Notching method and apparatus for fabrication of garment goods

Abstract

Method and apparatus for automatically providing notching indicia on the edge of a garment subassembly to provide a dimensional reference to be utilized in subsequent fabrication of the goods. A conveyor transports the garment subassembly to a notching station at which the pre-assembled parts are secured in accurate registration to the path of a notching device that is movable on a carriage toward and away from the notching station. The notching device includes a vertically extending notching blade having a recessed cutting edge which, when positioned at the notching station, overlies an edge of the garment part subassembly. On displacing the blade downward, the notch indicia is cut into the garment piece after which the notching unit is withdrawn to a home position while the notched part is transported by the conveyor to a subsequent fabrication step. In a preferred embodiment two notching devices supported in a common path on opposite sides of the notching station are utilized. The two separate notching devices are selectively operated for notching a garment subassembly relative to the orientation of the subassembly in the finished fabricated garment goods. The carriage is motor driven to move the notching units to and from the notching station in timed relation to the securement of subassembly garment goods thereat.