Abstract: A garment portion loader utilizes a plurality of photo-electric sensors to determine the positions of garment portions at selected stations including a delivery assembly which supplies garment portions for loading, a pick-up assembly which removes garment portions from the delivery assembly and places them on an alignment conveyor, a smoothing device which removes wrinkles from the garment portions when positioned on the conveyor, and an alignment assembly which aligns the garment portions with a pre-established standard relative to the alignment conveyor. A rejection assembly is provided to remove garments which are not properly aligned. The loader may be controlled by a microprocessor receiving input from the sensors and controlling the various assemblies.

Abstract: A dual-chain sewing machine for aligning the edges and the corresponding seam tracks of pieces of a garment that have different curvatures and for sewing the pieces together along the seam tracks includes two flexible, elongated carriers, which move at approximately the same linear speed and which are mounted and arranged for motion around continuous paths. Each carrier has pins extending from it in a direction transverse to the direction of movement, with the pins of one carrier extending toward the pins of the other carrier. A first fabric piece is applied to the pins of the first carrier when a pin bearing portion of the first carrier is in a path segment corresponding to the seam track on the first fabric piece; a second fabric piece is applied to the pins of the second carrier when a pin bearing portion of the second carrier is in a path segment corresponding to the seam track on the second fabric piece.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for successively fabricating pillowcases and the like from a continuous open width textile fabric with each of the successively produced pillowcases including correctly aligned and stitched together hemmed open ends, and side and bottom edges. The fabric is withdrawn from a supply source and successively cut to form individual blanks of predetermined length. The blanks are moved along a substantially rectangular path of travel with the completed pillowcases being deposited in a position adjacent the supply source of the open width fabric. A folding station is provided for successively folding the hemmed blanks along a fold line extending longitudinally along the medial portion with the opposite side edges and the hem end in substantial overlying alignment with one another.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for forming and securing by stitching articles with mitered corners such as bed sheets or the like in which the mitered corner is contorted into a substantially flat configuration capable of being secured by a straight line of stitching.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically fabricating cut and edge stitched articles, such as washcloths and the like from a continuous length of textile material includes the following mechanisms. Mechanisms successively withdraw predetermined lengths of textile fabric from a supply source along a path of travel in a longitudinal direction of the fabric. Cutting mechanisms are positioned in the path of travel of the fabric for successively transversely cutting the fabric into individual articles of predetermined dimensions. Mechanisms successively feed the cut articles from the cutting mechanisms in a generally straight-line path of travel and to mechanisms for squaring the cut articles in the path of travel. A robot successively picks up the cut articles from the squaring mechanisms and transports the cut articles to edge stitching mechanisms which complete fabrication of the article.

Abstract: A pair of superposed flexible web workpieces lying on a horizontal table are fed in a horizontal transport direction to a treatment location downstream of an edge guide having vertically spaced upper, lower, and middle blades defining upper and lower horizontally open slots by continuously horizontally reciprocating the table with a stroke sufficiently long relative to the surface structure of the lower face of the underlying workpiece and at a frequency sufficiently high relative to the inertia of the workpieces that the workpieces will move horizontally relative to the table without substantial friction. An edge of each of the workpieces is engaged in a respective one of the slots and jets of gas are directed from the plates at an angle against the workpieces to hold up the upper and middle plates while urging the workpiece edges into the respective slots substantially out of contact with the plates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for automatically guiding, trimming, splitting and side hemming continuous textile material having thickened individual portions, such as terry towels, woven therein in side-by-side relationship transversely of the material and in series longitudinally of the material. This material is fed through the apparatus and thinned selvage edge portions are trimmed to a predetermined width, hems are formed in each of the trimmed selvage edges and stitched with mechanisms in a first work station of the apparatus. The trimming, folding and stitching mechanisms on each side of the traveling material are individually moved and aligned in proper transverse positions relative to each of the selvage edges regardless of transverse deviation in the longitudinal paths of travel of the selvage edges as the material travels through the first work station.

Abstract: A dual-chain sewing machine for aligning the edges and the corresponding seam tracks of pieces of a garment that have different curvatures and for sewing the pieces together along the seam tracks includes two flexible, elongated carriers, which move at approximately the same linear speed and which are mounted and arranged for motion around continuous paths. Each carrier has pins extending from it in a direction transverse to the direction of movement, with the pins of one carrier extending toward the pins of the other carrier. A first fabric piece is applied to the pins of the first carrier when a pin bearing portion of the first carrier is in a path segment corresponding to the seam track on the first fabric piece; a second fabric piece is applied to the pins of the second carrier when a pin bearing portion of the second carrier is in a path segment corresponding to the seam track on the second fabric piece.

Abstract: A fabric-guiding apparatus for guiding a fabric layer across a line of fabric feed along a side edge of the fabric layer, including a detector sensing the side edge of the fabric layer and generating a detection signal, a guiding wheel rotatable about an axis parallel to the line of fabric feed, a pressure exerting device for exerting a contact pressure urging the guiding wheel into engagement with the fabric layer, and a first drive motor to rotate the guiding wheel for laterally moving the side edge of the layer into position prior to a sewing cycle. The pressure exerting device comprises a pressure adjusting mechanism to adjust the contact pressure, a second drive motor to actuate the adjusting mechanism, a drive circuit responsive to command signals, a memory storing command data relating to the command signals, and a control circuit.

Abstract: Fly pieces for men's briefs, or the like, are formed automatically, and are disposed in aligned pairs in a roll. Automatic sewing machine and trimmers are reciprocated in a dimension perpendicular to the direction of cloth feed to form the band-stitched arcuate side portions, and opposite side portions, of the fly pieces. A bunching-up mechanism acts upon the cloth to prevent wastage of banding material. Individual pieces of cloth that have been band-stitched are fed into face-to-face engagement, are moved in a vertical path, and taken up by a coiler. Partial severing the face-to-face cloth sheets into distinct fly pieces is accomplished just prior to the sheets being taken up on the coiler.

Abstract: A succession of like textile fabric pieces is placed in a series on a conveyor which runs through an automated sewing station. There is some space between individual pieces. Immediately prior to the sewing station, the lateral disposition of a critical site on the piece about to be sewn and then being sewn is automatically sensed and, if necessary, automatically shifted to a uniform disposition. Preferably any error in original placement of the pieces is in placing the edge too far over in one lateral direction, so that if any adjustment is necessary, it takes the form of pushing the respective fabric piece edge margin laterally of the conveyor toward the opposite edge of that fabric piece. Thus, it is generally not necessary to laterally drag the whole fabric piece laterally of the conveyor, but only necessary to move a small marginal portion of the fabric piece.

Abstract: An automatic selvedger has a pair of longitudinally spaced and transversely throughgoing main rolls rotatable about respective parallel axes and guides and a drive that pass the web longitudinally and continuously from one of the main rolls to the other main roll in a travel direction perpendicular to the roll axes and with the web spanned tightly longitudinally between the main rolls and lying generally in a plane with its edges generally parallel. The web edges are folded over between the upstream and the downstream main roll and then are stitched together. A feed device has at least one straight guide spaced upstream from and substantially parallel to the upstream main roll. The web passes over the guide and thence to the upstream main roll. A support between the guide and the upstream roll is pivotal about an axis transverse to a plane defined by the straight guide and upstream main roll axis.

Abstract: A device for simultaneously guiding at least two layers of fabric to the stitching instrumentalities of a sewing machine in which a portion of one layer has a greater width than that of the other. The device includes superposed passages with a limiting element within each passage for separately engaging and guiding the edges of the layers of fabric. One of the limiting elements is fixedly held within its respective passage and the other is movable. The movable limiting element serves to align that portion of the layer of wider width with the edge of the adjacent layer prior to joining the layers by an assembly seam.

Abstract: Apparatus for independently guiding two overlaid fabric workpieces as they are simultaneously fed through a sewing work station and are seamed together, wherein the guide apparatus comprises a pair of opposed guide wheels located upstream from the work station with respect to the direction of workpiece feed through the work station; separate servo motors for rotating guide wheels in planes perpendicular to the direction of workpiece feed; a separating bar for spacing apart the two workpieces and for individually pressing them against a different one of the guide wheels; and separate sensors for monitoring the edges of each workpiece and for controlling the servo motors separately to rotate their guide wheels so as to center each workpiece edge opposite its corresponding sensor.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an auxiliary feed mechanism adapted to maintain an edge of a workpiece in substantial registration with a predetermined path along which the workpiece edge is moved. The invention includes a motor driven auxiliary feed device which is operatively associated with a unique servosystem. The invention further includes sensing elements arranged to monitor the position of the workpiece edge and devices operatively associated with the sensing elements and the servosystem for automatically adjusting the feed rate of the auxiliary mechanism according to the characteristics of the work being sewn and for effecting the speed of the auxiliary mechanism relative to the velocity of the workpiece whereby maintaining the desired alignment of the workpiece edge relative its predetermined position or path during the sewing operation.

Abstract: A sewing machine is disclosed wherein the position of the edge of a work fabric is sensed and signals are generated to control the needle jogging mechanism in order to sew a line of stitches a substantially constant predetermined distance from the edge.

Abstract: A system for the edge-parallel sewing of a workpiece, consisting of a plurality of layers, together to form a seam, e.g. in the production of trouser legs, pockets, shirts and the like, comprises a workpiece guide in the region of the needle path and formed with separators interposed between the layers, and a drag-clamping device which engages a portion of the stack of fabric layers remote from the incipient stitching operation to apply a stretching or drag force thereto. According to the invention, a retracting device is provided which, upon approach of the drag clamp to the stitching location, withdraws the guide device out of the path of the clamp.

Abstract: The lengths of at least a pair of limp workpieces fed through a work station are controlled by pressing each of the workpieces into engagement with a separate toothed wheel and by controlling the rotational velocity of one of the toothed wheels as a function of the rotational velocity of the other toothed wheel. In one preferred embodiment the contorl of the rotational velocities of the two wheels is accomplished by means of a differential gear and a motor which operates under the control of rates of feed sensors which monitor the rates of feed of the two workpieces.

Abstract: An automatic guiding method and device for work piece in a sewing machine, in which whether or not the side edge of a work piece is in a proper position or a control position, or biased in a direction away from the control position, is detected upstream of a stitching point. When the side edge of a work piece is biased in a direction away from the control position, the work piece is drawn back to the control position. The side edge of the work piece is restricted from being biased past the control position beyond an allowable amount.