Abstract: This invention relates to a dual clamping system for a sewing machine. The dual clamp system comprises a first clamp and a second clamp which may be used to clamp a first workpiece and a second workpiece, respectively, at a sewing station of the sewing machine. The first and second clamps are preferably of different shapes and dimensions so that different shaped workpieces can be clamped at the sewing station. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second clamps are adjustable inner clamps for clamping an inner portion of the first and second workpieces, respectively. The dual clamping system also comprises a peripheral clamp for clamping at least a portion of the periphery of either or both of the first and second workpieces at the sewing station. The dual clamping system permits an operator to either separately or simultaneously clamp and sew a plurality of workpieces having the same or different shapes.

Abstract: A clamping device for use in a sewing machine. The clamping device includes a clamping plate having a downwardly facing clamping surface for clamping a first workpiece to a sewing surface of a sewing machine wherein the clamping plate is supported for vertical movement beneath a sewing head for the sewing machine. The clamping plate is provided with a vacuum aperture which is in fluid connection with a vacuum source wherein the vacuum source draws a second workpiece into engagement with the clamping plate. A support plate is provided for supporting the second workpiece beneath the clamping plate and a feed mechanism is provided for feeding the second workpiece onto the support plate.

Abstract: A sewing station is disclosed including a workpiece clamp shuttle for loading and shuttling a bulky workpiece to be sewn to a sewing location of a sewing machine. The workpiece clamp shuttle includes a support surface for supporting a bulky workpiece and a clamp for clamping the bulky workpiece to the support surface at a loading station wherein the bulky workpiece may be easily loaded onto the support surface. The sewing machine includes apparatus for driving the clamp and the support surface from the loading station to the sewing location where the bulky workpiece can be sewn. In addition, a method for sewing a bulky workpiece in a sewing station is disclosed including the steps of preclamping the bulky workpiece at a loading location, and transferring the preclamped bulky workpiece from the loading location to a sewing location where the workpiece may be clamped and sewn.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inverting and flattening an air bag including an inverter for inverting the air bag and an actuator for actuating the air bag to cause it to flatten. The inverter includes a plunger moveable in a vertical direction through an aperture in a conveyor table to cause a face panel of the air bag to pass through an aperture formed in a main panel of the air bag. The actuator includes a spin disk for causing an inertial force to be applied to the air bag whereby outer portions of the air bag are caused to move radially outwardly relative to a central gripped portion. After the air bag is flattened, it is dropped down onto belts running along the conveyor table and the belts are actuated to convey the bag out of the apparatus. In addition, a load table is provided for automatically moving air bags into alignment with the inverter in preparation for an inversion and flattening cycle.

Abstract: A material handling system for forming an air bag in a plurality of workstations. The system includes a pallet for holding a workpiece in a predetermined orientation and a locator for locating the pallet in a plurality of workstations for performing different operations on the workpiece. The pallet is provided with structure for aligning the pallet in at least two workstations for performing different operations on the workpiece. The workstations preferably include a sewing station and a punch press station wherein the pallet is adapted to be accurately aligned in each of the stations for performance of respective sewing and hole cutting operations. The locator is operable for moving the pallet from a loading station to the sewing station and then to the punch press station. Further, the locator is operable to subsequently move the pallet to an unloading station or to a further workstation.

Abstract: A sewing station is disclosed including a workpiece clamp shuttle for loading and shuttling a bulky workpiece to be sewn to a sewing location of a sewing machine. The workpiece clasp shuttle includes a support surface for supporting a bulky workpiece and a clamp for clamping the bulky workpiece to the support surface at a loading station wherein the bulky workpiece may be easily loaded onto the support surface. The sewing machine includes apparatus for driving the clamp and the support surface from the loading station to the sewing location where the bulky workpiece can be sewn. In addition, a method for sewing a bulky workpiece in a sewing station is disclosed including the steps of preclamping the bulky workpiece at a loading location, and transferring the preclamped bulky workpiece from the loading location to a sewing location where the workpiece may be clamped and sewn.

Abstract: A workpiece pallet for transporting and holding a workpiece to be sewn in a programmable sewing machine. The workpiece pallet has a first frame member and a second frame member which is pivotally secured to the first frame member. The workpiece pallet also includes a detachable workpiece holder having a first template member and a second template member which can be detachably mounted to the first and second frame members, respectively. In one embodiment, the first template member has a seat and the second template member has a flange which cooperates with the seat in order to removably retain the workpiece in a mounted position in the workpiece holder so that the programmable sewing machine can sew a predetermined stitch pattern on the workpiece. In another embodiment, a support member is used in place of the second template member. The support member has a plurality of fingers which force the workpiece against the seat of the first template member.

Abstract: A thread cutting mechanism is added to a chainstitch sewing machine, including a trimming plate, fitted on the machine in alignment with the needle and looper and associated mechanism. A guideway in the bottom of the plate, extends along a path crossing the loops of the upper and lower threads. A slide moves in the guideway, and has an arm with a pointed free end extendable from the slide to move in and out of the guideway. Pockets formed along a side of the arm capture portions of the upper and lower threads in the sewing head, preparatory to forming a stitch. The slide is reciprocated when a stitching operation ends, extending the arm out of the guideway, pushing aside the upper thread and adjacent lower thread. The arm at its forward extension aligns the pockets with the upper and lower threads, so they engage within the pockets. When the slide retracts the arm draws the threads between the plate and arm.

Abstract: A stand for sewing machines with an open base design is readily accessible to users in special seating such as wheel chairs, and adaptable to accessory equipment related to the handling of materials. A vertically adjustable pedestal extends upward from one side of the base. On the pedestal, extending out over the base, is a platform which receives and holds a variety of sewing machines. Adjustable attaching mechanisms on the platform connect to the bases of different sewing machines, to support them securely and to present them at various orientations above the open base of the stand. Attaching mechanisms are provided for a variety of table configurations, each adapted to the configuration of the sewing machine mounted in the stand for quick interchange of tables onto the platform. The platform is attached to the top of the pedestal by a rotary joint of substantial proportions which provides for rotation of the entire platform about an axis extending horizontally, side-to-side, over the open base.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for folding lengthwise and clamping a flexible binding, while leaving the edges of the clamped binding free to be separated such that the edge of a length of extensible netting may be inserted between the free edges. A progressive linear clamp is provided for progressively clamping the combined netting and binding material as the netting is inserted to thereby permit an operator to obtain a substantially uniform stretch of the edge of the netting material, and to apportion the netting evenly along the binding. With the netting material thus inserted and clamped between the edges of the binding, a feed mechanism is positioned to engage the combined binding and netting and feed it to a sewing machine to permanently secure the materials together.

Abstract: A sewing machine, capable of at least partial automatic operation, performs a second stitched seam, e.g. a deck seam, about joined ends of a pair of fabric panels which are components of an air bag. The machine features a vertically extended pedestal supporting the sewing head and a corresponding veritcally extended post supporting the plate beneath the head. The post supports the joined bag panels draped around it with the joint of the draped panels located between the sewing head and plate for stitching the edges of the panels to one of the panels while the remainder of the panels hang vertically around the post. A fixed lower guide plate and retractable upper guides are provided which will move a previously made stitched perimeter joint in the panels into precise spaced relation with a sewing head, so as to stitch the materials outside the first seam to each other and to one of the panels, forming the deck seam.

Abstract: A tubular seaming system for stitching workpieces into tubular shapes. The tubular seaming system comprises a sewing head which is pivotally mounted on a support in operative reltionship with a first sewing station and a second sewing station. The first and second sewing stations are angularly displaced at separate points on an arc a predetermined arc length apart. The tubular seaming system comprises a linear motion assembly which is coupled to the sewing head and the support for linearly driving the sewing head into and out of operative relationship with either the first or second workpiece support. The first and second workpiece supports each comprise clamping structure which is capable of clamping overlapping edges of the workpieces so that a master controller can energize the linear motion assembly to drive the sewing head into an operative relationship with either the first or second sewing station so that the workpieces located at the first or second sewing station may be sewn into a tubular shape.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for folding lengthwise and clamping a flexible binding, while leaving the edges of the clamped binding free to be separated such that the edge of a length of extensible netting may be inserted between the free edges. A progressive linear clamp is provided for progressively clamping the combined netting and binding material as the netting is inserted to thereby permit an operator to obtain a substantially uniform stretch of the edge of the netting material, and to apportion the netting evenly along the binding. With the netting material thus inserted and clamped between the edges of the binding, a feed mechanism is positioned to engage the combined binding and netting and feed it to a sewing machine to permanently secure the materials together.

Abstract: A programmable sewing head including a work controlling clamping mechanism is automatically loaded with air bag material or the like, together with a reinforcement strategically placed thereon, for automatic attachment (by a predetermined stitching pattern) of the reinforcement to the bag material. A table having a loading station supports material orienting an aperture and the reinforcement, and extends to a transfer station at the sewing head. A locator aperture and a retractable locator head are in the table surface at the loading station for receiving the sheet and reinforcement. Placement of the reinforcement and the sheet over the locator pad aligns the reinforcement with respect to the hole in the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming pleats in fabric includes a vertically movable head which can accommodate one centrally located rod, or alternatively, two spaced apart rods. One rod is used to form two pleats and the rod is movable towards a work surface to a position where the rod traps fabric between a work surface and the rod. Two gripping arms are laterally movable and grip the fabric and move towards the central rod. If three pleats are desired, the two spaced apart rods are used, and a vertically movable blade positioned below the work surface can be actuated, which moves the blade upwardly intermediate the two spaced apart rods, carrying the fabric with it, forming a first pleat. The same laterally movable arms can be actuated which grip the fabric and move it inwardly towards the central rod, to form the other two pleats.

Abstract: A sewing machine having a clamp frame and a clamp foot is disclosed wherein a quick-release mechanism includes a plurality of guide means which extend parallel to the sewing surface and a holding means bearing against at least one of the guide means holds and releases the clamp frame relative to the clamp foot. The holding means is operable by hand pressure alone, to release the clamp frame from the clamp foot.

Abstract: A programmable sewing machine having movable work holding means, first and second separable button holding means, button supporting means movable into proximity with the button holding means and means to move the button holding means toward the sewing machine bed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding lengths of tape to a sewing location to be sewn onto other material is disclosed. In particular, it relates to apparatus that may be set to accept and feed tape that has any width within a predetermined range. The feeding operation includes holding the tape and cutting off an end portion of selectable length from the forward end of the tape being fed toward the sewing location and then feeding the cut-off portions, which may be patches, farther forward toward the sewing location.

Abstract: A programmable sewing machine that has a work holder and X-Y actuators to move the work holder about on the bed of the machine is provided with a clamping structure to grasp a workpiece to move it about to form a programmed pattern of stitches in it. The clamping structure includes a clamp and a first quick-release connector to connect the clamp to a clamp foot on the work holder, and it also includes a cloth plate and a second quick-release connector to connect the cloth plate to the work holder under the clamp so that both the clamp and the cloth plate are firmly held by the work holder to move in unison but are both quickly releasable from the work holder to be easily replaced.

Abstract: Improved work holding means including work clamp frames having quick disconnect means whereby the clamp frames can be quickly changed without loss of rigidity, accuracy, or holding power of the clamping structure.