Abstract: Fabric pieces or panels are releasably mounted in a unique materials handling clip or cartridge to facilitate handling, identification, storage, transportation, and registration during subsequent sewing operations. The clips are mechanically assembled onto a magazine where both the clips and fabric panels are maintained in spaced relation to each other. A plurality of magazines are mounted on a loader/feeder apparatus which enables the clips to be automatically and sequentially unloaded and fed to a subsequent processing operation, then reloaded into the magazine. The clips permit easy handling and automatic registration of the separate fabric pieces into sewing fixtures for automated sewing and/or assembly operations while maintaining a prescribed sequence.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 14, 1986
Date of Patent:
November 24, 1987
Assignee:
Blue Bell, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert L. Kellogg, Roger W. Zimmerman, Carney J. Bryan