Levi Strauss & Co.

Union Special Corporation

Conrad L Fernandez

Ted M Ray

Jon McNeill

Gary K Hester

William Traynor

Richard J Kurtz

Maximilian Adamski, Jr

Gene F Croyle

Stephen J Pagett

Maxmilian Adamski, Jr

A sewing machine in combination with a workpiece control and advancing mechanism for automatically forming a seam along the aligned edges of a two ply waist band and a shirt body. The mechanism includes edge guiders, that are controlled by sensors, for individually controlling each workpiece edge such that the marginal edges of all layers are aligned.

Semi-automatic method to attach circular collars to T-shirts

An integrated automated manufacturing system for finishing individual garments is provided. The system includes a conveyor system, a fixture constructed for movement on the conveyor in a predetermined orientation, a form mounted on the fixture for holding a garment for finishing in a predetermined fixed orientation relative to the fixture, and finishing stations to which the conveyor carries garments mounted on the fixtures. The fixture mounted form can be inflatable so that the garment mounted thereon can be inflated to its fully extended, three-dimensional form, and the finishing station can include a blower to inflate the form prior to the initiation of a finishing step. The finishing stations can include robot-manipulated tools, such as spray guns or abrasive wheels, for applying chemical or mechanical finishes to selected areas of the fixture mounted garment, washing and drying of the garments, automated garment inspection, or the application of tags and labels to the garments. Typical chemical and mechanical finishes include the application of bleaches or abrasives to selected areas of the garment to fade or wear the garment in those areas, or the application of paint or dye to selected areas to shade the garment or to apply a logo or other design to the selected area. A computer integrates the operation of the system by receiving information from the operator about the physical characteristics of the garments mounted on the fixtures and the finishing steps to be performed, by controlling and tracking the movement of the fixtures on the conveyor, and by controlling operations at finishing stations, including the movement and operation of robots and robot-mounted finishing tools to achieve consistent reproduction of desired chemical or mechanical finishes on individual garments.

Automated garment finishing system

A trouble-shooting system for computer-controlled machinery includes a portable programmable testing unit. The unit includes: a CPU; A/D and D/A converters connecting the CPU to a voltage probe, for either measuring voltages on the machine or generating test voltages to be applied to the machine; a voice synthesizer with headphones, and a text line display, for instructing the user; a keypad for the user to respond; a card slot for accepting a memory card which holds the test program; and a data bus connector. The data bus from the machine's control computer is disconnected for the test and coupled to the testing unit, which tests the computer as well as electro-mechanical devices of the machine. The card may be dedicated to the machine and contain a maintenance history.

Voice troubleshooting system for computer-controlled machines

Automatic attachment of a rib knit band to a shirt body

Growing community of inventors

Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Conrad L Fernandez