Sara Lee Corporation

James Moore Schenck

George S Noonkester

John R Everhart

David L Kamp

Edmund L Pace

Glenn Robert Pierce

Jimmy Franklin Plyler

Dennis Starnes

Wayne G Foster

Erik D Moore

Michael D Hines

Bradford Lee Cheek

Delois C Brown

Randy R Marsh

John J Frye

Jimmy L Plyler

A moving fabric web vision inspection system. The apparatus includes at least two electronic cameras on one side of the moving fabric web for measuring the light intensity of a predetermined area of the moving fabric web. A high frequency, backlight, contrast panel on the other side of the moving fabric web provides reference point for the cameras to detect a defect. A controller connected to each of the electronic cameras generates a stop signal if the light intensity of the predetermined area of the moving fabric web deviates from a predetermined value. The predetermined value corresponds to a detected defect in the moving fabric web. Finally, a repair station downstream from the cameras allows an operator to repair a defect detected by the vision inspection system.

Operator-free fabric web inspection system

A centerline detector for a tubular knit fabric lay cutter table. The apparatus includes a nearside side edge compressor for determining the position of the nearside edge of the fabric lay and providing a signal representative of the nearside edge. The apparatus also includes a farside side edge compressor for determining the position of the farside edge of the fabric lay and providing a signal representative of the farside edge. A controller is connected to the nearside side edge compressor and the farside side edge compressor for receiving the signal representative of the nearside edge and the signal representative of the farside edge and calculating a first centerpoint of the fabric lay. In the preferred embodiment the centerline detector makes at least two measurements along a length of the fabric lay. The multiple measurements of the centerpoint of the fabric lay can then be used to calculate the centerline of the fabric lay between the two points as well as the centerline angle with respect to the edge of the cutter table. This information can be used by the cutter table to adjust the layout of the fabric garment pieces that the cutter will be used to cut.

Centerline detector for a tubular knit fabric lay cutter

An apparatus for folding a continuous length of fabric extracted from a dyeing range. The apparatus includes a fabric receptacle for receiving the fabric from the dyeing range and a two-directional plaiting system for folding the fabric. In the preferred embodiment, a control system controls the speed and tension of the fabric to prevent tearing or sagging of the fabric during unloading. Also, a pulley and squeegee system receives the continuous fabric and extracting liquid from the fabric prior to folding. The pulley and squeegee system includes a first nip drive and a second nip drive, each of the drives including a pair of rollers spaced apart to allow the continuous fabric to feed through the nip drives to extract excess water from the fabric.

Dyeing range unloader

A fabric roll letoff for unrolling and inspecting a fabric roll. The apparatus includes: a continuous belt for supporting the fabric roll. A drive system for rotates the belt to letoff the fabric web. The drive system includes a drive roller; a idle roller; and a tension roller. The continuous belt rotates the fabric roll to unroll the fabric web at a constant velocity for subsequent processing. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of unloader arms is connected to the belt drive for receiving the fabric roll and for positioning the fabric roll onto the belt drive. Also, in the preferred embodiment, a guide frame is positioned downstream from the belt drive for directing the fabric web through an inspection area.

Large fabric roll letoff

A circular knitting machine. The apparatus includes a generally conventional circular knitting element for forming a tubular knit fabric. A tension-controlled roll take-up assembly is located downstream from the circular knitting element for receiving the tubular knit fabric and forming a fabric roll from the tubular knit fabric while, at the same time, maintaining substantially constant tension on the tubular knit fabric being formed by the circular knitting element. This allows very large fabric rolls to be formed. In the preferred embodiment, the circular knitting machine includes a tension-controlled umbrella storage feed mounting ring adjacent to the circular knitting element for supplying a plurality of yarn ends to the circular knitting element for forming the tubular knitted fabric. The umbrella storage feed mounting ring permits an operator to attend to most machine functions without the need for a ladder or catwalk. In addition, the location of the tension control elements along the perimeter of the umbrella storage feed mounting ring provides an additional yarn reservoir which helps prevent fabric defects by providing additional time to stop the machine before, for example, a broken end of yarn enters the machine.

Circular knitting machine

A fabric width control system for a fabric compactor for compacting a moving fabric web. The system includes a vision assembly for measuring the width of the moving fabric web downstream of the fabric compactor. A mechanical spreader is located upstream of the fabric compactor for adjusting the width of the web in response to a control signal from an open loop controller. The controller is connected to the vision assembly and the mechanical spreader for controlling the position of the mechanical spreader in response to a change in the width of the moving fabric web from a pre-set value. In the preferred embodiment, a cloth stabilizer is located downstream of the fabric compactor for maintaining the moving fabric web at a pre-determined position with respect to the vision assembly, thereby further increasing the accuracy of the system.

Growing community of inventors

Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

James Moore Schenck