Sewing – Method of sewing – Workpiece manipulation other than straight line feeding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-04-03
Izaguirre, Ismael (Department: 3765)
Sewing
Method of sewing
Workpiece manipulation other than straight line feeding
C112S475080, C112S010000, C112S063000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209469
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for producing sewn products from a plurality of rolls of material. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus and process for automatically forming pillow shams. The pillow shams can be made from various plies of material and can be quilted if desired.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A pillow sham generally refers to an ornamental covering for a bed pillow. In recent years, the popularity of pillow shams has increased. For instance, it is now popular for comforters to be sold in combination with matching pillow shams and curtains in order to tie the decorative features of a bedroom together.
Split back pillow shams generally include a face fabric attached to two overlapping plies of backing fabric. A pillow can be inserted and removed from the sham through an opening located where the two plies of backing fabric overlap. Because the plies of fabric overlap, the pillow remains secured within the sham.
Currently, split back pillow shams are made in several separate steps. For instance, typically the face fabric and the two overlapping backing fabrics are first cut to an appropriate size. Once cut, each of the two backing fabrics are hemmed along an edge where the fabrics are intended to overlap. Next, the three fabric pieces are assembled and sewn together. Once sewn, the sham is then turned right side out and further enhanced if desired.
The above process is typically done manually. Specifically, each step is usually done separately by an individual working at a cutting and sewing station.
Due to the amount of time and expense involved in producing pillow shams according to the above process, it would be desirable if a machine could be developed that could automatically form pillow shams from one or more rolls of material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing disadvantages, and others of prior art constructions and methods.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and process for producing sewn products, such as pillow shams.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an automated process for producing pillow shams.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing an apparatus designed to receive one or more rolls of material. For instance, in one embodiment, three plies of fabric are fed to the apparatus. The plies can include a face fabric and two overlapping back panels for producing a pillow sham.
More particularly, the face fabric can be fed to the apparatus such that the two overlapping back panels are superimposed upon the face fabric. The apparatus can include various tension control devices so that the fabrics are fed through the system under constant tension and in a manner so that the fabrics feed together uniformly.
As the fabrics are fed through the system of the present invention, various edges of the different fabric sheets are folded and sewn by a hem forming device. In particular, hems are formed into the edges of the back panels, where the back panels overlap to form the pillow sham. Once folded and formed, the hems are sewn together as the different plies of fabric are fed through appropriate sewing devices.
After the hems are formed on the back panels and sewn, the verticle edges of the fabric plies (which are the outside edges on a fabric roll) are sewn together. More particularly, one back panel is sewn to the face fabric along a first outside edge, while the other back panel is sewn to the face fabric along a second and opposite outside edge.
Next, the fabrics are fed to a cutting table, where the fabrics are cut to a particular size. The cutting table includes a cloth puller which is movably suspended above a table. The cloth puller moves from the downstream end of the cutting table to adjacent a cutting edge for gripping a common edge of the fabrics in order to pull the fabrics over the table. Once the fabrics are pulled over the table, the cutting edge makes a transverse cut.
Once cut to a particular size, the fabrics are shifted 90° by a conveyor towards a pair of opposing sewing heads. The sewing heads stitch together the remaining edges of the fabric product (the edges where the fabrics have been cut).
Once the remaining edges are sewn, the fabric is engaged by a second cloth puller which stacks the fabric product on a table.
Once stacked on the table, the fabric product is turned inside out and is ready for use as a pillow sham. If desired, the pillow sham can be further enhanced by making other stitched lines into the product or by sewing borders or other decorative items on to the product.
Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3094083 (1963-06-01), Weeks
patent: 4370936 (1983-02-01), Moyer et al.
patent: 4856439 (1989-08-01), O'Neal et al.
patent: 6058863 (2000-05-01), Stewart et al.
patent: 6082281 (1963-06-01), Root et al.
Burton Perry E.
LaBoone Lois
Noonan John V.
Dority & Manning P.A.
Izaguirre Ismael
LaBoone Lois
Noonan John V.
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