Patent ID: 6035794
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: D05B

Abstract:
A system for automatically loading a circular collar onto a sewing station, into a position beneath a sewing head for attaching the collar to a neck opening for a shirt body, comprising:a series of guide rollers mounted at the sewing station upstream and downstream of the sewing head for moving the collar about a sewing path, said rollers having a textured surface adapted to automatically draw the collar therealong and into a sewing position beneath the sewing head as the rollers are rotated;a control system mounted at the sewing station for driving the rollers for a desired interval during which the collar is moved along the rollers and into its sewing position prior to the start of sewing; andan expansion member mounted adjacent one of said drive rollers along the sewing path and movable between a contracted position and an expanded position in engagement with the collar and shirt body to expand and tension the collar for sewing to the shirt body.