Russell Corporation, Inc.

Fletcher D Adamson

James M Caldwell

Apparatus for use in an automated garment making process detects whether a garment portion on a continuously moving conveyor is right side up by use of a photodetector. If the garment portion is not right side up, the photodetector signals a control unit which causes a flipper assembly to flip the garment portion over as it is discharged from the conveyor. The garment portion retains its original position relative to other garment portions on the conveyor and the conveyor does not stop.

Method and apparatus for sensing the preferred side of garment portions

A garment portion loader utilizes a plurality of photo-electric sensors to determine the positions of garment portions at selected stations including a delivery assembly which supplies garment portions for loading, a pick-up assembly which removes garment portions from the delivery assembly and places them on an alignment conveyor, and an alignment assembly which aligns the garment portions with a pre-established standard relative to the alignment conveyor. A rejection assembly is provided to remove garments which are not properly aligned. The loader may be controlled by a microprocessor receiving input from the sensors and controlling the various assemblies.

Automatic garment portion loader

A garment portion loader utilizes a plurality of photo-electric sensors to determine the positions of garment portions at selected stations including a delivery assembly which supplies garment portions for loading, a pick-up assembly which removes garment portions from the delivery assembly and places them on an alignment conveyor, a smoothing device which removes wrinkles from the garment portions when positioned on the conveyor, and an alignment assembly which aligns the garment portions with a pre-established standard relative to the alignment conveyor. A rejection assembly is provided to remove garments which are not properly aligned. The loader may be controlled by a microprocessor receiving input from the sensors and controlling the various assemblies.

Disclosed is a process and apparatus for stopping the drawing action of a draw frame whenever sliver breaks. The sliver is pneumatically conveyed into the field of influence of a sensor which generates a signal indicating the presence of the broken sliver therein. This signal is used to stop the draw frame, thus eliminating the production of sub-weight sliver or roving.

Process and apparatus for stopping draw frames and the like

An improved clearer for the drawing rolls, namely the top rolls, of spinning machines and like equipment. The clearer comprises a main frame or supporting structure for a clearing belt. The frame is pivoted adjacent the rear end of the apparatus. Carried by a portion of the frame are spring members which respectively press the belt into frictional driving engagement with a serrated roller forming part of the roll system and into clearing contact with one of the forward rollers which is to be cleared. The relationship of the parts is such that the belt also engages the upper surface of at least one other roller which is forwardly mounted relative to the roller just mentioned, to clear the same. Also, the clearer is provided with idler rolls for the belt which are located lower than the top of the cross member of the frame thus to reduce the overall vertical dimensions of the device and to get more 'wrap' on the forward top roll, resulting in better clearing.

Clearer for drawing rolls of spinning machines and the like

Disclosed is a process and apparatus for affixing, specifically, sewing, labels to garments and the like. The process comprises the removal of labels one by one from a vertically disposed stack of the same located adjacent the sewing station. These labels are lifted vertically from the stack, transferred to the sewing station by swinging the label transversely from over the stack to a position over the sewing station. Upon arrival thereat the label is lowered vertically onto the workpiece such as a garment at said sewing station. The label is then held in contact with the workpiece by pressing downwardly about at least a portion of its periphery and while so held is sewed to the workpiece. The apparatus comprises a magazine for a vertically arranged stack of labels, together with a pneumatic pick-up device which is operable to remove the labels one by one from the top of the stack and transfer them to the sewing station. The sewing station may be a commercial sewing machine equipped with a hold-down member for the label, which hold-down member generally is in the form of a centrally open frame-like member. The label is delivered through the top of a hold-down member, namely, through the opening thereof, and snaps under the periphery of the hold-down member, which lowers, holding the label at least about a portion of its periphery. The label is then sewn with a continuous stitch, just inside the periphery of the label thus securing it to the garment.

Process and apparatus for affixing labels to garments and the like

Means associated with a yarn package building mechanism such as a winder automatically to assure that the package is built to a predetermined diameter, thus assuring that such packages are efficiently used in subsequent processes. The invention provides a simple, economical attachment which may be placed on existing winders and other package builders without major change therein. The mechanism incorporates a knife which is engaged by the oscillating thread as it is level wound onto the package, the knife being raised as the package is built, so that finally the thread engages the knife and is cut, thus stopping the building of the package.

Growing community of inventors

Alexander City, AL, United States of America

Fletcher D Adamson