Method and apparatus for attaching sleeves to shirt bodies

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sewing sleeve sections to a knitted shirt body. The sleeve sections are provided with a right-side-out orientation and are engaged and supported for sewing by a limited edge margin. A shirt body, supplied in an inside-out orientation, is applied over a previously loaded sleeve section, and is also engaged by only a limited edge margin at the sleeve opening, with the shoulder margin of the shirt body closely surrounding and approximately aligned with the edge margin of the sleeve section. The two components are placed under limited tension to equalize the respective circumference dimensions and are controllably advanced while a shoulder seam is sewn. The respective edges are guided and aligned as they approach the sewing position. A pair of opposed fixtures and sewing heads are provided at each sewing station, so that both sleeve sections and both sides of the shirt body can be loaded in preparation for sewing. Sewing then can proceed at each side sequentially or simultaneously, depending upon configuration of the sewing heads. In a two-station installation, sewing can take place at one station while the operator loads a shirt body and sleeve sections into a second station. Exceptionally high rates of production can be achieved with relatively simplified and economical equipment installations. The system is adaptable for both long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirts.