Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for assembling fastening elements to fabric pieces including sewing separated fastener stringer tapes to respective fabric pieces pulling the sewn element downstream as the sewing proceeds, and partially combining the separated stringer tapes by pulling the slider downstream through a portion of the length of the fastener elements while retarding movement of the stringer tapes at their upstream ends.

Abstract: A workpiece receiving device for a sewing machine, in particular for an automatic sewing device, is provided with workpiece receiving elements for clampingly receiving a workpiece at one side of a seam to be produced in the marginal area of the workpiece, the workpiece, namely a shirt collar, being provided at least with one tip. In order to also safely clamp the tip area of the workpiece for producing exact corner stitches without distortion of the workpiece, the workpiece receiving device is provided with an auxiliary workpiece clamp for clamping the workpiece tip, the auxiliary workpiece clamp being movable from an inoperative position into an operative position.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing wrinkles from a pantyhose portion surrounding a crotch area to which a gusset is applied, the pantyhose having a pair of leg portions and a panty portion, which comprises an edge stretcher for stretching the edge portion of the pantyhose surrounding the crotch area, a guide for receiving the pantyhose from a feeding mechanism and transferring the pantyhose to the edge stretcher which includes a receiver for receiving the pantyhose, a holder for holding the leg portions in a fixed position, then moving the receiver to move the panty portion towards a hollow head associated with a gusset sewing machine for moving the panty portion into the hollow head, and suction devices which cooperate with the holder for maintaining the pantyhose portion surrounding the crotch area stretched on the hollow head, the legs being held stretched by pincers, and then the legs are sucked by suction from the receiver into the hollow head.

Abstract: A device for guiding a concealed slide fastener to a sewing machine includes a pair of spaced track bodies mounted on a slanted guide plate and each comprising a block fixedly mounted on the guide plate and a cover member movably mounted on said block. The block and the cover member jointly define a guide channel for guiding an element assembly of the slide fastener therethrough while the slide fastener is fed down the guide plate toward a sewing position on the sewing machine. The guide channel includes a recess for accommodating coupling heads of the element assembly at an inlet end thereof, the recess being shaped for automatically erecting the element assembly from a horizontal position to a vertical position as the element assembly is moved progressively through the guide channel. The guide plate supports a means for sensing an end of the concealed slide fastener.

Abstract: Automatic seaming of gore pieces to respective incomplete panty-hoses while four sets of suction assembly travel in an intermittent fashion from station to station along a prescribed circular path of travel in order to produce gored panty-hoses, different automatic operations being almost concurrently carried out at different stations. Products of uniform quality are produced with minimal manual labor, simple construction, reduced power consumption and high production efficiency.

Abstract: A riveting press wherein the motor for the movable riveting tool is started in automatic response to closing of two discrete switches. One of the switches can be closed by a rivet which is already applied to a workpiece, such as a piece of textile material, and such one switch is located at a variable distance from the riveting tools. The other switch is also located at a selected distance from the riveting tools and can be closed by a marginal portion of the workpiece whereby the tools automatically apply a rivet to that part of the workpiece which is disposed therebetween while the two switches are closed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for forming a fly structure in garments or the like and more particularly to a machine which folds a fly flap portion which is integral with the garment forming panel, then places a predetermined length of one half of a slide fastener stringer in position on the fly flap portion within the folds thus formed and secures the stringer to the folded flap portion.

Abstract: A strip of material is advanced a first selected distance along a feed path past a cutter. Then, the free end of the strip of material is gripped by a gripper and pulled a second selected distance so that the strip of material is disposed across a path of a reciprocating frame. The frame is advanced so that a retainer holds the portion of the strip of material to be cut at the time that it is cut by the cutter. The ends of the cut segment, which is held by the retainer, are folded by two pairs of folding pins supported by the frame to form a folded loop. The folded loop is advanced to a sewing machine, when a sewing machine operator activates a switch, to position the folded loop on a sewing plate with the frame being retracted after the folded loop is clamped to the sewing plate and prior to sewing. The movements of the frame and the gripper are controlled from a single driven cam shaft having three cams thereon with one having a plurality of cam profiles.

Abstract: A cut segment of a strip of material is clamped intermediate its ends, prior to being cut, by two separate clamping elements. In one embodiment, one of the clamping elements is cammed towards the other clamping element as the clamping elements are moved to position the cut segment at a position for attachment to other material by a sewing machine, for example. This forms a loop or slack portion between the clamped portions of the cut segment so that attachment of the free ends of the cut segment produces a large loop when each end of the cut segment is attached to the other material. In another embodiment, one of the ends of the cut segment may be folded to form an overlapped portion for attachment to the other material so that a double thickness of the cut segment is attached to the other material. This embodiment still has one of the separate clamping elements movable towards the other to form a loop or slack portion between the clamped portions of the cut segment.

Abstract: A system for automatically handling a label and presenting the label to a hosiery blank mounted upon a line closer machine. A label length is advanced from a label strip supply roll; the projecting label length is clamped by a presentator assembly and then is severed from the remainder of the label strip. The presentator assembly is displaced to position the label at a prescribed location within the confines of a hosiery blank mounted upon the line closer machine. The presentator assembly is displaced to move the label within a hosiery blank past sewing instrumentalities to sew the label to a pair of hosiery blanks as the blanks are seamed together.

Abstract: A sewing assembly equipped with a feed mechanism comprises a work holder which is supported by two swing arms hinged to each other, and moved by two stationary positioning motors. Each of the positioning motors is in positive drive connection with a slide carrying one of the swing arms. The swing arm directly carrying the work holder comprises a non-buckling center bar, a cross bar, and two prestressed spring steel strips by which the ends of the cross bar are connected to the end close to the swing axis of the center bar. The two member linkage with the stationary motors and the light-weight and yet non-bending swing arm result in a very low inertia of the feed mechanism.

Abstract: During the manufacture of trousers a waistband is indexed to a sewing station for the sewing of belt loops thereto by the method of placing the waistband and trousers' crotch seam at the stitching station, moving the waistband lengthwise until a waistband end is detected by a detector located at a predetermined distance from the stitching station while measuring the distance of waistband travel to determine both the length of a waistband and its location with respect to the stitching station, and incrementally positioning the waistband at the stitching station at a plurality of waistband positions preselected for its determined length. Apparatus for performing the method include a waistband drive mechanism, a position sensor, and a microprocessor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for forming a fly structure in a garment or the like and more particularly to a machine which folds a fly flap portion which is integral with the garment panel to form a double welt along the exposed edge of the finished fly structure and then places and secures one half of a slide fastener tape to the fly flap portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically transferring pantyhose from a machine producing pantyhose with seams to a gusset-sewing machine, which includes a pronged catching device for a rapid and correct elastic catching or grabbing of the garment with its prongs which are first introduced into a central opening of the garment, which is left seamless at the central opening immediately after the garment leaves the pantyhose producing machine, provision being made to effect a preliminary transverse opening out the garment opening during the horizontal transfer of the garment toward the catching device and the simultaneous separate drawing of the legs of the garment into appropriate tubes so that at the end of the transfer of the garment, the edge of the garment opening is automatically arranged all around the prongs of the pronged catching device.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a system which, utilizing pneumatic logic, folds and positions pre-cut belt loop material for joinder to pants. The pre-cut material is loaded while joinder is occuring. Two pairs of upstanding pins supported by fingers receive individually cut belt loop fabric pieces which can be made from scrap to match colors and, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, two tacks secure the loop to pants in the case of jeans. A novel adjustable cam control arrangement and means for rotating the fingers is described in the following specification. In a second embodiment, one visible and one invisible tack can be made securing the belt loop to the pants, with the visible and invisible tacks being placed either top and bottom or bottom and top, respectively, as selected.

Abstract: A button sewing aid for use with sewing machines holds various size buttons securely in one position on the fabric during the machine sewing operation. A button holding jig has a groove cut therein, the groove having converging sidewalls which hold and support a button between them. An open channel extends from the front edge of the jig towards the rear edge and terminates at a base portion of the jig adjacent the rear edge. An elongated spacing pin extends from the base portion towards the front edge and is positioned within the open channel. The sew through holes in the button are positioned to lie on either side of the spacing pin.

Abstract: A belt loop sewing apparatus including a stitching machine having a stitching station and shiftable clamps for moving a belt loop in the stitching station between two stitching positions, and a loading apparatus. The loading apparatus includes a pair of turning finger members mounted at the end of a pair of longitudinally reciprocable turning rods adapted to receive and carry a belt loop strip from the loading position to the stitching station. The turning rods are mounted in a pair of spiral cam devices capable of causing the rods to rotate through approximately 270.degree. to turn the ends of the belt loop strip and deliver it to the stitching station, in a single, continuous operation.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for sewing elongated workpieces, and especially useful for precisely sewing a pair of concealed slide fastener stringers to a pair of fabric halves defining the opening therebetween comprises a table having fabric input guides at the front end of the table, a sewing station, and a gripper assembly for drawing the fabric pieces from the sewing station under a tension less than that applied by the sewing machine feed dog and presser foot. Individually actuable workpiece holders are provided to permit successive setting up of the fabric pieces in the sewing station. Fastener stringers are guided to the sewing station with their corded edges supported in guide channels as the stringers are superposed on the respective fabric piece. The sewing operation proceeds automatically in an extremely precise manner after the sewing station is inputed and the sewing machine started.

Abstract: Control device for use with a carrousel-type machine for applying a gusset to a pantyhose article. The control device senses the presence of the pantyhose article on a support and then transfers the gusset to the pantyhose article when it is on the support. A photocell reader is also provided to control the sewing of the gusset to the pantyhose article and assure that sewing takes place over an angle greater than 360.degree..

Abstract: Described is a process for transferring a hosiery garment formed with leg portions joined to a body portion and with a central opening to one end on which a patch is to be affixed, from a garment-making machine to a patch-sewing machine having garment support suction means, by the steps of: separating the leg portions of the garment while the garment is still on the garment-making machine; moving the body of the garment away from the garment-making machine; gripping and holding the garment by the opening; releasing the body and leg portions; widening the opening; removing the garment from the garment-making machine; displacing and rotating the garment until it is aligned with the support suction means; displacing the garment and disposing the opening on the support suction means of the patch sewing machine for sewing a patch thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for attaching tags to garments, gloves, handbags and the like includes an assembly for feeding tags from a stacked supply to a tag attaching station, an assembly for affixing the tag to the garment at the tag attaching station, and a control network for controlling and sequencing the tag feed and tag affixing operations. The tag feeding assembly includes a mechanism for gauging the width and thickness of a tag and for adjustably accommodating the same. The assembly also includes a pair of upright arms designed so that a tag having a prepunched hole can be placed with the hole over one of the arms. The other arm may be adjusted relative to the first arm and the positioned tag so that it touches the tag edge. The adjustment of the measuring arm automatically adapts the tag feed mechanism to precisely the required distance necessary to transport the tag from the stacked supply to the tag attaching station.

Abstract: A workholder for a sewing machine for producing a stitch row in a workpiece according to a predetermined contour. The movably arranged workholder has a cutout essentially formed according to the stitch contour and is controlled with respect to the needle by means of a feeding device incorporating a linkage system and a control disc. In particular, a new frame-type workholder with an additional workpiece clamp is provided for rendering possible the production of a decorative stitch row in connection with a label fastening stitch row.

Abstract: A cycle sewing machine equipped with an improved cloth feeding mechanism which is so arranged that, through rocking control of oscillating levers by a cloth feeding cam via cam rollers, a feed table is displaced in longitudinal directions of a sewing machine bed (i.e. in X directions) or in directions intersecting at right angles with the longitudinal directions (i.e. in Y directions), and by the composite movements as described above, the garment to be sewn is moved as desired with respect to sewing positions for two sewing needles vertically moving at predetermined positions, and thus, it has been made possible to simultaneously form the same seams at two positions of the garment in an efficient manner.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an improvement to spring type flexible chutes provided for delivering disk-like objects from a supply source to an attaching machine. The improvement includes a resilient, elongated spacer which may be inserted into the guideway of the chute for changing the space constraints thereof to maintain a uniform planar orientation of the disk-like objects between the supply source and the machine whereby allowing one chute to be used for multiple purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a continuous slide fastener stringer chain including space portions devoid of coupling elements at longitudinal intervals. The apparatus comprises feed rollers for continuously feeding a pair of continuous stringer tapes, in synchronism with a sewing machine, to a sewing area in the sewing machine, a stationary guide member having a longitudinal channel for the passage of a pair of interengaged rows of coupling elements, and a toothed wheel projecting into the guide channel and rotatable for intermittently feeding the coupling elements in synchronism with the sewing machine to the sewing area. A cutter assembly is disposed between the sewing area and the toothed wheel for cutting off a length of coupling elements then being sewn from the interengaged rows of continuous coupling elements each time the latter stops moving.

Abstract: A loop folder and feed apparatus for a drop belt loop tacker comprising means for folding both ends of the belt loop with the folded upper end extending past the fold of the lower end to provide an exposed tab or flag to be sewn, stabilizer means for clamping the loop during folding and the folded loop being clamped by the folding means while being presented to the stitching station of the tacker.

Abstract: Apparatus for attaching tags to garments, gloves, handbags and the like includes an assembly for feeding tags from a stacked supply to a tag attaching station, an assembly for affixing the tag to the garment at the tag attaching station, and a control network for controlling and sequencing the tag feed and tag affixing operations. The tag feeding assembly includes a mechanism for gauging the width and thickness of a tag and for adjustably accommodating the same. The assembly also includes a pair of upright arms designed so that a tag having a prepunched hole can be placed with the hole over one of the arms. The other arm may be adjusted relative to the first arm and the positioned tag so that it touches the tag edge. The adjustment of the measuring arm automatically adapts the tag feed mechanism to precisely the required distance necessary to transport the tag from the stacked supply to the tag attaching station.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a system which, utilizing pneumatic logic, folds and positions pre-cut belt loop material for joinder to pants. The pre-cut material is loaded while joinder is occurring. Two pairs of upstanding pins supported by fingers receive individually cut belt loop fabric pieces which can be made from scrap to match colors and, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, two tacks secure the loop to pants in the case of jeans. A novel adjustable cam control arrangement and means for rotating the fingers is described in the following specification.

Abstract: Sewing apparatus for automatically feeding individual belt loops to a folding mechanism where opposite transverse ends of each of the belt loops is folded back upon itself. The loops are then delivered in tandem to a tacker where the folded ends are automatically stitched to a garment.

Abstract: A process for producing pockets of a strip type with a slide fastener, comprising conducting a continuous slide-fastener tape towards the sewing area of a strip-pocket sewing machine, separating portions of the tape, with the teeth of the slide fastener tape located towards the outside, sewing the tape simultaneously on the main fabric and on the pouch of the pocket itself on said fabric, cutting said pouch and fabric centrally between the seams as the seams are formed, and cutting at the end of the sewing and cutting operation two V-shaped notches in the main fabric and in the pouch at a place corresponding to the two end portions of said cut and apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A sewing machine (10) for mass producing zipper closable garment pocket entries (65) includes a pair of pocket entry (65) in a plurality of garments (50,72,80). The apparatus 10 is a modification of a conventional type of double needle sewing machine and includes knife blades (18) spaced laterally apart from each other which cooperate with a pair of conventional double needles (12) to cut in advance of each stitch (58) and enable provision of a square miter at the ends of each finished pocket entry (65). The knife blades (18) are disposable between and behind the two needles (12) in the material feed direction. A feeder mechanism feeds continuous zipper tape (38) across the throat plate (16) beneath the needles (12) and knife blades (18) which may be selectively lowered and raised by the operator. The knife blades (18) operate in conjunction with the needle bar (14) movement only when engaged so as to cut in advance of each stitch while being unaffected by needle bar movement when disengaged.

Abstract: Sewing machine is modified to include means for feeding and cutting off slide fastener ladder as it is sewn directly to fabric. The means for feeding and cutting off include a pair of parallel blades one of which, the feed blade, is loosely mounted and biased downwardly so that when the assembly is depressed all the way forward, blade yields and cutter severs the ladder. Cam means are provided to drive the assembly in a rectangular path to engage the ladder element-by-element, pulling it through the sewing station. Override means are provided to momentarily stop the back-and-forth movement of the assembly and a depressor simultaneously urges the assembly down to accomplish the aforesaid severing.

Abstract: Sewing apparatus for automatically feeding individual belt loops to a folding mechanism where opposite transverse ends of each of the belt loops is folded back upon itself. The loops are then delivered in tandem to a tacker where the folded ends are automatically stitched to a garment.

Abstract: A method of holding and unfolding a drop type belt loop while it is being stitched to the waist band of a garment and the apparatus for accomplishing the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for sewing a slide fastener chain to a pair of article panels separates the chain into separate stringers which are sewn to the article panels with the fastening elements facing outward. The slide fastener stringers are twisted and the inner edges of the attached article panels are folded and the stringers are reinterlocked by a turning and pull-up device through which the slide fastener stringers with attached article panels are pulled by a pulling mechanism.

Abstract: The assembly includes a shank part having a tip and cylindrical hollow portion, a base part having a central bore and a knife part. The central bore has first and second sections, the first section having an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion, such that the shank can be inserted therein and secured thereto by an adhesive. The second section has an inner diameter equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion. The knife part includes a body portion with a cutting edge on one end and a protrusion on the other end, the protrusion being adapted to be received within and secured to a recess adjacent the second section of the bore. The knife part extends beyond the base in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the base such that the cutting edge is accessible for resharpening.

Abstract: Attachment for sewing machine is driven by the needle bar and includes knife which engages and feeds step-by-step fashion the fastener ladder through machine as machine stitches it to fabric. Means on the attachment are provided to selectively drive knife into deeper engagement with ladder to sever ladder at end of slide fastener. Computer/control devices are provided.

Abstract: In the present invention an elongated fabric web is advanced horizontally across a table by motor-driven rollers in a horizontally pivoted web forming device. The web forming device folds the web up along longitudinal fold lines before passing it through an opening in a metal fastener member held upright by a horizontally pivoted holder. The web forming device is pivotally retracted upwardly, and a web folding device folds over the leading end of the web and also rocks the holder to move the fastener member to a substantially horizontal position during this fold-over operation. A label is applied to the top of the web before the fold-over operation. The folded-over web and the applied label are slid across the table by a transfer device to a position where an automatic sewing machine sews a permanent end loop in the web and sews the label to the web next to this end loop.

Abstract: Elongated piece of material being delivered sequentially to cut in a predetermined length and the cut piece is folded at its opposite ends. The folded piece is delivered to the sewing machine which is placed transversely and is sewn to the garment. One of the folded ends is followed by the other folded end in being sewn to the garment. The apparatus of the present invention carries out the above procedures full-automatically.

Abstract: A twin-needle sewing machine for stitching lap seams which have been produced by basting a pair of fastener stringers to the edges of an article bounding an opening therein and then by folding the article edges along the basting lines. The sewing machine has a presser foot comprising a pair of parallel spaced main portions, and a pair of wings projecting laterally outwardly from the respective main portions. A guide fixedly mounted on the throat plate of the sewing machine has its sloping rear surface disposed opposite to the front end of the presser foot. The folded article edges together with the stringers basted thereto follow a curved path created by the guide as they are drawn under the presser foot for final stitching of the lap seams, in order that the article edges may not unfold.

Abstract: Apparatus forming a style loop which has one end folded over and the other end turned flat under the loop attaches the folded end and the flat end to a surface to provide the style loop which can be used, for example, as a belt loop on pants. The apparatus first folds the one end of the loop material upwardly from the surface to which the loop will be attached. The upwardly folded end is then transferred to a turning clamp which holds the folded end while the flat end of the loop is attached to the surface. The turning clamp is then moved relative to the surface to turn the loop over the attached flat end and rotated for turning the upward fold in the one end of the loop downwardly toward the surface for attachment.

Abstract: A sewing machine attachment for inserting a preselected size label to the underside of the garment which is to be sewn. A predetermined length of ribbon is cut from a label storage area, engaged and folded upon itself by an inserter band which advances the label to a transporter assembly. The label is presented above the feed dog and below the material by the transporter assembly, which maintains a parallel relationship with the work support of the machine during its path of movement, whereby insuring accurate delivery of the label into close proximity with the sewing area. The label is removed from the transporter by the feed mechanism, which advances the label, along with the garment to be sewn, to the sewing area. A pneumatic control system sequences the label insertion operation.

Abstract: A tacking sewing machine having a presser foot and needle for tacking multiple fabric plies in which a fabric limiting or stop means positions the fabric plies to be tacked and fabric guide means cooperatively associated therewith guides fabric plies to the limiting means in juxtaposition to a presser foot.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a component of shoulder straps for ladies garments, including a tape with a two-slot buckle sewn onto one end. A feature of the apparatus is a pivotable buckle holding and transfer device arranged to receive horizontal buckles at a delivery point and pivotable through about a right angle to move the buckles from the delivery point to a threading position adjacent the operative part of a sewing machine in which latter position the buckles are disposed vertically. Threading means are provided for advancing a free end of tape past the operative part of the sewing machine and through one slot in the vertically held buckle, and bending means are provided for bending the free end of tape towards the other slot in the buckle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling tape, such as knit or woven tape employed in the manufacture of zippers, and is more particularly directed to an improved apparatus and method for reeling and dereeling tape.

Abstract: A pair of stringers are stitched to opposite edge portions of a seam opening in a tubular garment while the portion of the tubular garment opposite the seam opening is held in front of the stitching station to prevent stitching the front and back or opposite side portions of the garment together.

Abstract: An attachment for automatically forming a horizontal thread loop over the sewing area of a sewing machine to enable the loop to be sewn onto a garment as a belt loop includes a prong mounted on one side of the sewing area. A solenoid driven linkage located on the other side of sewing area carries an eye which receives thread from a source. The free end of the thread, after passage through the eye is pinched initially between a fixed sleeve and a moving arrow-shaped blade carried for movement with a sliding bed plate of the machine and located on the other side of the sewing area. In response to brief energization of the solenoid, the eye is carried across the sewing area and about the prong to catch the thread thereon and thereby form a loop having two straight crossing segments radiating from the prong respectively to the eye and the sleeve.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a slide fastener stringer, the relative count of fastening elements per unit length of the tape of the stringer being manufactured is continuously monitored and used as a feedback control to adjust the relative rate of advancement of either a train of fastening elements or a stringer-tape-forming member.

Abstract: An automatic necktie neckband tacker, comprising a guage having inner peripheral edges defining an opening substantially equal to the size of a neckband for securing a neckband therein, an upper clamp forming a clamp opening therein substantially equal to the opening of the gauge and aligned therewith, the upper clamp moveably disposed above the guage constituting a clamping unit therewith for clamping therebetween a tie at a neck area thereof adjacent the neckband, and a clamp and cutting blade carrier for clamping and cutting, respectively, an upper needle thread. The upper clamp has a formation for guideably mounting the clamp and cutting blade carrier for movement of the latter upon actuation thereof into a withdrawn position under the upper clamp, as well as into an operative position projecting into the clamp opening. A pneumatic cylinder is operatively mounted on said upper clamp moveably jointly therewith, for actuating the clamp and cutting blade carrier.

Abstract: A method for attaching a length of string to a segment of material such as a foam pre-form used in tampon manufacture comprising providing the string in proximity to the pre-form, drawing the loose ends of the string through the pre-form in intersecting divergent perpendicular directions to form a loop on the side of their entry into said pre-form, whereby the loose ends protrude therefrom, passing the protruding ends through the loop, and tightening the loop around the ends to form a knot. The apparatus useful in the above method comprises a pair of reciprocable needles adapted to extend into perpendicular intersection with the pre-form to engage and retract a length of string through said pre-form, a string tensioning means for placing said string in tension adjacent said pre-form, means in alignment with said tensioning means for severing a finite length of said string, and means laterally aligned with said pre-form and axially aligned with said needles for drawing the ends of said string into a knot.