GB2262291A - Folding apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The folding apparatus enables the end (100) of a leg (or arm) of a garment to be automatically folded over accurately to enable the leg to be subsequently stitched. The apparatus includes a clamp (21, 23) for clamping the leg and then a folding member for folding the garment leg over the clamped portion to provide the fold. A similar clamping/folding arrangement acts on the opposite edge of the garment leg. The clamping and folding members may be operated pneumatically. The two clamping/folding arrangements are disposed on opposite sides of the needle of a sewing machine. A hook may be used to form a second (double) fold prior to sewing. <IMAGE>

Description

FOLDING APPARATUS The present invention relates to folding apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for folding or turning over the ends of sleeves, trouser legs or similar during manufacture.

In the manufacture of sleeves or trouser legs, etc.

hereinafter referred to as legs, a double turn over is normally required. Aknotqn system requires an operator to turn over the end of the leg by a certain amount e.g. 5cm and then this turned over leg is inserted into a machine which automatically turns in the turned over portion to provide a double seam which is then sewn in knom manner.

Whilst this is faster than the operative making both folds it has several disadvantages. Firstly the operative must be skilful in turning over each leg accurately at each side so that the eventual turn over is equal. Secondly the initial turn over should be an exact amount so that the legs finish at the same length and this is very difficult for a hand operation. Thirdly, though faster than processing both operations by hand, it is still obviously slower than if the whole operation could be automated.

The problem therefore lies in making the first turn in an accurate, automated manner and it is an object of the present invention to provide a folding apparatus which accomplishes this. The apparatus may then be used in conjunction with further apparatus to achieve the second fold.

The present invention therefore provides apparatus for automatically folding over the end of a leg of a garment comprising clamping means for holding a portion of the leg of a garment and rolling means for folding back an end portion of the leg of a garment over the held portion.

Preferably the clamping means comprises a clamping plate which is operatively moveable towards and away from a clamping arm.

Preferably the rolling means also comprises a rolling plate which is operable to move towards and away from the clamping plate. The rolling plate is preferably spaced from the clamping plate by a fixed distance when the clamping plate is in position adjacent to the clamping arm.

The action of the rolling plate is thereby to "roll" the leg end over the clamping plate thus creating the required fold.

The apparatus further preferably includes stop means for the leg of the garment to ensure that the leg is correctly positioned prior to commencement of the clamping and folding operations.

Preferably the apparatus comprises two clamping and rolling means spaced apart at predetermined distances to co-operate with opposite internal edges of each leg.

Preferably at least one of the clamping and rolling means comprises means for adjusting the distance between the two clamping and rolling means to thereby tension the leg between the two clamping means.

Preferably the clamping and rolling means are operatively moveable in a forward and reverse direction by pneumatic piston means.

At least one of the clamping arms is preferably rotatable to move the leg to tension the leg.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically in front elevation a folding apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 in diagrammatic plan view; Figure 3 shows diagrammatcally in greater detail a first clamping and holding apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 in a first position; Figure 4 shows the apparatus of Figure 3 in a second position; Figure 5 shows the apparatus of Figure 3 in a third position; Figure 6 shows diagrammatically in front elevation a second folding arrangement; Figure 7 shows in plan view the folding arrangement of Figure 6 in a first position; and Figure 8 shows in plan view the folding arrangement of Figure 6 in a second position.

With reference now to the drawings a sewing machine is shown diagrammatically at 10. The machine in known manner has a sewing needle 12 co-operating with a machine bed 14.

The apparatus comprises a first clamping and rolling means 20. A second clamping and rolling means 30 may be provided which may operate in similar manner to the first means 20 as described.

Each clamping and folding device 20,30 comprises a first clamping member 21,31 and a folding member 22,32.

Each clamping and folding member is associated with a clamping arm 23,33 pivoted on respective pivots 24,34 and being moveable by respective pneumatic cylinders 25,35.

Preferably the clamping arms 23,33 and clamping and folding members 21,31 and 22,32 are made of stainless steel or chromed steel to provide a smooth rustproof arrangement.

Each clamping member 21,31 is movable by means of pneumatic cylinders 210,310 forwardly and backwardly in directions indicated by arrows 211,311 and also movable independently by pneumatic cylinders 212,312 in directions indicated by arrows 213,313 on sliders 214,314. Each folding member 22,32 is movable by respective pneumatic cylinders 220,320 forwardly and backwardly in directions shown by arrows 221,321.

The clamping and folding members are arcuate shaped plates to conform to the shape of the arms 23,33. In Fig.

2 they are shown as flat plates for simplicity.

An adjustable stop 40 is provided which is adjustable by suitable means (not shown) forward and backwardly in a direction shown by arrow 400 enables the turned over lengths of the leg to be adjusted.

The operation of the various parts will now be described but it is assumed that the operation of the sewing machine in both its sewing operation and in the movement of fabric beneath the needle either with or without an accompanying sewing operation is well known, this being under the control of a main sewing machine motor and control system which is widely used in this art. The use of microprocessors or sequence controlling switching arrangements is also well known in this art and thus it is to be understood that the sequential control of the movements of the various members could be manual by switches or could be & tomatically sequenced.

The operation is described with reference to Figures 3 to 8. In Figures 3 to 5 only the operation of arm 23 is described. The operation of arm 33 will be similar. It may not be necessary to move both arms in the direction shown by arrows 250,350 and thus, for example, cylinder 35 may be omitted.

The leg 100 comprises an elongate open ended cylinder and is represented by a solid line and a dotted line to allow parts 23 to be viewed. The leg is inserted in a direction shown by arrow 102 (Fig.2) over both arms 23 and 33, over the bed 14 of the machine and over the folding members 22,32 but inside the clamping members 21,31 which have been withdrawn by respective cylinders 210,310. The leg is inserted up to stop 40.

The operation is as follows: 1. Leg 100 is inserted up to stop 40 (as described above) - Fig.3 2. Clamping members 21,31 move in to clamp leg Fig.4 3. Arm 23 (and if movable arm 33) moves out to tension leg (arrow 231) 4. Folding arms move forward (arrow 221) to effectively roll the end of the leg backwards over the portion of the leg clamped and to thereby effect the folding over of the leg end.

It is noted that this is done at both edges of the leg by folding members 22,32 and thus the centre parts of the leg under the needle 12 will also be folded. The leg does not have to be rotated at all to achieve this first fold. It is preferable that the side seam which is present in most legs is not inserted into the folding members since if the seam is thick this will affect the operation. A preferred position for the seam 104 is indicated in Fig.3.

5. The clamping arms 21,31 then move forward as shown dotted in Fig.5 to clear the fabric. The leg then has a perfect folded over end portion.

[At this stage the leg could be removed by moving the clamping arms 21 outwardly (arrow 211) and releasing the tension on the leg by moving arm 23 inwardly (arrow 23l) 6. For continued operation the clamping arms 21 are moved outwardly (arrow 211).

7. The ,edge guide 40 is then moved up to the position shown in Fig.5 to guide the now turned over leg during a further folding and sewing operation.

8. The folding sections 22,32 move backwards (arrow 221) to their previous position.

9. The leg is then revolved until the seam is past the sewing machine foot and needle position 12.

10. The leg is then further revolved and see Figs. 6 to 8; a hook 500 is inserted under the folded edge 105 of leg 100 and this hook is then pulled backwards as shown by arrow 502 (Fig 8) to create an inward second fold. This operation is known and produces the second inward fold allowing sewing to take place as indicated on chain dotted line 122. (A known machine for performing this second folding operation is the ALH252 machine by ATANI).

11. The hook 500 is removed from the leg 100 just before the final stitches are to be made so that the hook is not trapped. This can he done by a suitable stitch count control system.

12. Tension on leg 100 is released by arms 23 (and 33) and the leg is then able to be withdrawn.

The leg then possesses a perfectly formed double seam which is not obtainable by prior art semi automatic/partly manual systems.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for automatically folding over the end of a leg of a garment comprising clamping means for holding a portion of the leg of a garment and rolling means for folding back an end portion of the leg of a garment over the held portion.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the clamping means comprises a clamping p]ate which is operatively moveable towards and away from a clamping arm.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the rolling means also comprises a rolling plate which is operable to move towards and away from the clamping plate.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the rolling plate is spaced from the clamping plate by a fixed distance when the clamping plate is in position adjacent to the clamping arm. The action of the rolling plate is thereby to "roll" the leg end over the clamping plate thus creating the required fold.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the apparatus further includes stop means for the leg of the garment to ensure that the leg is correctly positioned prior to commencement of the clamping and folding operations.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the apparatus comprises two clamping and rolling means spaced apart at predetermined distances to co-operate with opposite internal edges of each leg.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which at least one of the clamping and rolling means comprises means for adjusting the distance between the two clamping and rolling means to thereby tension the leg between the two clamping means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the clamping and rolling means are operatively moveable in a forward and reverse direction by pneumatic piston means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which at least one of the clamping arms is rotatable to move the leg to tension the leg.

10. Apparatus for automatically folding over the end of a leg of a garment substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.