Method and apparatus for attaching sleeves to tubular shirt bodies

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for automating the sewing of tubular sleeve sections onto tubular shirt bodies, as in the manufacture of T-shirts. Shirt bodies and sleeve sections are applied over a generally cylindrical body form having portions aligned with the sleeve openings of the shirt body. In one version, the sleeve sections are applied inside-out and inner end first over opposed hollow sleeve cones. The areas of the shirt body surrounding the sleeve openings are engaged at spaced points by positioning devices, which independently position segments of the sleeve opening edges with respect to predetermined reference planes. Thereafter, tubular sleeve sections are applied axially over the body form, in surrounding relation to the shoulder areas of the shirt body. As segments of the sleeve inner edges approach the reference planes, individual segments are engaged and retained in position, until all portions of the sleeve edges are aligned with their respective reference plane. The alignment means are then withdrawn and the body form is indexed to a sewing station, where each end of the body form is approached in succession by a sewing machine, which is rotated about an axis aligned with the body form, following a circular path to sew the sleeve edges to the edges of the sleeve opening. In another version, the sleeve openings and sleeve edges are aligned manually by the operator, as part of the operations of loading the body and sleeves onto the body form.