Abstract: An integrated automated manufacturing system for finishing individual garments is provided. The system includes a conveyor system, a fixture constructed for movement on the conveyor in a predetermined orientation, a form mounted on the fixture for holding a garment for finishing in a predetermined fixed orientation relative to the fixture, and finishing stations to which the conveyor carries garments mounted on the fixtures. The fixture mounted form can be inflatable so that the garment mounted thereon can be inflated to its fully extended, three-dimensional form, and the finishing station can include a blower to inflate the form prior to the initiation of a finishing step. The finishing stations can include robot-manipulated tools, such as spray guns or abrasive wheels, for applying chemical or mechanical finishes to selected areas of the fixture mounted garment, washing and drying of the garments, automated garment inspection, or the application of tags and labels to the garments.

Abstract: An integrated automated manufacturing system for finishing individual garments is provided. The system includes a conveyor system, a fixture constructed for movement on the conveyor in a predetermined orientation, a form mounted on the fixture for holding a garment for finishing in a predetermined fixed orientation relative to the fixture, and finishing stations to which the conveyor carries garments mounted on the fixtures. The fixture mounted form can be inflatable so that the garment mounted thereon can be inflated to its fully extended, three-dimensional form, and the finishing station can include a blower to inflate the form prior to the initiation of a finishing step. The finishing stations can include robot-manipulated tools, such as spray guns or abrasive wheels, for applying chemical or mechanical finishes to selected areas of the fixture mounted garment, washing and drying of the garments, automated garment inspection, or the application of tags and labels to the garments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for disclosed for shingling stacks composed of flexible planar objects, such as fabric workpieces. The stack is placed over an axis connecting two hinged support surfaces which are rotated relative to one another to bend the workpieces and form a shingle. For subsequent shingling, the rough shingled stack is driven on a conveyor under a series of spreading rollers having positive pressure to drive the rollers onto the stack.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for selectively inverting flexible and limp planar workpieces such as fabric. The apparatus includes a primary workpiece propeller having a cylindrical means for contacting the workpiece about a central rotating axis. A slot of sufficient size to receive the workpiece is positioned in a substantially vertical orientation beneath the primary propeller. The slot preferably has a flared upper end positioned directly beneath and in contact or near contact with the propeller. The fabric is drawn into the slot by the rotation of the propeller and follows the contour of the flared open end of the slot. The fabric enters into the slot until the trailing edge of the fabric is in contact with the primary propeller. The trailing edge of the fabric is drawn by the propeller to the opposite side of the flared opening of the slot and is subsequently pulled out of the slot. Collisions are prevented between workpieces by a control circuit that instructs the workpieces when to leave the apparatus.

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.

Abstract: A cutter for severing work pieces chained together and for removing thread in close proximity to the work piece, such as on leading and trailing edges. The cutter of the invention permits close proximity of adjacent work pieces during the process of sewing but is still able to cut and remove free thread without necessitating undue slack as normally required with a shear type cutter (unlike a guillotine type cutter), or similarly can remove trailing thread between the work piece and the sewing machine.