FR2661593A1 - PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CLOTHING ARTICLES. - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for producing items of clothing by joining the edges of at least two flat strips of a nonwoven material or the like. Preferably, the item of clothing is produced in the place where it is to be used, and optionally directly on the person for whom it is produced in his or her own size. The method involves performing at least a combination of the following steps: forming a 'shell' from a flat sheet (1) so that the 'shell' fits the shape of the space occupied by the user's body (sides, crotch, underarms) except for the front thereof; closing said shell by means of a second flat sheet by joining the edges along the contours or the silhouette of the user's body; and forming a precutting area and/or mounting a closing member on a portion of the height of the item of clothing so that it can be removed after use.

Description

PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR MANUFACTURING ARTICLES
VESTINENTAIRES.

 The present invention relates to an improvement made to the methods and installations allowing the manufacture of clothing articles, in particular single-use work clothes, such as coveralls, blouses, pants, jackets, etc., usable more particularly in the medical field.

 It has been proposed for a long time, as is apparent in particular from FR-A-2 110 643, to make single-use work clothes from in particular a nonwoven fabric.

 If the techniques proposed to date lead to inexpensive articles, which can be produced in large series, the garments thus obtained have however major drawbacks which may explain that their use has not been generalized, namely in particular that, in the field medical, they must be sterilized, which results in delicate and costly packaging operations. Furthermore, such clothing also lacks comfort and does not adapt well to the morphology and measurements of the users, which vary widely.

 However, we have found, and this is what is the subject of the present invention, an improvement made in the production of such working clothes which makes it possible to solve these problems.

In general, the method according to the invention consists in producing the garment by assembling edge to edge of at least two flat strips (non-woven or similar material such as plastic, or even fabric), and it is characterized in that the preparation of said garment is carried out on the site of use, directly on the person who must use it and at its size and this, by implementing at least the combination of the following operations
- formation from a flat sheet of a "shell" in the shape of the periphery of the volume occupied by the body of the user (sides, crotch, underarm) except for its front face;
- positioning of the user inside said open shell;
- Closure of said shell by means of a second flat sheet by securing the edges along the outline or silhouette of the user's body.

 Preferably, for the implementation of the process according to the invention, non-woven plies based on materials are used which make it possible to heat-seal or heat-bond the plies together.

The installation for implementing the aforementioned method consists of an assembly arranged on the site of use itself, and which essentially comprises, mounted on a fixed base or base, two elementary blocks for forming the garment around the user , movable relative to each other, and whose structure is such that
- one of the blocks includes means making it possible to deliver at least one flat (non-woven) sheet over a height corresponding to the size of the user
- The two blocks include means which, in cooperation, make it possible to conform said flat sheet into a shell open on its front face, and whose shape is such that not only does it cover the user's back, but also, the faces lateral of the latter (sides, crotch, underarm) projecting laterally from the plane passing through the front of the user's body;
- The second block, movable relative to the aforementioned block, comprising means allowing, after fitting the user inside the preformed shell, to deliver a second ply on the front of the user and, with additional means provided on the first block, to join edge to edge the shell and the covering ply substantially along lines corresponding to the image (or silhouette) of the projection of the user's body in a plane parallel to the latter.

 According to one embodiment of a machine according to the invention allowing the production of combinations, the formation of the open shell conforming to the contour of the user with the exception of its front surface, is obtained by means of mobile elements in the form of bars and blades making it possible not only to shape the ply intended to form the shell, and more particularly the zones corresponding to the crotch and below the arms, but also the heat seal, on the one hand parts cut from the first ply to allow it to be shaped and secondly, peripheral edges of the shell formed with the second ply which is attached to the front of the user, when the latter has introduced inside the hull.

 The sets of bars and shaping blades are mounted on the blocks so as to be moved, not only in depth to determine the volume of the hull, but also laterally and in height, in order to be able to obtain from a single and even installation, clothes of different sizes.

The invention and the advantages which it brings will however be better understood thanks to the embodiment which follows, given by way of illustration but not limitation, and which is illustrated by the diagrams appended in which
- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the assembly of an installation allowing the production of a garment according to the invention, and more particularly of a work suit
- Figures 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c respectively illustrate in perspective, viewed from the front and from the side, the structure and operation of the two assemblies or blocks (A, B) of an installation according to the invention allowing to realize on the one hand, the open shell forming one of the elements of the garment according to the invention and, on the other hand, the closing of said shell after positioning of the user inside the latter;
FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c illustrate in top view, left view in section and front view in section, the structure of an embodiment of a base supporting the blocks or elements illustrated in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 3a, 3b, 3c
- Figures Sa to 5j schematically illustrate the different operating phases for the formation of a garment according to the method according to the invention and more particularly, the production of the open shell of the garment and then the finishing of the latter around the body of the user and
- Figures 6a and 6b illustrate the user dressed in a garment obtained according to the invention
- Figure 7 illustrates schematically seen from the side how the height adjustments are carried out on an installation according to the invention
- Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view showing the formation phase of the crotch of a garment on an installation according to the invention;
- Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the way in which the leg length compensation is performed as a function of the size of the garment to be produced.

 FIG. 1 schematically illustrates, in perspective view, the whole of an installation allowing the implementation of the process according to the invention, a process which generally consists in carrying out on the site of use, directly on the person and to his own measurements, the work clothing.

 To do this, such a machine essentially consists of two assemblies or shaping blocks, respectively (A) and (B), mounted on a support base (C). These shaping assemblies (A) and (B) are movable relative to each other by a sufficient distance to allow the passage of the person to be dressed. In the present case, one of the blocks (A) is fixed, the other block (B) being movable on the base (C).

 In accordance with the process according to the invention, these two blocks (A) and (B) make it possible, from flat sheets (non-woven based on heat-sealable or heat-sealable material), a shell open on its front face and whose dimensions and the shape correspond substantially to the volume occupied by the body of the user and which surrounds it not only on the sides, but also in the zones which correspond to the crotch and below the arms then, after positioning of said user to the interior of the shell thus formed, to attach to the front of the body a second ply allowing the closure of the shell by securing with the edges of the latter along the outline (or silhouette) of the body of said user.

 In such an installation, the sheet material (preferably non-woven) intended to form the garment, is stored in the form of rolls inside the two blocks (A) and (B). The transformation of this material into a garment is carried out, after positioning the training members in height and width, according to the size of the user in the following manner.

 In a first phase, the sheet associated with the block (A) unwinds against the internal surface of the latter against which it is pressed by vacuum. Shaping elements, associated with both the block (A) and the block (B), shape this sheet so as to produce an open shell on its front face by cutting and welding along lines making it possible to form the corresponding zones. at the crotch and underarm.

 In a second phase, the sheet associated with the block (B) takes place and is also pressed against the internal face of said block by suction.

 These operations being carried out, in a third phase, the user enters the machine between the two blocks (A) and (B) and enters the shell formed on the block (A). The block (B) approaches the block (A) and comes into contact with the latter, and the closure is then carried out on the front face of the user by means of the ply carried by the block (B) by welding and cutting the two layers around the periphery of the user.

 This being done, the two blocks move away from each other, the user dressed in the garment can leave the assembly and the material waste is removed, for example by being recovered inside the base ( VS).

 If we refer to the attached detailed views, the various elements (block A, block B and base C) of a machine according to the invention are designed as follows.

 For the formation of the open shell, two rolls of material (1,2) arranged inside the block (A) are used, in particular for the purpose of saving raw material (see FIGS. 2a to 2c), l one (1) having a width of approximately 90 cms and which makes it possible to produce the part corresponding to the bust and the legs of the user, the other (2) having a width of approximately 160 cms and making it possible to carry out the corresponding part arms and shoulders. These rolls of material are delivered by means of a roller drive system (3) or the like.

 Cutting systems (4) are provided for making the opening corresponding to the neck as well as for cutting along a length corresponding to the length of the sleeves, the ply (2). Length cutting elements (5) for the plies (1) and (2), elements constituted for example by a cutting blade constituted by an endless wire stretched between two pulleys, one of which ~ is driven by an electric motor , allows to cut the sheets (1) and (2) of the desired length, depending on the size of the user.

 Maintaining the sheets (1,2) delivered against the internal surface of the block (A) is ensured by suction through lights (6) provided on the front face of the block (A). A suction source (not shown) is of course provided inside said block (A).

 In order to produce from such a flat sheet an open shell conforming to the periphery of the user's body, retractable assemblies (7, 8, 9) are provided in order to form the crotch (elements 7 and 8 ), and the forming of the outside of the body (element 9).

Such elements are essentially in the form of movable blades which not only make it possible to cut the material, but also include electrical resistances (or equivalent) which will allow the edges of the formed shell to be associated with the covering ply, as will be seen later and which is produced from one or more rolls of material associated with said block (B).

 The block (A) also includes steps (10) for positioning the person and supports a programmable automaton for controlling the mechanism, as well as a control box (12) for manual initiation of the final closing cycle. of the shell after user entry inside it.

 As said previously, the installation according to the invention is designed so that it can be adjusted as a function of the size of the garment to be produced. The way in which such adjustments are made is illustrated more particularly by FIGS. 7 and 9. The height adjustments are defined relative to the base (C).

To do this, the block (A) is mounted on the base (C) by means of jacks which allow it to be raised or lowered. The geometric shapes which represent the silhouette are fixed on the block (A).

 For a medium size, the block (A) is in the middle of the base (C) (height). The base (C) has passage lights for the exit of shaping and sealing bars, which allows them to be moved to all levels. In general, an adjustment according to three determined positions in the vertical direction is sufficient to adapt to all conformations of people. Of course, a finer adjustment, for example progressive, could be envisaged.

 The block (B), the structure of which is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3a to 3c, is also vertically movable. It comprises means making it possible, in cooperation with the elements carried by the block (A), the zones corresponding to the crotch and underarms on the sheet carried by the block (A) as well as the finishing of the garment, namely closure of the open shell after conformation and positioning of the user inside the latter. As can be seen in more detail in FIGS. 7 and 9, to compensate for the different leg lengths according to the sizes, said block (B) comprises a series of retractable plates (shown in dotted lines in the aforementioned figures), for example having a height of five centimeters each, these plates being able to be raised or lowered according to the positioning of the block (A) and allowing to remain, between the block (B ) and the upper surface of the base (C), a space for the passage of the feet of the person who is to be dressed in the garment (see Figure 7).

 To make the zones corresponding to the crotch and underarms on the ply carried by the block (A), the block (B) comprises a set of solder and cut (28) (see FIGS. 3a to 3c), actuated by cylinders and which makes it possible to cut the ply carried on the block (A) along the central line (8) (see FIG. 2). It also includes a set of shaping elements (30), retractable inside said block (B), and which make it possible to produce on the web carried by the block (A) the zone corresponding to the armpits. After using these elements to form the zones corresponding to the crotch and underarms, these elements are retracted inside the block (B). The block (B) also supports means allowing the connection of the elementary plies which can enter into the production of the half-shell. In the example of embodiment illustrated, these means consist of a transverse weld bar making it possible to link between they the sheets (1) and (2) transversely.

 The production of the sheet intended to close the open shell after positioning of the user inside the latter, is also carried out on the block (B). In the illustrated embodiment, this closure ply is also produced from two material supply rolls (nonwoven) of different widths, one (21) having a width of approximately 60 cms, for example allowing to realize the front of the bust and legs, the other (22) of greater width (160 cms approximately), allowing to realize the front of the arms and shoulders. The realization of this closure ply is obtained by delivering all first a determined length of the ply (21) intended to form the zone corresponding to the legs and the height of the bust, then by associating with this ply, by means of a welding assembly (25) a length of plies very wide to form the area corresponding to the shoulders and arms. The covering ply thus produced inside the block (B) is then unrolled and brought and positioned on the front face against which it is pressed by suction and this, by means of lights (32) provided on a corresponding zone. substantially around the outline of the person intended to receive the garment.

 The shell being produced is held against the block (A), the cover sheet also being produced and kept pressed against the block (B), the user can position himself inside the shell and the operation for finishing the garment can be produced by heat-sealing along the contour of the shell and of the ply carried by the block (B).

 As said previously, the two blocks (A) and (B) of shaping of the garment are mounted movable relative to each other on a base (C). In the example illustrated, the block (A) is fixed while the block (B) is movable. It is obvious that it could be envisaged to reverse the displacements or to move the two blocks. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting of the block (B) on the base (C) is carried out as illustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4c by providing on said block (C) guide rails and carrying carriages (41) of said block mobile (B). The displacements are obtained by screw reducing motors (42) or others, closing safety systems (43) being of course provided.

 The block (C) also makes it possible to recover the waste produced after cutting. To do this, a retractable hatch (44) is provided at the bottom and is actuated by a screw motor. Inside the recovery chamber, there is an endless compaction screw and a waste pusher (45), a waste reduction hot air generator (46), and a presser for the storage of said waste ( 47).

 To adjust the different sizes, in addition to the vertical displacements of the blocks (A) and (B) (and therefore of the shaping elements which they comprise), the shaping and cutting elements can also be moved in width and depth. These adjustments are made mainly mechanically by the block (A).

Thus, the heat-seal bars that the block (A) comprises can be moved in three (or more) positions laterally and, as regards the depth, the adjustments are made by leaving more or less relative to the surface of the block (A ) said bars.

 The implementation of such an installation is illustrated in Figures Sa to 5j, and makes it possible to obtain a garment as illustrated in Figures 6a and 6b. In Figures Sa to 5j above, Figures 5d and 5g are detail views showing more specifically the operating phase of forming the areas corresponding to the crotch and underarms whose shell is intended to form the main part of a garment according to the invention.

 For the implementation of such an installation, first of all, the person displays on the keyboard his size in centimeters and the various elements of the machine are put in place to carry out the positioning in height of the blocks (A) and ( B) and in width and depth of the shaping and cutting elements according to a determined size. That being done, the operations proceed according to the following process.

Phase A (Figure 5a)
The supply of the sheet (1) is carried out according to a predetermined length against the internal face of the block (A). In the course of unwinding, two slits are made in said sheet. The tablecloth is held by pressures against the front face of the block (A) and the fabric cut in length by the small cutting blade. The unused tablecloth rewinds after cutting.

Phase B (Figures 5b, 5c, 5d and Figure 8)
This phase concerns the creation of the crotch from the blocks (A) and (B).

 To do this, the shaping elements of the leg crotches (7) of ease (8) exit from the block (A). The sheet still held by depression against the face (A) follows said shapes.

 This being done, the movable block (B) approaches the block (A).

 The assembly (28) comes out of the block (B), covers the blade (8) and sucks the fabric against its internal faces.

 The comfort shaping element (7) disappears inside the block (A). The system (28) closes, welds and cuts the fabric, thereby obtaining the comfort form of the bottom of the pants. This being done, the element (28) returns to its initial position inside the block (B) and releases the waste which falls in said block.

Phase C - Preparation and welding of the sheets
allowing to realize the shoulders by cooperation
blocks A and B (Figures 5e, 5f, 5j)
During the previous operations, the sheets intended to constitute the shoulders and the back of the arms are prepared inside the block (A) by precut of the collar, cutting of the form of ease of the armpits and the back, cutting of the width.

 The sheet is put in place, pressed by vacuum and cut to length by the very wide cutting blade (5). The two elementary layers thus formed are welded at the back by a sealing bar (29) released from the movable block (2). Once the welding has been carried out, the element (29) returns to its initial position inside the block (B).

 The heat-sealing bars (9) making it possible to produce the sides and the arms which come out of the block (A), the fabric maintained by suction on the bars and against the block by the lights (6) gradually taking the shape of the body, in order to constitute an open hull. The welding tongs (30) come out of the block (B) and weld the plies at the armpits then resume their position inside the block (B) taking away the waste which is evacuated to the bottom of said block (B). The movable block (B) then takes its place.

PHASE D - Preparation, welding and installation
tablecloths intended to close the open hull
(figure 5h)
This phase is carried out by means of the block (B).

 To do this, the roll (21) is unwound with a predetermined length, the web being cut at (24) and positioned at (25) to be assembled there. The very wide tablecloth (22) is unwound, cut to form the armpit comfort forms and is assembled with the narrow width tablecloth (25). The tablecloth unrolls to the desired length for cutting the neck at (24). Furthermore, in order to allow the removal of the garment after use, by means of a wheel (or any other element), the fabric is weakened over part of its length (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6b), during its scrolling. It is also possible to envisage associating with this zone shown in dotted lines a slider closure or any other element making it easier to remove the garment after use. The assembly thus formed inside the block comes out of the latter and is positioned against the front face (Figure 5h) where it is held by suction and separated from the food roller by the cutting system (27).

PHASE E - Final assembly of the garment
(figure 5i)
This operation is carried out by the cooperation of blocks (A) and (B).

 The elementary parts of the garment being prepared as seen above, the user enters the interior of the machine, ensuring that the fabric is correctly arranged and takes place inside the shell formed on the block (A). The user controls the final cycle by manual control (12). The movable block (B) closes on the fixed block (A) and the heat-sealing bars (7,8) weld and cut the circumference of the garment. This being done, the block (B) moves back to its initial position with the waste maintained by vacuum. The person can therefore exit the machine covered with the garment (Figures 5g, 5i).

 It should be noted that after completion, the waste is recovered, treated and conditioned (see Figures 4a and 5j). To do this, the waste which is at the bottom of the block (B) as well as that which has remained on the internal face of said block (B) falls inside the hatch provided on the support block (C). They are pushed by the screw (45) towards the melting zone (46). In this zone, air circulates at the melting temperature of the sheet, the waste shrinks, is pushed through the element (47) inside a storage area where it is compacted by a pressing element (48).

 Thanks to such an assembly, it is possible to produce, on a site of use, therefore in a perfectly sterile manner if necessary, a garment perfectly suited to the user and this, very quickly, the total duration of the cycle. previously seen training that can be assessed at about one minute maximum.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but it covers all the variants produced in the same spirit. Thus, different types of welds and cuts of the fabric can be envisaged, just as it could be envisaged not to heat seal the plies together, but possibly to assemble them by any other equivalent means such as bonding.

 It should be noted that the main welding and cutting elements that comprise an installation according to the invention must be able to move along three axes of depth, width and height. Such movements are given by any suitable means, such as for example by screw jacks and geared motors controlled by the movements. All movements in abutment can be carried out by means of pneumatic cylinders. Of course, such an assembly is equipped with safety means, such as pressure sensors to prevent the machine from closing in the event that a part of the person's body is out of the footprint, displacement sensor to prevent unwinding. of the welding cycle when part of the person's clothing is placed between the self-sealing bars. Manual control means are also provided in order to be able to separate the blocks from each other if necessary, for example in the event of a power failure. The face of the block (B) can also include a drawn silhouette allowing the garment to be viewed. Finally, it is obvious that the external appearance of the installation could be modified.

Claims (5)

 1 / Process for the manufacture of clothing articles by edge-to-edge assembly of at least two flat strips (non-woven or similar material), characterized in that the production of the garment is carried out on the site of use, directly on the person who must use it and on its size and this, by implementing at least the combination of the following operations  - formation from a flat sheet (1) of a "shell" in shape conforming to the periphery of the volume occupied by the body of the user (sides, crotch, underarm) with the exception of its front face ;  - positioning of the user inside said open shell;  - Closure of said shell by means of a second flat sheet by securing the edges along the outline or silhouette of the user's body.  2 / A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plies used in the production of the garment are nonwoven plies based on two heat-sealable or heat-sealable materials.  3 / Installation for the implementation of the method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it is constituted by an assembly disposed on the site of use, and which essentially comprises, mounted on a base or fixed base (C), two elementary blocks (A, B) for forming the garment around the user, movable relative to each other, and whose structure is such that  - one of the blocks (A) comprises means making it possible to deliver at least one flat sheet (1) over a height corresponding to the size of the user  - The two blocks (A, B) include means which, in cooperation, allow said flat sheet (1) to conform to a shell open on its front face, and whose shape is such that not only does it cover the back of the user, but also, the side faces of the latter (sides, crotch, underarm) projecting laterally from the plane passing through the front of the body of the user;  - The second block (B), movable relative to the aforementioned block, comprising means making it possible, after fitting the user inside the preformed shell, to deliver a second ply (21) on the front of the user and, with additional means provided on the first block (A), to join edge to edge the shell and the covering ply substantially along lines corresponding to the image of the projection of the user's body in a plane parallel to the latter.  4 / Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the realization of the open shell of the garment matching the contour of the user with the exception of its front surface, is obtained by means of movable elements in the form of bars and blades , allowing not only the shaping of the ply (1) intended to form the shell, and in particular the zones corresponding to the crotch and below the arms, but also the heat sealing, on the one hand of the parts cut out from the first ply (1) in order to allow it to be shaped, and on the other hand, the peripheral edges of the shell formed with the second ply which is attached to the front of the user when the latter is introduced inside the hull.  5 / installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the sets of bars and shaping blades are mounted on the blocks (A, B), so as to be moved not only in depth to determine the volume of the hull, but also laterally and in height, in order to be able to obtain from a single installation, garments of different sizes.