Patent GB-1362981-A (GB)
Title: Machine for the production of a series of like garment components
IPC: D06H1/02
Filed: 1971-05-28
Abstract: 1362981 Feeding and ordering sheets FARAH MFG CO Inc 28 May 1971 [9 June 1970] 18153/71 Heading B8R [Also in Divisions D1 and B6] A machine assembly which produces garment components formed of a plurality of parts 10, 11 comprises 'pick-up and twist' devices 20 delivering the parts 10, 11 to conveyer rollers 51 along which they are fed by wheels engaging the upper surface of the parts, means comprising a turnover gate 200 to turnover alternate parts 10, means 230 for placing the parts 10, 11 upon each other ready for sewing by a sewing machine 301, a device 310 for cutting the thread chain between articles sewn, means 325 for marking each stitched component, and means 343 for stacking the completed articles, the machine assembly including an alarm device indicating malfunctioning of the assembly. The devices are pneumatically operated in sequence by an electrical control system (Fig. 21a-21e, not shown) including photo-electric devices at each operation position. The pick-up and twist devices (Figs. 4-6, not shown) each comprises a motor 21 presenting a serrated twist head 26 engaging the top part 10 or 11 of a stack of parts on a platform urged upwardly against the head 26, when a part is to be fed, by pneumatic cylinder 30. A part rotated through 90 degrees by the head has its thickness checked, to ensure that only one such part is fed at a time, by a sensor comprising a finger (39, Fig. 11, not shown) attached to a lever (41) which covers a part (38a) when only one ply is under the finger, to provide an appropriate pressure signal which is absent if the presence of more than one ply holds the lever away from the part. The turn over device 200 (Fig. 12, not shown) comprises a stirrup shaped bar (207) through which alternate parts 10 pass, the other intermediate parts being intercepted by a rising of the stirrup which lifts one end of each of those latter parts to turn it over as depicted in Figs. 12a-12c (not shown). This turnover of alternate parts 10 is required to position each part 10 with its 'Face' side uppermost from a stack which when cut out from material comprises parts with the face side disposed in alternate directions. The parts mating device 230 (Fig. 13, not shown) comprises an edge guide 205 which positions the parts 10 before they are slid laterally by a rake 236 to rise over ramps 240 and fall on top of the parts 11. Sewing station, thread chain severing (Fig. 15, not shown).-The superimposed parts then pass through the sewing machine 301 passing between photo-electric devices 302 &c. which start the machine, stop it and operate the thread chain cutter 310 at the appropriate positions of the garment component. The work then passes to a marking device 325 (Figs. 15-18, not shown) comprising a marking hammer 329 co-operating at the appropriate time with a numeral marking slide plate 326 and a tape or ribbon (368). The slide plate is actuated by a pneumatically operated ratchet (369) to change the number after the hammer has struck twice. After 120 components have been numbered the rack is reset by a pneumatic cylinder (381). The marker tape is moved from one reel (341) to another (340) by a serrated wheel (393) co-operating with a backing roller (392). The stacking device 343 also controlled by P.E. cell devices comprises grid irons 351, 352 secured to a shaft rotatable by a pinion 359 co-operating with a pneumatically actuated rack 360. Thread break detector (Fig. 20, not shown).- The upper and lower threads (471, 472) of the sewing machine pass through respective loops at one end of respective pivoted wires (474), the other ends having permanent magnets (476) which, when the threads break, move into the proximity of respective reed switches (477) which then close to stop the machine drive and activate an alarm. In a modification wherein the parts 11 are supplied as a tape (76, Figs. 7-10, not shown), which passes from a reel (71) through a guide (79), through a heated press section (80) which uncurls the tape and past a device for slitting the adjacent edges of two parts 11, the device comprising a conventional single edge razor blade (91) urged upwards by a pneumatic ram 92. The tape then passes between rollers (97, 99) the lower of which is oscillated by a pneumatically actuated rack and pinion device (100, 101) to advance the tape by a chosen increment. During the return, non-feeding, stroke of the rack the upper idler roller (99) is lifted from the work. A scissors device (116) beyond the feed rollers then severs the individual parts 11 from the tape.