Union Special Corporation

Sara Lee Corporation

Maximilian Adamski, Jr

Stephen S Ruderman

Robert L Kosrow

Robert C Talsma

Stephen J Pagett

John C McEwen

Edward R LaVelle

Conrad L Fernandez

Benjamin T Bernstein

Kenneth C Milner

Michael P Faber

Robert Emmet Smith

Richard J Kurtz

Carlton I McElwain

Gregg A Gibson

Chengyu Sun

David M Navlyt

J Mark Smith

John A Kuhn

Dhimat R Desai

Richard E Walters

Steve J Pagett

Marian Pawlowski

Kevin L Lunsford

An automated sewing system and method for overedge sewing a cuff edge of a knit glove to inhibit the glove cuff edge from unraveling is disclosed. The present invention permits an oversew pattern to be sewn into the seam thereby locking the stitches. The oversew pattern length and run-off angle is maintained consistent between workpieces and is predetermined. A length of thread chain extending from the sewn cuff edge and the length of thread chain remaining on the finished glove is automatically controlled by the present invention. Additionally, the present invention permits a label to be automatically inserted at a predetermined location into the sewn seam on the glove. Moreover, the present invention permits a tensioned elastic strip to be conjointly inserted into the sewn cuff edge thereby elasticizing the cuff edge of the glove.

Automated sewing system and method for sewing a knit glove cuff edge

A sewing machine in combination with a work piece control and advancing mechanism and a microprocessor for setting sleeves in shirt bodies. A sleeve and shirt body are manually loaded on the work piece control and advancing mechanism and placed under the presser foot and the individual edge guides. An automatic sew cycle is then actuated that is under the control of the microprocessor. During the automatic sew cycle the sewing machine operator is free to prepare to load the next product.

Method and apparatus for sewing sleeves on shirt bodies

A machine for automatically aligning cut sleeve blanks after they are manually placed on the conveying surface by the operator. A material presence sensor is provided that recognizes the leading edge of the cut sleeve blank as it is being fed toward the hemming machine. Recognition of the leading edge of the sleeve blank causes an edge guider and blowers to be activated. An edge sensor is provided that senses the location of the marginal edge of the sleeve blank relative to the stitch line and sends signals that are conveyed to the edge guider. The edge guider maintains the marginal edge of the sleeve blank a predetermined distance from the stitch line. Air jets are directed on the upper surface of the sleeve blank to maintain it flat during the aligning process. The leading edge of the cut shirt blank is captured by a driven top belt conveyor which functions to maintain control of the sleeve blank.

Method for sleeve alignment prior to sewing

A machine for automatically producing apparel sleeves that includes a station at which the sleeve blank is trimmed, folded and hemmed. Another station is provided at which the hemmed sleeve blank is folded and turned inside out. The sleeve blank must then be stopped at a position at which it is aligned with a seaming sewing machine and then transported to the sewing head of the seaming sewing machine. A curve generating mechanism then controls the sleeve blank as it is fed through the seaming sewing machine.

Sleeve making method and apparatus

A work station for an operator using two sewing machines that have automatic sew cycles and work piece control and advancing mechanisms for setting sleeves in shirt bodies. Sleeves and shirt bodies are presented to the operator at the work station in a manner that they can be easily and quickly grasped which enables the operator to load the work piece components on one machine while the automatic sew cycle of the other machine being performed. The sewn products in both the intermediate and final stage are automatically removed from the sewing machines and discharged to a completed product tray.

Sewing sleeves on shirt bodies

A machine for automatically producing apparel sleeves that includes a station at which the sleeve blank is trimmed, folded and hemmed. Another station at which the hemmed sleeve blank is folded and turned inside out. The sleeve blank must then be stopped at a position at which it is aligned with a seaming sewing machine and then transported to the sewing head of the seaming sewing machine. A curve generating mechanism then controls the sleeve blank as it is fed through the seaming sewing machine.

A sewing machine in combination with a workpiece control and advancing mechanism for automatically forming a coverstitch over an existing overedge stitch. The workpiece control and advancing mechanism includes an edge sensor and an edge guider and a feed roller for stretching the garment to place the garment in a condition that it can be automatically processed.

Automatic coverstitch on circular garment bands

The current invention involves a vacuum latchtack throat plate with a vacuum generating system. The throat plate includes a body having a first internal bore beginning at a front edge of the body and extending longitudinally therethrough, and a channel formed in the lower surface of the body. The throat plate further includes a stitch tongue having a front edge and back edge, where the stitch tongue is integrally formed with the body. The stitch tongue has a second internal bore beginning at the back edge and extending longitudinally through the stitch tongue to the body where the channel couples the second internal bore to the first internal bore. The vacuum generating system includes a source of positive pressure gas, a vacuum generator having an input port, an outlet port and a vacuum port, and a valve for coupling the source to the input port of the vacuum generator. The valve is controllable. The vacuum generating system further includes a conduit coupling the vacuum port of the vacuum generator to the throat plate.

Vacuum latchtack throat plate with a vacuum generating apparatus

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.

Automatic attachment of a rib knit band to a shirt body

A method and device that provides the operator with an unrestricted view of the stitch forming area of a sewing machine when binding a fabric edge and applying an elastic tape within the bound edge. The elastic tape is secured to the undersurface of the garment where it cannot become exposed or visible on the outside of the garment.

Binding tape and elastic insertion

An improved method and apparatus for attaching a collarette, display, and label to a garment body incorporating the use of a first sewing machine having a sewing head for sewing the collarette, display, label and garment body into a sewn assembly. The device includes a collarette feeder, a display feeder, a label feeder synchronized with the sewing head, a garment detector, a seam detector, a stitch counter, and a controller to control each device and perform necessary calculations. A conveyor system is provided to transport the sewn assembly to a second sewing machine for sewing the display in place to cover the overedge seam affixing the components. A collarette unfolded and a display unfolded are disposed along the path of the sewn assembly to position the collarette and display for processing at the second sewing machine. A cutter assembly is also provided to sever the collarette once the display has been sewn in place.

Method and apparatus for automatically attaching a collarette display

A device for aligning the margin and leading edges of plies of material to be sewed and locating the aligned edges at the stitch forming location of a sewing machine. A first sensor for detecting the presence of the work piece and actuating a power driven gripper wheel in response to sensing the work piece. The power driven gripper wheel moves the work piece toward a second sensor that detects the work piece's margin edge and stops the power driven gripper wheel and actuates a power driven feeding wheel that feeds the work piece toward the stitch forming location. A third sensor detects the leading edge of the work piece as it approaches the stitch forming location. Control mechanisms are provided for commencing the sewing operation when the work material is at the stitch forming location.

Automatic alignment of material and positioning at the stitch forming

An apparatus for stitching material in a sewing machine having a throat plate having a stitch tongue, a stitch forming instrumentality for forming an overedge stitch having a needle, an upper looper, and a lower looper. The apparatus has first plates for applying tension to a first thread passing to the upper looper, second plates for applying tension to a second thread passing to the needle, third plates for applying tension to a third thread passing to the lower looper, fourth plates for selectively applying tension to the first thread, fifth plates for selectively applying tension to the second thread, and sixth plates for selectively applying tension to the third thread. The apparatus has a pair of cylinders for actuating the fourth and sixth tension plates to release tension on the first and third threads while applying tension by the fifth tension plates during sewing on a fabric, a cylinder for subsequently actuating the fifth tension plates to release tension on the second thread while applying tension on the fourth and six tension plates to form a loose chain of stitches on the stitch tongue, and a blower for blowing the chain of stitches off the stitch tongue.

Latch tacker

The disclosed invention relates to an auxiliary feed mechanism adapted to maintain an edge of a workpiece in substantial registration with a predetermined path along which the workpiece edge is moved. The invention includes a motor driven auxiliary feed device which is operatively associated with a unique servosystem. The invention further includes sensing elements arranged to monitor the position of the workpiece edge and devices operatively associated with the sensing elements and the servosystem for automatically adjusting the feed rate of the auxiliary mechanism according to the characteristics of the work being sewn and for effecting the speed of the auxiliary mechanism relative to the velocity of the workpiece whereby maintaining the desired alignment of the workpiece edge relative its predetermined position or path during the sewing operation.

Growing community of inventors

Tega Cay, SC, United States of America

Maximilian Adamski, Jr