Sewing – Special machines – Darning
Patent
1986-11-14
1989-03-14
Hunter, H. Hampton
Sewing
Special machines
Darning
112305, 223 61, D05B 2100
Patent
active
048116718
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to the handling of limp fabric in manufacturing processes.
The fabrication of garments from fabric is currently a labour intensive process, principally because of the lack of mechanical means for holding pieces of fabric as they are subjected to various operations including transporting, feeding through machines such as sewing machines, and folding.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for mechanically stretching a limp fabric piece to enable subsequent folding and sewing of the folded fabric piece.
It is a further object to provide a method and apparatus for mechanically folding a limp fabric piece to enable subsequent sewing of the folded fabric piece.
There is thus provided by the present invention a method of holding a limp fabric piece having a grippable marginal portion comprising deliverying the fabric piece onto a surface in a substantially flat state with said marginal portion tensioned, and gripping the fabric piece at or adjacent each end of the marginal portion to anchor said ends with respect to said surface.
Conveniently the fabric piece is delivered to the surface by being subjected to a sliding movement over a low friction surface. Preferably the surface which receive the fabric piece, and the one from which it is moved, are both low friction surfaces and are arranged substantially co-planar. The friction piece may be frictionally engaged on the exposed surface thereof, by a transfer member. As the fabric piece is supported on one side on the lower friction surface, and is frictionally gripped on the other side by the transfer member, movement of the transfer member relative to the low friction surface will slide the fabric piece on the low friction surface. In this way the fabric piece may be moved while held in a flat state in a prescribed path over the lower friction surface.
The marginal portion may be rendered grippable by many ways including any form of ridge projection or localised thickening of fabric. Examples are elasticising, hemming, binding, etc. In the following description we shall refer specifically to an elasticised marginal position but this is to be considered as exemplary only.
The fabric piece may be held by the friction engagement with the transfer member and moved in a prescribed path so a portion thereof passes through a sewing head as it is moved along said path. The sewing head may apply an elastic thread in a tensioned state to a marginal portion of the fabric piece. The interaction of the fabric piece with the low friction surface, and the transfer member applying frictional grip to the fabric piece, results in the fabric piece remaining in a flat state, with the elasticised marginal portion under tension and substantially flat.
The fabric piece held in this condition may be further moved on the low friction surface in response to movement of the transfer member. The fabric piece may thus be moved into a position on the supporting surface wherein the ends of the elasticised marginal portion may be gripped and anchored as previously described, so the fabric piece may be released from frictional grip with the transfer member, and the elasticised marginal portion will remain tensioned. The fabric piece is thus maintained in a flat state on the support surface so the further operations may be performed thereon. If the ends of the elasticised marginal portion were not so gripped or anchored, folds and irregularities could develop in the fabric upon release and relaxation of the elasticised portion.
In some garments there may be two elasticised marginal portions, each intersecting an edge or area of the fabric piece which is to be sown subsequent to the elasticising of the marginal portions. In such a garment it is necessary to hold both elasticised portions so the edge or area to be sown is flat and faut, and not distorted by the elasticised portions.
To achieve this desired result there is provided by one aspect of the present invention a method of handling a limp fabric piece having two spaced elasticised
REFERENCES:
patent: 3742878 (1973-07-01), Byrne et al.
patent: 3869997 (1975-03-01), German
patent: 4062309 (1977-12-01), Pollmeier et al.
patent: 4066026 (1978-01-01), Hunt
patent: 4080912 (1978-03-01), Marjorio
Hunter H. Hampton
Pacific Dunlop Limited
Philpitt Fred
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