Sewing – Special machines – Darning
Patent
1986-03-25
1987-08-18
Hunter, H. Hampton
Sewing
Special machines
Darning
112308, 1122621, 112102, D05B 2100
Patent
active
046869166
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to the handling of limp fabric in manufacturing processes and in particular to the handling of such fabric while performing sewing operations thereon.
The fabrication of garments from fabric is currently a labour intensive process, principally because of lack of mechanical means for feeding fabric through a sewing machine, particularly when the sewing operation is not along a linear path.
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus to effectively transport pieces of fabric through one or more work stations wherein operations may be carried out on the fabric piece at required locations.
There is thus provided by the present invention a method of sewing along a marginal edge of a fabric piece comprising gripping the fabric piece in a flat state so said marginal part is exposed, moving the fabric piece while so gripped to pass said marginal part through a sewing machine head, and maintaining said marginal part flat during said movement.
Conveniently the fabric piece is gripped between a stationary low friction surface and a movable high friction surface, so that movement of the high friction surface relative to the low friction surface will slide the fabric piece over the low friction surface, while maintained in the flat state. The fabric piece may be engaged by the high friction surface over a substantial portion of the area thereof, or at a plurality at selected locations. The locations are selected so that during movement of the high friction surface at least said marginal part of the fabric piece is maintained flat as it is passed through a sewing machine head.
The marginal part of the fabric piece may move along a linear path through the sewing machine head, whereby a straight row of stitching is applied to the marginal part, or along any desired path contoured in the plane of movement of the fabric piece.
There is also provided by the present invention apparatus for use with a sewing machine for guiding a fabric piece while being sewn along a marginal part comprising a substantially flat surface to be located about a sewing machine head substantially co-planar with the sewing plane of the sewing machine head, a transport member adapted to grip a fabric piece located in a flat state on said surface, means to move said transport member relative to said flat surface to slide the fabric piece therealong while the fabric piece is maintained in said flat state, and means to guide said movement of the transport member so a marginal part of the fabric piece will pass through the sewing machine head.
Conveniently the flat surface is of a low friction character, and the transport member has a high friction surface or surfaces to frictional grip the fabric piece so that it is maintained in the flat state as it is slid along the low friction flat surface.
Preferably the transport member has a track thereon, of a shape determined by the required path of the fabric piece through the machine head. Drive means are provided to co-operate with said track to effect the movement of the fabric piece through the machine head. The drive means operate so the movement of the fabric piece is co-ordinated with the sewing speed of the machine head.
Preferably the transport member is a plate like member having one face coated with a high friction material. The plate member is positioned on top of the fabric piece with the friction material in contact with the fabric piece, which in turn is supported in a flat state on the low friction surface. The weight of the transport member, and the nature of the friction material is such as to establish sufficient friction grip of the fabric piece that as the transport member is slid over the low friction surface the fabric piece is carried therewith maintained in the flat state.
The peripheral contour of the plate, and its disposition on the fabric piece are arranged so a marginal part of the fabric piece extends beyond a peripheral edge of the transport member, whereby a sewing operation may be performed on that marginal part
REFERENCES:
patent: 3358626 (1967-12-01), Bryan
patent: 3448705 (1969-06-01), Scherr et al.
patent: 3741140 (1973-06-01), Mencaldi
patent: 3970017 (1976-07-01), Babson et al.
patent: 4019448 (1977-04-01), Blessing et al.
patent: 4498404 (1985-02-01), Sadeh
patent: 4553489 (1985-11-01), Landwehr
Dunlop Olympic Limited
Hunter H. Hampton
Philpitt Fred
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