith is means for actuating the gripping means into contact with the sheet material and for imparting a controlled rotational movement to the gripping means so that it moves arcuately with respect to the work point thus exerting a guiding action on the sheet material. The gripping means can be located above or below the sheet material and can have opposed to it a cooperating surface to assist it in its clamping and guiding action. The rotational motion of the gripping means can be controlled by means of an optical edge sensor or it can be preprogrammed as by computer techniques. The fact that the rotatable gripping means contacts the sheet material at least over a series of points, preferably over an area at least in part surrounding the work point, and the fact that the position of the gripping means in contact with the sheet material moves relative to the work point in the plane of the sheet material while it is exerting its guiding action, are considered distinguishing characteristics of the invention.
Abstract:
A hopper holds a stack of workpieces which are fed to a discharge mouth at one end of the hopper by intermittent pressure feed means, a movable suction head located near the discharge mouth, through which suction is applied, withdraws the end pieces, one at a time, from the stack away from the discharge mouth (at time intervals) during cycles of operation when the intermittent feed means relieves the pressure applied to the stack.
Abstract:
A system and method of fastening a pocket to a portion of a garment is described. Garment working stations are arranged in a preselected manner about a platform with predetermined accurate alignment of their individual garment working operations. Each garment portion is automatically deposited on the platform and aligned with an orientation selected to bring its desired working areas with precision opposite the garment working stations. A garment portion indexer is employed which clamps the panel to preserve its automatically obtained alignment effectively throughout the working operations. The indexer accurately indexes the aligned panel step by step to each of the stations continuously retaining its grip until that is no longer needed. Pockets are deposited on the platform and automatically aligned with a selected indexed panel position. The pocket is attached to the panel at a precisely determined panel location after being transferred thereto with an automatic actuated transfer device. Pocket manipulation is uniquely performed at a garment station to precisely align pocket and panel parts as well as prepare completion of pocket attachment. Aesthetic completion of panel to pocket assembly is obtained with accurate bar tack operations, assuring a repetitively neat product. An automatic panel dart forming station is shown for the attachment of a rear garment panel for a pair of trousers to a back pocket. High speed pocket to garment attachments are obtained.
Abstract:
A method and system are disclosed for stacking and feeding workpieces of limp material onto and from conveyable worktables by angularly displacing the successive workpieces in the stack to provide a stable stack in which the individual workpieces retain their oriented positions, accommodating nonuniform thickness or contour. The limp material is such as fabric, cloth, leather, plastic or any other limp material, and the invention is advantageous for use in the manufacture of garments, wearing apparel, headgear, footwear, home furnishings, and the like. The identity of the individual workpiece in the stack as well as the identity of the stack itself is preserved. Workpieces having sections of differing thickness or contour are accommodated by utilizing predetermined angular increments of displacement between the stacking or feeding of respective successive workpieces on the conveyable worktables to provide stacks of workpieces which may take any one of several forms as described. The invention also facilitates the differentiation of the top workpiece from the stack without disturbing the remaining ones.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for differentiating the top fibrous material workpiece from a stack of fibrous material workpieces and for separating the differentiated workpiece from the stack which operates reliably over long periods of time. A plurality of workpiece gripping means have a plurality of barblike members located thereon, the barblike members including stop surfaces on the lowest extremity and material or fiber-mass engaging elements on the outer extremity. The fiber-mass engaging elements on the barblike members on one of the gripping means extend outwardly in one direction while the fiber-mass engaging elements of the barblike members on another gripping means extend outwardly in the opposite direction. Drive means actuate the plurality of gripping means causing them to make depressed contact on the top workpiece and bulge up or mound up the surface of the material of the workpiece around the fiber-mass engaging elements and to move relative to one another causing the fiber-mass engaging elements to engage the bulge of the material thus entering the mass or body of the material of the top workpiece and stretch or place under tension that portion of the material of the workpiece between the gripping means. The drive means causes relative movement of the gripping means away from the stack while continuing to engage the mass and the remainder of the the top piece. A separator plate means moves between the top workpiece and the remainder of the stack to complete the differentiation of the top workpiece from the stack. The plurality of gripping means move from the gripping position back to the initial position to release the material and stripping means strip the gripping means from engagement with the mass of the top workpiece.
Abstract:
A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERING FABRIC WORKPIECES FOR USE IN A PRODUCTION LINE TO BRING AN EDGE OR EDGES OF THE WORKPIECES INTO ACCURATELY KNOW LOCATIONS AND THEN FOR COMBINING THE REGISTERED WORKPIECES TOGETHER IN READINESS FOR JOINING THEM. FORCE IMPULSES ARE APPLIED TO THE WORKPIECE BY PULSATING AIR JETS FLOWING BENEATH THE WORKPIECE, THE PULSES OF AIR BEING GENERATED BY VALVING OR FLUTTERING VIBRATING REED ELEMENTS OR BOTH FOR AGITATING THE WORKPIECE TO REDUCE FRICTION EFFECTS AS THE WORKPIECE IS IMPELLED BY THE IMPULSES EDGEWISE TOWARD STOP SURFACES TO REGISTER IT. IN CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS PULSATING AIR JET UNITS ARE MOUNTED ON A MOVABLE OR INVERTIBLE HEAD WHICH ACCOMPLISHES THE DUAL FUNCTIONS OF REGISTERING A WORKPIECE AND THEN OF MOVING OR INVERTING THE WORKPIECE TO COMBINE IT WITH ANOTHER WORKPIECE. THE HEAD HOLDS THE REGISTERED WORKPIECE IN POSITION THEREON BY SUCTION DURING MOTION. IN MODIFIED EMBODIMENTS A REVOLVING SUCTION MEMBER IS MOUNTED UPON THE MOVABLE HEAD TO PROVIDE THE DUAL FUNTIONS OF REGISTERING AND COMBINING.