Porter Sewing Machines, Inc.

Other

Porter International

Michael R Porter

John J Kirby

Charles E Mulcahey

Steven Marcangelo

Edward S Babson

Thomas G Brophy

Frank W Laroe

Robert E Porter

Steve Marcangelo

Ross W Elliott

A method and apparatus are provided for sewing handles lengthwise on a strip of mattress border material or other elongated strip of material. A fold is formed and aligned on a leading end of handle stock and is advanced to a sewing head where the fold is sewn to the strip of material. The handle stock is then cut at a point to leave the proper length of handle stock to form the handle and a fold is formed in the trailing end of the handle, aligned and positioned at the sewing head where it is sewn to the strip material to complete the handle. All of the above are performed automatically under programmable control.

Method and apparatus for sewing handles on a strip of material

A method and apparatus for sewing flange material to a fabric panel, preferably the top or bottom panel of a mattress sack. The apparatus includes a sled which pulls the fabric panel to and through the sewing machine. The apparatus also includes an edge guide that guides one edge of the panel to the sewing machine as well as provides a thickness measurement of the panel and smooths the fabric panel prior to sewing. The apparatus also includes a moveable dolly which carries the sewing machine find the flange material, and a wheel which engages the fabric panel during movement of the sewing machine away from the fabric panel to prevent movement of the fabric panel. The apparatus also includes apparatus for automatically removing the fabric panel from the table after completion of the sewing operation, as well as a cutter for cutting the trailing flange material and the sewing threads. The method of this invention includes the steps of sewing each edge sequentially, rotating the parcel around the corners while cutting and sewing the corners, and measuring the thickness of the panel to space the rotating arm from the table a specified distance less than the thickness of the panel. The method also includes the steps of adjusting the speed of rotation of the edge flattened to produce a flattened corner without wrinkles or ridges.

Method and apparatus for sewing fabric panels

A method and apparatus for stitching a label to material in which the material and label are joined face side down rather than face side up. The label is held face side down with a clamp and a panel is held over the label by a clamp. The label and panel are joined by a sewing machine. Further, a mechanism is provided for activating a thread knife of the sewing machine at such a time that the bobbin thread only is cut. A masking mechanism is provided for masking electronic signals of the sewing machine that would otherwise cause the machine to reset at a normal needle height, so that a sewing operation can be stopped with a needle at a maximum clearance position. Pneumatic cylinders and linkage are provided for raising the needle and presser foot at the end of a stitching operation.

Method and apparatus for join and sew application

Method and apparatus for manipulating and sewing flexible fabrics

An improved method and apparatus for the assembly of pillow-top mattress covers. In the method of this invention, the gussets for a pillow-top mattress cover are prepared in a single step in which the gusset material is folded longitudinally, and the flange material is attached thereto and the gusset material is sewn together in one stitch. Thereafter, a gusset is attached to each of the top and bottom panels of the cover along its outer edge. Each gusset is secured to the underside of its associated top or bottom panel at the folded edge using a blind stitch which is not visible externally of the panel. No gluing is required. During the step of attaching the gusset to its associated mattress cover panel, precisely positioned mitered corners are formed on the gusset where the gusset is to be attached to the corner of its associated panel. In the apparatus of this invention, a conventional blind stitch machine is modified to accept thicker work by providing a wider cam for urging work into the needle area, top and bottom feed rollers disposed even with the needle, and pneumatic control of the lower support arm.

Apparatus for assembly of pillow-top mattress covers

A method and apparatus for sewing a cloth handle to the side panel of a mattress or box spring. The apparatus includes a modified X-Y programmable sewing machine which can sew both ends of a handle to the side panel in sequence without the necessity of removing the handle and side panel from the clamp and manually adjusting the position of the side panel. The apparatus also includes a folding jig, and a clamp with an upper lip to retain the handle in a desired position. The method includes the steps of folding the handle and placing it within the clamp on the sewing machine, and thereafter sequentially stitching each end of the handle to the side panel automatically without removing the handle from the clamp or without manual movement of the side panel.

Method and apparatus for sewing handles on side panels on a box spring

A method and apparatus for forming a partial mattress sack which prevents radial bunching of the mattresses. The method includes the steps of feeding first and second panels having different edge lengths at different rates through a sewing machine to form the partial mattress sack. The apparatus includes a variable speed upper walking foot having an automatic speed adjustment.

Variable walking foot apparatus for a sewing machine for mattresses

A method and apparatus for forming a side panel for a mattress sack or a box spring enclosure. The apparatus includes a double needle sewing machine and a guide for the ends of the folded side panel which are being stitched together which aligns and guides the ends through the stitching area. Photocells are provided to start and stop the stitching process. The method includes the step of stopping the stitching process after a predetermined number of stitches if light from a second photocell in the feed direction is not interrupted within a predetermined number of stitches.

Method and apparatus for forming the side panel of a mattress sack

Method and apparatus for assembly of pillow-top mattress covers

A method and apparatus for maniuplating and sewing first and second panels together is disclosed including a rotatable arm for rotating a first panel and control means for reducing the stitching speed in response to detection of a comer of the first panel.

A method for forming a partial mattress sack which prevents radial bunching includes feeding first and second panels having different edge lengths at different rates through a sewing machine to form the partial mattress sack. An apparatus for sewing the partial mattress sack includes a mechanism for driving upper and lower walking feet at varying rates and a mechanism for driving the upper walking foot at the same speed as a second lower walking foot.

Method and apparatus for closing mattresses

A sewing machine apparatus and method for sewing a label to a thick, puffy, or quilted mattress is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pair of clamps attached to a carriage, a cutter and nipper disposed above the carriage, and a controller for controlling the sewing machine and carriage.

The invention comprises improvements to sewing machines for increasing the throat clearance of the machine. The improvements relate to 1) modifications to mechanical components of the machine to increase the throw and upper travel limits of the presser foot, upper feeding foot, needle and spreader, 2) an adjustment for allowing the speed of the upper walking foot to be variable relative to the speed of the lower walking foot, and 3) an improved biasing spring for biasing the presser foot downward.

High lift sewing machine

An improved method and apparatus is provided for use in a sewing machine. The improvements include preloading two pieces of material which are to be sewn together. The preloading is accomplished by positioning pieces of material to be sewn under a gripper spaced from the sewing head on a table while prior pieces of material are being sewn. The gripper engages the material and, when the prior sewing operation is completed, the gripper is moved across the table toward the sewing head to load the preloaded pieces of material. When the two pieces of material are preloaded, most of the material hangs over an edge of the table and the lengths of the pieces of material are determined by movable detectors.

Growing community of inventors

Topsfield, MA, United States of America

Michael R Porter