Apparel apparatus – Folding
Patent
1986-09-03
1988-03-15
Rimrodt, Louis K.
Apparel apparatus
Folding
11212129, A41H 4302
Patent
active
047307560
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the assembly of articles made from flexible material, for example garments, and is concerned with a method and device for unfolding a doubled piece of material comprising a first piece of material and a further piece of material lying adjacent a surface of the first piece of material. Such an unfolding procedure is required in the assembly of articles of the kind mentioned, for example, when two sheets of material, having been juxtaposed so that one lies on top of the other and seamed together along adjacent edges, must subsequently be passed to a further stage of assembly in a condition in which the two sheets of material are opened out, that is are unfolded one from the other. The method and device of the invention enable this unfolding to be done automatically, thus enabling a partly or fully automated system of assembly for textile articles, in particular garments, to be achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a method of unfolding a doubled piece of flexible material comprising a first piece of material and a further piece of material disposed adjacent a surface of the first piece of material, includes the steps of holding the said first piece of material so as to leave the said further piece of material free and creating an air current to move the said further piece of material away from the said surface of the first piece of material.
The said first piece of material may be supported on a surface and clamped against the said surface by a presser element pressing it against the said surface in a region remote from a junction of the said first piece of material and the said further piece of material.
The said first piece of material may be clamped against a surface comprising a region located about the periphery of an aperture through which the said further piece of material can move before being moved by the said air current.
Another piece of material may lie adjacent the surface of the said first piece of material remote from the said further piece of material and a current of air may be arranged to move both the said further piece of material and the said other piece of material away from the said first piece of material.
The said further and the said other pieces of material may be moved by air currents to extend on opposite sides of a separating guide and the arrangement may be such as to subject the said pieces of material to suction so that they extend from the held first piece of material on opposite sides of the said separating guide and into a housing.
When the said further piece of material has been moved away from the said surface of the first piece of material, the said first piece of material may be moved over a supporting surface in a direction away from the said further piece of material causing said further piece of material to rest on the said surface in a flat condition extending away from the said first piece of material.
Means may be provided to press the unfolded piece of material against the said surface in a manner such as to hold it in a flat, opened out condition.
The invention includes apparatus for unfolding a doubled piece of flexible material in the manner described above. Such apparatus may include a presser element for pressing the folded piece of material against a surface, at least one displaceable part of the presser element being displaceable to release the said further piece of material for movement by an air current.
The presser element may have attached to it an auxiliary presser element arranged for pressing said further piece of material against a surface after unfolding.
The said auxiliary presser element may be releasably attachable to the said presser element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan of a piece of material which is to be unfolded,
FIG. 2 is a side view of the piece of material shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a side view of the piece of material shown in F
REFERENCES:
patent: 3099970 (1963-08-01), Hite
patent: 3511494 (1970-05-01), Szentkuti
patent: 3789781 (1974-02-01), Carson
patent: 3808993 (1974-05-01), Heiler et al.
patent: 4097973 (1978-07-01), Cho
Flavell John
Nash Michael A.
Courtaulds Clothing Limited
Rimrodt Louis K.
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