US3695195A

US3695195A - Top stitch collar stacker method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3695195A
Application number: US73729A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wade W Frost
Original assignee: Oxford Industries Inc
Current assignee: Oxford Industries Inc
Priority date: 1970-09-21
Filing date: 1970-09-21
Publication date: 1972-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-03

Abstract

A collar stacker wherein shirt collars are automatically moved from a sewing machine where they received the top stitch about the edge of the collar structure to a stack of collars. A conveyor arm oscillates back and forth across the work table behind the sewing machine, and an engaging pin moves in a downward direction from the conveyor arm toward the work table and into engagement with the collar while the conveyor arm moves away from the sewing machine to the stacker mechanism to drag the collar to the stacker mechanism. The stacker mechanism includes a stationary basket having its upper opening at the edge of the work table, and a stacker tray is movable into the basket at a position approximately coextensive with the top surface of the work table to receive the collars, and then movable out of the basket to withdraw from the basket and allow the collar to drop in an orderly manner to the bottom of the basket. A cutter mechanism is arranged to automatically cut the threads extending between the sewing head and the collar as the collar is moved toward the basket.

Description

[ 51 Oct. 3, 1972 United States Patent Frost m m R. a m .m m n w m m R m S mm mm LP m5 CD mm mm PT mm m [72] Inventor: Wade W. Frost, Vidalia, Ga. Attorney-Jones & Thomas [73] Assignee: Oxford Industries,

[22] Filed:

[ ABSTRACT A collar stacker wherein shirt collars are automatically moved from a sewing machine where they received the top stitch about the edge of the collar Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

Sept. 21, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 73,729

structure to a stack of collars. A conveyor arm oscil- U-sclau-u---.....ll2/121.29, l ates back and across the work table behind the Int- CL .............................................D05b e ing ma hine and an engaging pin moves in a 1l2/l21.29, 121.15, 121.12, 2, 203, 252; 214/1313, 8.5 E, l

downward direction from the conveyor arm toward the work table and into engagement with the collar 86 while the conveyor arm moves away from the sewing [58] Field of Search.......

ll2/I2I.l 1,

BD, 1 BC; 271/63, 68, 71

machine to the stacker mechanism to drag the collar [56] References cued to the stacker mechanism. The stacker mechanism in- UNITED STATES PATENTS cludes a stationary basket having its upper opening at the edge of the work table, and a stacker tray is movable into the basket at a position approximately coextensive with the top surface of the work table to receive the collars, and then movable out of the basket to withdraw from the basket and allow the collar to drop in an orderly manner to the bottom of the basket. A cutter mechanism is arranged to automatically cut the threads extending between the sewing head and the collar as the collar is moved toward the basket.

92 22 2&3 22//2222 11441111 Adi-1111111 1 M22 U m mm 1 u m m m m mama Wm m mam m "n t "n mmeyaa t S e "m e -m g mma e r ERSPRHHF 469900 5 66557766 99999999 11111111 353292 6 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,148,712 4/1969 Great Britain........l l2/l2l.29 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDncr 3 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 2 TOP STITCH COLLAR STACKER METHOD AND APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the manufacture of garments a substantial amount of sewing machine operator time is taken to perform the steps of cutting the thread extending from the sewing machine to the sewn garment parts and stacking the garment parts after the sewing of the garment parts has been performed. This is particularly true when small garment parts are being sewn since a relatively short sewing time is required in the process while substantially the same time is required to cut the thread from the sewing machine and to stack the garment parts. Moreover, it is occasionally more difficult to form an orderly stack of small garment parts than larger garment parts.

For instance, when shirt collars are to have the edge top stitching sewn therein, the sewing machine operator usually receives the collars in a stack arranged in a predetermined order and she retrieves the collars in order from the stack and quickly sews in the top stitching around three sides of the collar structure. When each collar is taken from the sewing head, the operator must cut the threads extending between the collar and the sewing head and then place the collar in another stack in the proper order. Since collars are relatively small in size, the operator must be careful to make sure that the stack of finished collars does not turn or topple over and it is desirable to have the collars stacked with their unstitched edges positioned at one edge of the stack. Obviously, the operators capacity for sewing the top stitching in collars could be increased if the manual steps of thread cutting and collar stacking could be eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprises a top stitch collar stacker which functions automatically and in response to the initiation of the stitching of a collar by a sewing machine to cut the trailing thread from the previously stitched collar, convey the collar from the vicinity of the sewing machine to a stacking area, and stack the collar in approximately the same attitude and position received from the sewing machine. The manual steps previously required in thecollar top stitching process of cutting the trailing thread, conveying the collar from the machine and stacking the collar in a stack of collars are eliminated, so that the machine operator need only apply the top stitching to each collar, thus significantly increasing the sewing machine operators capacity.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a top stitch collar stacker method and apparatus which is inexpensive to construct and maintain, easy to operate by a sewing machine operator, and which increases the capacity of the sewing machine operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide automatic means for cutting the trailing threads from collars passing from a sewing machine, conveying the collars to a stacking area, and stacking the collars in an orderly manner.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification when taken into conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

LII

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a sewing station in a garment factory, showing a sewing machine, garment part conveyor, thread cutter, and stacker.

FIG. 2 is a perspective detailed showing of the thread cutter as the sewing machine operates to apply the top stitch to the collar.

FIG. 3 is a perspective detailed showing of the thread cutter, similar to FIG. 2, but showing the collar as it is being moved away from the sewing head and as the thread cutter functions to sever the threads extending between the collar and the sewing head.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the stacker.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the control system for the cutter, conveyor and stacker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a sewing station 10 which includes a work table 11, sewing machine 12, thread cutter l4, conveyor 15, and stacker 16. Work table 11 includes a top or working surface which is substantially flat and disposed in a horizontal attitude, and sewing machine 12 includes a sewing head 19 and an enlarged base 20, together which form a gap or passage 21 therebetween. Sewing machine 12 is received in work table 11 in the usual manner, so that the needle meets the material approximately at the level of the working surface of work table 11.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, thread cutter 14 is mounted behind and slightly to the side of sewing head 19 and includes support bracket 22 attached to working surface 18 of work table 11. Upstanding flange 24 of support bracket 22 rigidly supports pneumatic ram 25, and ram rod 26, (FIG. 3) is movable in and out of ram 25 under the influence of air and by means of a coil compression spring 28 (FIG. 5). Blade support block 29 is rigidly connected to the outer end of ram rod 26, and blade support member 30 is pivotally connected to blade support block 29 by means of pivot pin 31. Cutting blade 32 is rigidly connected to blade support member 30, and lever 34 is rigidly connected to and extends in an upward direction from blade support member 30. Upright stanchion 35 extends in an upward direction from support bracket 22. Torsion spring 36 and gravity tend to hold blade support member 30 and cutting blade 32 in a downwardly inclined direction from blade support block 29. The length of cutting blade 32 together with the relative position of thread cutter 14 with respect to sewing head 19 is such that the lower end of cutting blade 32 is located at or closely adjacent the normal path of travel of a collar passing directly away from sewing head 19. When pneumatic ram 25 is energized, blade support block 29 will move away from ram 25 with a reciprocal movement generally along the length of the blade as indicated by arrow 38. During the outward movement of blade support block 29, lever 34 will engage stanchion 35 which forms an abutment for lever 34. The engagement of lever 34 with abutment 35 causes the lever, its blade support member 30 and cutter blade 32 to pivot about support pin 31 of blade support block 29 in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by arrow 39 as blade support block 29 continues to move away from ram 25.

Thus, cutter blade 32 will tend to lift any threads extending from sewing head 19, and any tension applied to these threads will cause them to travel over the sharpened laterally extending cutting edge 40 of the cutter blade, resulting in the threads being cut.. When pneumatic ram 25 causes its ram rod 26 to be retracted, cutter blade 32 will again assume its position illustrated in FIG. 2, so that it is withdrawn from the vicinity of sewing head 19 and will not encumber the sewing function.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, conveyor 15 comprises L- shaped support 41 attached to the edge of work table 11. Conveyor arm 42 includes an upwardly extending leg 44 which is journaled in support 41 and a laterally extending leg 45. Clamp mechanism 46 is connected to the distal end of conveyor arm 42 at a position movable between sewing head 19 and stacker 16 upon the oscillations of conveyor arm 42. Clamp mechanism 46 (FIG. 3) includes clamp ram 47 maintained in an upright attitude and ram pin or finger member 48 reciprocates toward and away from the working surface 18 of work table 11 under the influence of clamp ram 47. The lower end of finger member 48 includes a resilient pad 49 fabricated from rubber, Teflon or a similar material, and finger member 48 is maintained in its upper or retracted position by spring 50 (FIG. and is movable in a downward direction under themfluence of pressurized air in clamp ram 47. A smooth conveyor surface is provided by metallic strip 51 which extends rearwardly from sewing head 19 to the trailing edge of work table 11.

Conveyor arm ram 52 includes a ram rod 54 which is connected to one end of crank link 55, and crank link 55 is rigidly connected at its other end to the upwardly extending leg 44 of conveyor arm 42. Double acting conveyor arm ram 52 thus functions to oscillate conveyor arm 42 back and forth across the working surface of work table 11, so that clamp mechanism 46 moves between sewing head 19 and stacker l6.

Conveyor also includes an air assist mechanism 56 which includes inclined shield 59 and smooth working surface 58 of polished metal or the like, which is similar to the working surface 51 behind sewing head 19. Air conduit 60 is positioned adjacent the intersection of inclined shield 59 and smooth working surface 58, and a series of air ports 61 are defined in working surface 58 across work table 1 1. Air conduit 60 and air ports 61 communicate with a source of air pressure, so that when air is caused to flow through air conduit 60 and air ports 61, the end of a collar placed on smooth working surface 58 will tend to move with the air in a direction generally across work table 1 1 toward stacker 16. Air ports 61 are arranged to flow air generally across the work table and in a slight upward direction, to lift and transport the collar. The flow of air is gaged so that the end of the collar riding on smooth working surface 58 will move approximately at the same velocity toward stacker 16 as the other end of the collar being moved by conveyor arm 42.

Stacker 16 is positioned at the trailing edge of work table 1 1 and includes a basket structure or housing 64 which comprises a pair of metal support straps 65 suspended from work table 11, bottom 66, and a wall member formed from a pair of spaced apart metal straps 68 which extend in an upward direction from the outer edge of bottom 66 to a level above the working surface 18 of work table 11. Guide tines 69 extend from the upper ends of rods 68 back toward the operators position at work table 11 at a level above working surface 18. Straps 68 generally define an opening 70 therebetween.

Stacker tray 71 is substantially flat and is disposed in an approximately horizontal attitude. A pair of slots 72 are defined in the stacker tray 71 and are sized and shaped to fit around upstanding straps 68 of basket 64. The center portion 74 and

end portions

75 and 76 of stacker tray 71 are arranged to generally extend into the confines of basket 64. Support mechanism 78 comprises a parallel linkage which includes a pair of stationary support rods 79 supported from basket straps 68 and a pair of movable rods 80 which are connected to and movable with stacker tray 71. Links 81 and 82 are connected between rods 79 and 80 to form the parallel linkage, and extension 84 of link 81 extends in a downward direction to a level below basket 64. Double acting basket ram 85 is mounted below basket 64 and its ram rod 86 is connected to the lower end of link extension 84. v

The parallel linkage of support mechanism 78 maintains stacker tray 71 in an approximate horizontal attitude and yet allows stacker tray 71 to move between its upper and lower positions. The upper position of the stacker tray 71 is illustrated in the full lines of FIG. 4 where stacker tray 71 is located in the upper portion of basket 64 at a level approximately coextensive with the working surface 18 of work table 1 1. As is illustrated by the broken lines of FIG. 4, stacker tray 71 is movable through an arc in a lateral and downward direction away from the edge of work table 11 where it is withdrawn from the confines of basket 64. The arrangement is such that when a collar 9 is moved onto stacker tray 71, the movement of the collar from work table 11 to stacker tray 71 will not be inhibited since the stacker tray will be at a level approximately coextensive with the level of the work table. When stacker tray 71 is withdrawn from the upper portion of basket 64, the movement of collar 9 with stacker tray 71 will be inhibited by upstanding straps 68 of basket 64, so that the collar will stay within the confines of the basket while the stacker tray withdraws from the basket. Since the withdrawing movement of the stacker tray is generally in a downward arcuate direction, and since the stacker tray is maintained in a horizontal attitude, the collar will tend to maintain its horizontal attitude as it falls to the lower portion of basket 64.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, bleed valve 88 is supported adjacent the upper terminal end of leg 44 of conveyor arm 42, and protrusion 89 which is movable with leg 44 engages bleed valve 88 when conveyor arm 42 approaches stacker 16. Toggle arm 90 is arranged to trip over conveyor arm 42 as the conveyor arm moves away from sewing machine 12, but is arranged to depress bleed valve 91 as conveyor arm 42 moves from stacker 16 toward sewing machine 12. Bleed valve 92 is positioned adjacent lever 94 of sewing machine motor 95 below work table 11. Bleed valve 92 is connected to the rod 98 of valve ram 96, and valve ram 96 functions to place bleed valve 92 in abutment with motor level 94,

so that when motor lever 94 is actuated by depressing the foot pedal of the machine, bleed valve 92 will be opened.

As is illustrated in FIG. 5, conveyor arm 42 oscillates back and forth in a horizontal attitude across working surface 18 in the directions as indicated by arrow 99 to carry clamp mechanism 46 back and forth between sewing head 19 and stacker 16. In order to initiate the movement of conveyor arm 42, the sewing machine operator depresses a valve 100 with a knee plate 101, which causes a source of air pressure 102 to communicate through filter 104, regulator S and flow line 106 to valve ram 108 and thrust bleed valve 92 to its position adjacent motor lever 94 of the sewing machine motor 95. When the machine operator depresses motor lever 94 and begins to apply the top stitch to a collar, the motor lever 94 will open bleed valve 92. Spool valves 1 l0 and 1 12 function as shuttle valves and communicate with the source of air pressure 102, and the ends of the shuttle valves are usually charged with air pressure. When bleed valve 92 is opened by motor lever 94, the left ends of

shuttle valves

110 and 112 are bled so that valve shuttles 11 1 and 113 shift to the left. This causes the high pressure air to flow through shuttle valve 112 to flow line 115 and charge clamp ram 47 against the bias of its spring and charge the rear end of conveyor arm ram 52. The charging of clamp ram 47 causes its finger member 48 to move in a downward direction toward the working surface of the work table and into engagement with the collar which had been previously stitched by the sewing machine.'The charging of the rear end of conveyor arm ram 52 causes its ram rod 54 to extend and move conveyor arm 42 from sewing machine 12 toward stacker 16. The air from the front of conveyor arm ram 52 is allowed to 'flow to the atmosphere through shuttle valve 1 12.

In the meantime, the shifting of shuttle valve 110 causes the air from the source of air pressure 102 to flow through shuttle valve 110 and through flow conduit 116, to charge cutter ram 25 against the bias of its spring 28 and to charge the rear end of stacker ram 85. The charging of cutter ram 25 causes the cutter blade 32 to move beneath the thread extending from the collar back to the sewing head thereby cutting the thread, and the charging of the stacker ram causes stacker tray 71 to move in an upward are into the basket toward the edge of work table 11. The air from the front end of stacker ram 85 is allowed to bleed to the atmosphere.

As conveyor arm 42 moves toward stacker 16, toggle arm 90 of bleed 91 pivots over conveyor arm 42 without depressing bleed valve 91. As conveyor arm 42 moves clamp mechanism 46 onto stacker tray 71, protrusion 89 of conveyor arm 42 engages bleed valve 88, which functions to bleed the right end of shuttle valve 112. This depletes the air pressure from the right end of valve shuttle 113 causing the valve shuttle to move to the right. When valve shuttle 113 moves to the right, the air pressure is diverted from air conduit 115 to air conduit 118, which communicates with the front end of conveyor arm ram 52, and initiates the reverse movement of conveyor arm 42. The air from the rear of conveyor arm ram 52 is bled back through air flow conduit 115 to shuttle valve 112 and to the atmosphere. Also, the air from clamp ram 47 is urged by spring 50 back through air flow conduit 115 to the atmosphere, so that finger member 48 retracts.

As conveyor arm 42 moves back toward sewing machine 12, toggle is again engaged by conveyor arm 42, and this time bleed valve 91 is opened. Bleed valve 91 functions to deplete the pressure from the right end of shuttle valve 110, causing valve shuttle ll 1 to shift to the right. This causes the air pressure to be diverted from air flow conduit 116 to air flow conduit 119, causing stacker tray 71 to move in its downward arcuate direction out of the upper portion of basket 64 to drop the collar to the bottom of basket 64, and to allow spring 28 of cutter ram 25 to retract cutter blade 32. The air from cutter ram 25 and the rear end of stacker ram 85 is bled through air flow conduit 116 through shuttle valve and to the atmosphere.

The air for air assist mechanism 56 is controlled by shuttle valve 112 and spring loaded valve 120. When valve shuttle 113 of shuttle 112 is shifted to the left at the beginning of the cycle of conveyor arm 42, air flow conduit 115 pressurizes spring valve so that air from the source of air pressure flows through air conduit 60 and the air ports 61 of air assist mechanism. Thus, the air will flow from air assist mechanism 56 as conveyor arm 42 moves from sewing machine 12 toward stacker 16.

The apparatus is arranged so that when the operator is ready to sew the top stitching in a collar, she depresses her knee plate 101 and then depresses the motor lever of the sewing machine. This causes the conveyor to engage the previously stitched collar and drag the collar from the sewing head to the stacker. When the cutter blade 32 moves in its upward pivotal direction beneath the trailing threads from the previously stitched collar, the pull or tension applied to the threads from the collar being dragged from the stacker causes the threads to be severed as they pass over the sharpened edge of the cutter blade. In the meantime, air assist mechanism 60 flows against the end of the collar lying across the work table so that the collar will not tend to pivot about the portion thereof engaged by clamp mechanism 46 but will tend to move generally in a fixed attitude with the clamp mechanism toward basket 64.

in the meantime, stacker tray 71 reaches the upper edge of work table 11 so that the collar will be moved onto the stacker tray 71. Subsequently, the stacker tray withdraws from the basket and allows the collar to fall to the lower portion of basket 64, cutter blade 32 is retracted, the air flow of air assist mechanism 56 terminates, and conveyor arm 42 retracts. When the operator begins sewing on another collar, the cutter, conveyor and stacker will recycle to automatically cut, convey and stack as previously described. This allows the machine operator to perform the sewing function without paying any attention to the functions of cutting, conveying and stacking.

While this invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinbefore and as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of stacking collars, other garment parts, or the like at a sewing station including a sewing machine supported by a work table, said method comprising:

placing a stacking tray at a level approximately coextensive with the surface of the work table,

engaging a collar at the sewing machine with an engaging member and dragging the collar with the engaging member across the surface of the work table away from the sewing machine of the sewing station and onto said stacking tray, flowing air against the collar generally in the same direction as the direction of movement of the extendable engaging member,

cutting the thread extending from the collar toward the sewing machine as the collar moves away from the sewing machine, and

withdrawing the stacking tray from the collar to allow the collar to fall to a collection area.

2. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of withdrawing the stacking tray from the collar comprises moving the stacking tray in an approximately lateral direction while restraining the movement of the collar until the stacking tray has moved from beneath the collar.

3. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of withdrawing the stacking tray from the collar comprises moving the stacking tray in a lateral and downward arc away from the work table while maintaining the stacking tray approximately parallel to the surface of the work table, and restraining the lateral movement of the collar.

4. The method of claim 1 and wherein the step of cutting the thread extending from the collar toward the sewing head comprises moving a blade having its cutting edge extending toward the sewing head with an upward movement below the thread up between the collar and the sewing head.

5. In combination, a work table, a sewing head positioned at said work table, a stacker tray, parallel linkage support means arranged to move said stacker tray between positions adjacent the-surface of said work table and away fromthe surface of said work table while maintaining the tray in parallel relationship with the surface of said work table, conveyor means arranged to move a garment part or the like from the sewin g head across the work table to said stacker tray when the stacker tray is adjacent said work table, and cutter means for cutting the thread extending from the garment part back to the sewing head as the garment part is moved across the work table.

cutting the threads extending from the collar toward the sewing head as the collar moves away from the sewing head, and

withdrawing the stacking tray from the collar through a downward arc of movement while main- I taining the stacker tray in a horizontal attitude to allow the collar to fall to a collection area.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said conveyor means comprises an arm member including one end movable in an are between said sewing head and said stacker tray, and an engaging member movable toward and away from the surface of said work table into engagement with a garment pan on the work table to drag the garment part across the work table with the movement of said arm member.

7. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said cutter means comprises a blade member movable to a sition behind said s win head with a m tion which the thread extending em the sewing ead to the garment part.

8. In combination, a work table, a sewing head positioned at said work table, a stacker tray movable between positions adjacent the surface of said work table and away from the surface of said work table, conveyor means comprising a finger member movable toward the surface of said work table and into engagement with a garment part at a position adjacent said sewing head and movable across said work table to drag the garment part onto said stacker tray when the stacker tray is adjacent said work table, and air flow means arranged to flow air generally parallel to the movement of said finger member across said work table as the finger member moves across said work table, and cutter means for cutting the threads extending from the garment part back to said sewing head as the garment part is moved across the work table.

9. A method of stacking collars, other garment parts, or the like from a sewing station including a sewing head positioned at a work table, said method comprismg:

placing a stacking tray in a horizontal attitude at a level approximately coextensive with the surface of the work table,

moving a collar across the work table away from the sewing head of the sewing station and onto said stacking tray,

withdrawing the stacking tray from the collar through a downward are of movement while maintaining the stacker tray in a horizontal attitude to allow the collar to fall to a collection area.

Claims

1. A method of stacking collars, other garment parts, or the like at a sewing station including a sewing machine supported by a work table, said method comprising: placing a stacking tray at a level approximately coextensive with the surface of the work table, engaging a collar at the sewing machine with an engaging member and dragging the collar with the engaging member across the surface of the work table away from the sewing machine of the sewing station and onto said stacking tray, flowing air against the collar generally in the same direction as the direction of movement of the extendable engaging member, cutting the thread extending from the collar toward the sewing machine as the collar moves away from the sewing machine, and withdrawing the stacking tray from the collar to allow the collar to fall to a collection area.

5. In combination, a work table, a sewing head positioned at said work table, a stacker tray, parallel linkage support means arranged to move said stacker tray between positions adjacent the surface of said work table and away from the surface of said work table while maintaining the tray in parallel relationship with the surface of said work table, conveyor means arranged to move a garment part or the like from the sewing head across the work table to said stacker tray when the stacker tray is adjacent said work table, and cutter means for cutting the thread extending from the garmeNt part back to the sewing head as the garment part is moved across the work table. cutting the threads extending from the collar toward the sewing head as the collar moves away from the sewing head, and withdrawing the stacking tray from the collar through a downward arc of movement while maintaining the stacker tray in a horizontal attitude to allow the collar to fall to a collection area.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said conveyor means comprises an arm member including one end movable in an arc between said sewing head and said stacker tray, and an engaging member movable toward and away from the surface of said work table into engagement with a garment part on the work table to drag the garment part across the work table with the movement of said arm member.

7. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said cutter means comprises a blade member movable to a position behind said sewing head with a motion which lifts the thread extending from the sewing head to the garment part.

9. A method of stacking collars, other garment parts, or the like from a sewing station including a sewing head positioned at a work table, said method comprising: placing a stacking tray in a horizontal attitude at a level approximately coextensive with the surface of the work table, moving a collar across the work table away from the sewing head of the sewing station and onto said stacking tray, cutting the threads extending from the collar toward the sewing head as the collar moves away from the sewing head, and withdrawing the stacking tray from the collar through a downward arc of movement while maintaining the stacker tray in a horizontal attitude to allow the collar to fall to a collection area.