US3701328A - Garment retriever and stacker - Google Patents

Garment retriever and stacker Download PDF

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Publication number
US3701328A
US3701328A US105451A US3701328DA US3701328A US 3701328 A US3701328 A US 3701328A US 105451 A US105451 A US 105451A US 3701328D A US3701328D A US 3701328DA US 3701328 A US3701328 A US 3701328A
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garment
shirt
grasping
stacking
collar
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US105451A
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Wade W Frost
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Oxford Industries Inc
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Oxford Industries Inc
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    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A41WEARING APPAREL
    • A41HAPPLIANCES OR METHODS FOR MAKING CLOTHES, e.g. FOR DRESS-MAKING OR FOR TAILORING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A41H43/00Other methods, machines or appliances
    • A41H43/02Handling garment parts or blanks, e.g. feeding, piling, separating or reversing
    • A41H43/0207Stacking
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D05SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
    • D05BSEWING
    • D05B41/00Work-collecting devices

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  • ABSTRACT A garment retriever and stacker for use in the manufacture of shirts or the like wherein the collar portion of a shirt is grasped and lifted away from a sewing machine so that the remaining portion of the shirt tails in a downward direction, the shirt collar portion is released, and the shirt is urged in a downward arc and packed into a stack of shirts in a generally horizontal attitude.
  • the garment manufacturing process is expedited if the partially completed garments are maintained in numerical order by ply numbers and each bunch is maintained in an identifiable stack as the bunches are transferred between sewing stations.
  • each sewing station operator can conveniently retrieve the individual garments for processing through her sewing machine if the stack from which the garments are retrieved is formed in an orderly manner, as with all of the collar portions, etc., oriented toward one end of the stack and all of the garments facing in one direction.
  • a sewing function is to be performed on a shirt or similar bulky shapeless garment, it is highly convenient to have the shirts stacked with their collars oriented toward one end of the stack and with the shirt fronts all facing one side of the stack.
  • the operator can then reach for the collar portion of the shirt and conveniently lift one or more shirts to her sewing station from a stack of shirts to begin the sewing function to be performed at her sewing station.
  • the present invention comprises a garment retriever and stacker which functions to retrieve a shirt or similar garment by its collar from a sewing machine after a sewing step has been performed on the collar, move the shirt in an upward and lateral direction away from the sewing machine so that the remaining portion of the shirt trails below the collar, and release the shirt in an upright attitude.
  • a stacker arm engages the side of the shirt and pushes the shirt through a downward arc toward an awaiting basket or pallet, whereupon the shirt is reoriented from a generally upright attitude to a generally horizontal attitude.
  • the movements of the mechanism are uniform so that the shirts are uniformly stacked with their collars placed at one end of the stack and with the shirt front facing one side of the stack.
  • the shirts are pulled away from the sewing machine with enough force to break the thread extending back to the following shirt, and the sewing machine operator does not have to perform any stacking function of the shirt leaving her machine.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a garment retriever and stacker which is inexpensive to construct, which is easy to operate, which is reliable, and which relieves the sewing machine operator from having to stack garments leaving her sewing machine.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the garment retriever and stacker.
  • FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of the grasping member and one end of the support arm, and the manner in which the grasping member first engages a shirt.
  • FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are progressive schematic illustrations of the grasping member and stacking member, showing how the collar is first grasped, lifted toward the stacker, the shirt is turned so that the collar is flat with respect to the stacker member, and the shirt is released and moved in a downward are by the stacker member toward a portable trolley.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram which illustrates the control system of the garment retriever and stacker.
  • FIG. 1 shows a work station or sewing station 10 which includes a work table 11, sewing machine 12, garment grasping means 13, and stacker member 14. Sewing machine 12 is operated in the conventional manner, as by an air motor and clutch arrangement located beneath work table 11, (not shown).
  • Garment grasping means 13 includes support frame 15 which includes upright stanchion 16, horizontal brace bar 18 extending between upright stanchion 16 and work table 11, and lateral support bar 19.
  • Support rod 20 is rotatably supported in an upright attitude by means of bearing 21 which is connected to the upper end of upright stanchion l6.
  • Yoke 22 is formed at the upper end of support rod 20, and transfer arm or support arm 24 is pivotally connected to yoke 22 by means of pivot block 25.
  • Transfer arm 24 is adjustably connected to pivot block 25 so that the effective length of transfer arm 24 from support rod 20 can be adjusted, when desired.
  • the distal end of transfer arm 24 includes open ended socket 26, and grasping member pivot axle 28 is received and extends through socket 26.
  • the upper end of pivot axle 28 is surrounded by sprocket 29, while the lower end is inserted in grasping member support clamp 30.
  • Grasping member 31 includes support pin 32 which is rigidly connected at one of its ends to support clamp 30 and at its other end to support block 33, support bracket 34, grasping member ram 35, ram rod 36, grasping fingers 38, and links 39.
  • the upper ends of grasping fingers 38 are pivotally connected to support block 33 and the lower ends of links 39 are connected to grasping fingers 38 by means of connecting tabs 40 which are rigidly connected to grasping fingers 38 intermediate their ends.
  • links 39 are connected to actuating block 41, and the actuating block 41 is rigidly connected to ram rod 36 of grasping member ram 35.
  • the arrangement is such that when grasping member ram is actuated to urge ram rod 36 in an outward or downward direction, links 39 cause grasping fingers 38 to open.
  • grasping member ram 35 causes its ram rod 36 to retract, grasping fingers 38 will come together and grasp any objects positioned there between.
  • Grasping fingers 38 are curved at their lower ends and pads of resilient material 42 are applied to the convex or inner surfaces of the grasping fingers, so that when the grasping fingers are brought together at the work table, they tend to gather the flexible garment material up from the table and then grasp or grip the material until the fingers are subsequently opened.
  • Pivot ram 44 has one of its ends connected to transfer arm 24 and its ram rod 45 is connected to one end of chain 46. Chain 46 is wrapped around sprocket 29 and the other end of the chain is connected to tension spring 48. The arrangement is such that tension spring 48 normally maintains grasping member 31 in the position shown in FIG. 1. When pivot ram 44 is energized, it causes its ram rod 45 to retract and link chain 46 is pulled about sprocket 29 against the tension applied by spring 48, causing pivot axle 28 to rotate and to rotate or oscillate grasping member 31 about the end of transfer arm 24 through an arc of approximately 90 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • Elevating ram 50 is connected at one of its ends to upright support rod 20, and its ram rod 51 is pivotally connected to lever 52.
  • Lever 52 is rigidly connected at its other end to pivot block 25 by means of pivot pin 54 so that when ram rod 51 of elevating ram 50 is extended, transfer arm 24 is lifted in an upward direction about yoke 22 at the upper end of support rod 20.
  • ram 55 is connected at one of its ends to extension arm 56 of brace bar 18 and its ram rod 58 is pivotally connected to the outer end of lever 59.
  • the inner end of lever 59 is rigidlyconnected to the lower end of upright support rod 20, so that the extension and contraction of ram rod 58 of turning ram 55 causes upright support rod to pivot or oscillate and move transfer arm 24 between the position shown in FIG. 1 and a position above and in front of stacker member 14, through an arc of approximately 90.
  • Stacker member 14 comprises pivotable stacking element 60, support rod 61, and crank 62.
  • Stacking element 60 comprises a relatively flat packing plate 64 which is normally maintained in a generally upright attitude by support rod 61 and packing plate 64 includes backward folds 65, 66 and 67 which form a upper shield.
  • Resilient pad 69 is attached to fold 65.
  • Crank 62 of stacker member 14 is rotatably supported by hearing blocks 70 at the outer end of lateral support bar 19 of the support frame 15.
  • Bearing blocks 71 are spaced outwardly from bearing blocks and function to rotatably support sprocket 72.
  • a continuous chain 74 is extended around sprocket 72 and sprocket 75 which is rigidly attached to crank 62.
  • Packing plate ram 76 is connected at one of its ends to upright stanchion 16 and its ram rod 18 is pivotally connected to one end of lever 79.
  • lever 79 is rigidly connected to the axle 80 of sprocket 72, so that when the ram rod 78 of stacking plate ram 76 reciprocates, axle 80 oscillates sprockets 72 and 75 and crank 62 oscillates, causing packing plate 64 to oscillate.
  • axle 80 oscillates sprockets 72 and 75 and crank 62 oscillates, causing packing plate 64 to oscillate.
  • packing plate 64 oscillates.
  • the area 84 immediately in front of packing plate 64 is a garment release area 84 for grasping member 31, and packing plate 64 is arranged to engage the side of a garment released by grasping member 31 and move the garment from an upright attitude through arc 82 to a generally horizon tal attitude on to trolley 81, as will be explained hereinafter.
  • Air ducts 85 are located in the surface of work table 1 1 behind sewing machine 12 at the grasping area 86 of grasping member 31. Air intermittently flows through air ducts 85 so as to cause the garment in the grasping area to pucker up or lift in an upward direction into the grasping fingers 38 as they move together.
  • Electric motor 88 is supported at the lower end of upright stanchion 15 and is connected to cam box 89 by means of endless chain 90 extending around sprockets 91 and 92.
  • Cam box 89 houses a plurality of cams (FIG. 7) which are rigidly connected to axle 94.
  • a plurality of valves and switches are connected to cam box 89 and open and close in response to the movement of the cam in the cam box in a conventional manner.
  • the valves are connected between a source of air pressure and rams 35, 44, 50, 55 and 76 as will be more fully illustrated by referring to FIG. 7.
  • cams 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and 107 are rigidly connected to axle 94 and rotate in unison.
  • Switch 111 and valves 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 and 117 are spring urged into engagement with their respective cams.
  • Air supply 118 pressurizes manifold 119, and various air ducts communicate between manifold 1 19 and valves 112-117.
  • Foot switch is located at the sewing machine operators position at sewing station 10 and functions to close an electrical circuit to electric motor 88. When motor 88 is energized, axle 94 is rotated, and cam 101 closes switch 111.
  • Switch 111 functions as a holding switch so that when the machine operator releases foot switch 120, motor 88 will continue to operate, causing axle 94 to continue to rotate until the indentation of cam 101 returns to the position of switch 111, whereupon the holding circuit is broken and axle 94 and the cams carried thereby no longer rotate.
  • Cams 106 and 107 are arranged to shift their respective valves 116 and 117 immediately after motor 88 is energized. Air is taken from a position immediately downstream of the air supply 118 through valve 117 to air ducts 85 at the grasping area of work table 11. Air from manifold 119 passes through valve 1 16 and causes grasping member ram 35 to retract its ram rod 36, thereby causing grasping member 31 to move its grasping fingers '38 together or to close or grip or grasp a garment at grasping area 86.
  • Elevating ram extends its ram rod 51 while turning ram retracts its ram rod 58, thus causing transfer arm to move in an upward and lateral direction, generally through an are from the grasping area 86 of work table 11 toward garment release area 84 at stacker member 14.
  • cam 107 shifts its valve 117 to terminate the flow of air through air ducts 85 in the grasping area of the work table, and cam 103 shifts its valve 113. Air then flows from manifold 119 through valve 113 to pivot ram 44 causing ram rod 45 to retract and pivot grasping member 31 about socket 26 at the end of transfer arm 24.
  • cam 106 allows its valve 1 16 to return to its original position and cam 102 shifts its valve 112. These valves are shifted simultaneously so that grasping member ram 35 causes grasping member 31 to release the garment as packing plate ram extends its ram rod 78, causing packing plate 64 to move in a downward arc 82 through garment release area 84 and carry the released garment with it.
  • An additional air flow regulator is placed in the line upstream from valve 112 so that both the speed and force of the packing plate in its upward and downward movements can be regulated.
  • cams 104, 105 and 103 cause their respective valves 114, 115 and 113 to shift back to their original positions, thus reversing elevating ram 50, turning rams 55 and pivot ram 44, causing transfer arm 24 to begin its movement back toward its original position at grasping area 86 of work table 11 and grasping member to pivot back to its ready position.
  • cam 102 shifts its valve 112 and causes ram 76 to oscillate packing plate 64 back to its upright position.
  • cam 101 of micro switch 111 will cause the micro switch to open, thereby opening the holding circuit made to electric motor 88. The system then rests until the sewing machine operator presses her foot switch 120 to start the cycle again.
  • grasping member 31 is normally positioned immediately above the grasping area 86 on the work table, so that when the sewing machine operator finishes the sewing function on the collar 121 of a shirt 120, the grasping member 31 will be located just above the collar and its grasping fingers 38 will be in alignment with the collar.
  • Guide shield 122 is attached to the work table and is located so that when the sewing machine operator pushes the tail and body portion of the shirt out of her way toward the rear edge of the work table, the collar 121 will generally remain beneath grasping member 31.
  • grasping fingers 38 When the sewing machine operator closes her foot switch 120 to actuate garment grasping member 13, grasping fingers 38 will pivot toward each other through downward arcs and their pads 42 will engage the collar 121 on opposite sides of the center of the collar while air ducts 85 direct a stream of air in an upward direction intermediate the ends of the collar, causing the collar to fold upwardly. As the grasping fingers continue to close, the collar is lifted as illustrated in FIG. 3 and grasped as illustrated in FIG. 4.
  • transfer arm 24 moves in an upward and lateral direction, generally through an arc about upright support rod 20, (FIG. 1) toward garment release area 84 at packing plate 64 of stacker member 14.
  • the shirt which is hanging from its collar is pivoted about the end of transfer arm 24 as illustrated by arrow 125 in FIG. 5.
  • packing plate 64 moves in the direction indicated by arrow 82 through an arc of approximately from a generally upright attitude toward a generally horizontal attitude, and engages the side of the shirt and urges the shirt from its upright attitude to the horizontal attitude illustrated in FIG. 6.
  • a shirt moves through the are 82, it will move toward trolley 81, and as subsequent shirts are handled in this manner they are arranged in a stack 126 that has all of the collars 121 folded intermediate their ends, arranged flat at one end of the stack and facing in the proper direction. Under normal circumstances, the stack 126 will be neatly formed and all of the shirts will be in the predetermined position which is proper for retrieval by the operator at a subsequent sewing station.
  • the grasping member 31 has been constructed so as to specifically grasp shirt collars and the movement of garment grasping member 13 has been arranged so as to trail the lower portion of the shirt in a downward direction generally behind the collar as the shirt is lifted or moved away from grasping area 86 toward release area 84. This is so the shirt will be properly oriented for lateral and downward engagement by stacker member 14.
  • the arrangement is desirable for rather long garments, such as shirts, trousers or ladies dresses, etc. These larger garments are somewhat shapeless and cumbersome to handle at the various garment parts connecting stages in the garment manufacturing process, and it is highly desirable to have the garments properly stacked for subsequent sewing operation.
  • the grasping member 31 can be adjusted or modified to grasp other garments, particularly pants, by changing the shape of grasping fingers 38.
  • stacker member 14 can be used without modification to move pants through the downward are 82 to a stack 126 if desired.
  • packing plate 64 not only functions to move the garment through the are 82, but also functions to pack the garment in the stack, which is a desirable feature for the lighter material which might be used in shirts, etc.
  • a method of manufacturing shirts or the like the steps of performing a sewing function on the collar of the shirt with a sewing machine, gathering the ends of the collar downwardly together about the neck portion of the shirt, lifting the collar in an upwardly inclined direction away from the sewing machine while trailing the remaining portion of the shirt in a downward direction, and orienting the shirt in a general horizontal attitude with the collar folded intermediate its ends.
  • Apparatus for stacking garment parts or the like at a sewing machine comprising a garment grasping member, a support arm connected at one of its ends to said grasping member and arranged to move said grasping member between said sewing machine and a garment release area, a stacking member movable between the garment release area and stacking area, fluid powered control means comprising a first ram member for closing and opening said grasping member, a second ram member for moving said support arm in an upward direction, a third ram member for moving said support arm laterally away from said sewing machine, and a fourth ram member for moving said stacking member between the garment release area and the stacking area, said fust, second, third and fourth rarn members being constructed and arranged for sequentially causing said grasping member to grasp a garment at the sewing machine, causing said support arm, grasping member and garment to move to the release area, causing said grasping member to release the garment and causing said stacking member to move the garment from the release area to the stacking area.
  • the apparatus for stacking shirts or the like received from a sewing machine comprising a garment grasping member for grasping the collar portion of a shirt, a support member connected to said grasping member and arranged to move said grasping member and the shirt grasped by said grasping member away from the sewing machine to a garment release area while trailing the portion of the shirt below the collar portion downwardly below the collar portion, a stacking member movable through a downward are between the garment release area and a stacking area below the garment release area, control means connected to said grasping member, support member and stacking member for sequentially causing said grasping member to grasp a garment at the sewing machine, moving the support arm, grasping member and garment to the release area, and then simultaneously causing said grasping member to release the garment in the release area and causing said stacking member to engage the garment and move the garment from the release area through a downward arc to the stacking area.

Abstract

A garment retriever and stacker for use in the manufacture of shirts or the like wherein the collar portion of a shirt is grasped and lifted away from a sewing machine so that the remaining portion of the shirt tails in a downward direction, the shirt collar portion is released, and the shirt is urged in a downward arc and packed into a stack of shirts in a generally horizontal attitude.

Description

United States Patent Frost [54] GARMENT RETRIEVER AND STACKER [72] Inventor: Wade W. Frost, Vidalia, Ga.
[73] Assignee: Oxford Industries, Inc., Atlanta, Ga. 22 Filed: Jan. 11, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 105,451
[52] U.S.Cl. ..112/121.29,271/1,214/1an s1 1nt.Cl. ..D05b 33/00 [58] FieldoiSearch ..1l2/l21.29,262,121.11,
[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,389,906 6/1968 Walton ..1 12/10 X 3,314,675 4/1967 Rothfuss et al. .27 1/1 3,228,364 1/1966 Kremer'et al ..ll2/l2l.ll 3,464,602 9/1969 Romansky ..2l4/l BD X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 981,292 1/1965 Great Britain ..1 12/10 Primary Examiner-James R. Boiler Attorney-Jones & Thomas [57] ABSTRACT A garment retriever and stacker for use in the manufacture of shirts or the like wherein the collar portion of a shirt is grasped and lifted away from a sewing machine so that the remaining portion of the shirt tails in a downward direction, the shirt collar portion is released, and the shirt is urged in a downward arc and packed into a stack of shirts in a generally horizontal attitude.
4 Claims, '7 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBncrs an sum 1 or 3 FIGI INVENTOR WADE W. FROST BY QMAJM ATTORNEYS 1 GARMENT RETRIEVER AND STACKER BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE In the manufacture of shirts and other garments, it is important that the shirts be assembled from the same ply or layer of material received from the cutting room of the manufacturing plant in order to assure uniformity of color and other features of the shirt. The garment parts are usually marked with identifying bunch and ply numbers in the cutting room, so that when the garment parts are distributed to the various different sewing stations, the various parts can be identified and brought back together.
The garment manufacturing process is expedited if the partially completed garments are maintained in numerical order by ply numbers and each bunch is maintained in an identifiable stack as the bunches are transferred between sewing stations. Moreover, each sewing station operator can conveniently retrieve the individual garments for processing through her sewing machine if the stack from which the garments are retrieved is formed in an orderly manner, as with all of the collar portions, etc., oriented toward one end of the stack and all of the garments facing in one direction. For example, when a sewing function is to be performed on a shirt or similar bulky shapeless garment, it is highly convenient to have the shirts stacked with their collars oriented toward one end of the stack and with the shirt fronts all facing one side of the stack. The operator can then reach for the collar portion of the shirt and conveniently lift one or more shirts to her sewing station from a stack of shirts to begin the sewing function to be performed at her sewing station.
In the past, when the operator of a sewing machine at a sewing station completed the sewing function on a shirt or similar garment, she usually cut the thread extending back to her sewing machine and swung the shirt to an awaiting portable basket or pallet, and the stack of shirts formed by the sewing station operator was haphazardly formed and the sewing station operator that subsequently performed a sewing step on the shirts in the stack had to orient each shirt with respect to her machine before the subsequent sewing function could begin. This caused the subsequent operator to lose a significant amount of production time and occasionally caused her to incorrectly perform her sewing function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I Briefly described, the present invention comprises a garment retriever and stacker which functions to retrieve a shirt or similar garment by its collar from a sewing machine after a sewing step has been performed on the collar, move the shirt in an upward and lateral direction away from the sewing machine so that the remaining portion of the shirt trails below the collar, and release the shirt in an upright attitude. As the shirt is released, a stacker arm engages the side of the shirt and pushes the shirt through a downward arc toward an awaiting basket or pallet, whereupon the shirt is reoriented from a generally upright attitude to a generally horizontal attitude. The movements of the mechanism are uniform so that the shirts are uniformly stacked with their collars placed at one end of the stack and with the shirt front facing one side of the stack. The shirts are pulled away from the sewing machine with enough force to break the thread extending back to the following shirt, and the sewing machine operator does not have to perform any stacking function of the shirt leaving her machine.
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a garment retriever and stacker which speeds up the sewing function at a sewing station, and which uniformly stacks the garment at the sewing station.
Another object of this invention is to provide a garment retriever and stacker which is inexpensive to construct, which is easy to operate, which is reliable, and which relieves the sewing machine operator from having to stack garments leaving her sewing machine.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the garment retriever and stacker.
FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of the grasping member and one end of the support arm, and the manner in which the grasping member first engages a shirt.
FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are progressive schematic illustrations of the grasping member and stacking member, showing how the collar is first grasped, lifted toward the stacker, the shirt is turned so that the collar is flat with respect to the stacker member, and the shirt is released and moved in a downward are by the stacker member toward a portable trolley.
FIG. 7 is a schematic flow diagram which illustrates the control system of the garment retriever and stacker.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail to the drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a work station or sewing station 10 which includes a work table 11, sewing machine 12, garment grasping means 13, and stacker member 14. Sewing machine 12 is operated in the conventional manner, as by an air motor and clutch arrangement located beneath work table 11, (not shown).
Garment grasping means 13 includes support frame 15 which includes upright stanchion 16, horizontal brace bar 18 extending between upright stanchion 16 and work table 11, and lateral support bar 19. Support rod 20 is rotatably supported in an upright attitude by means of bearing 21 which is connected to the upper end of upright stanchion l6. Yoke 22 is formed at the upper end of support rod 20, and transfer arm or support arm 24 is pivotally connected to yoke 22 by means of pivot block 25. Transfer arm 24 is adjustably connected to pivot block 25 so that the effective length of transfer arm 24 from support rod 20 can be adjusted, when desired.
The distal end of transfer arm 24 includes open ended socket 26, and grasping member pivot axle 28 is received and extends through socket 26. The upper end of pivot axle 28 is surrounded by sprocket 29, while the lower end is inserted in grasping member support clamp 30. Grasping member 31 includes support pin 32 which is rigidly connected at one of its ends to support clamp 30 and at its other end to support block 33, support bracket 34, grasping member ram 35, ram rod 36, grasping fingers 38, and links 39. The upper ends of grasping fingers 38 are pivotally connected to support block 33 and the lower ends of links 39 are connected to grasping fingers 38 by means of connecting tabs 40 which are rigidly connected to grasping fingers 38 intermediate their ends. The upper ends of links 39 are connected to actuating block 41, and the actuating block 41 is rigidly connected to ram rod 36 of grasping member ram 35. The arrangement is such that when grasping member ram is actuated to urge ram rod 36 in an outward or downward direction, links 39 cause grasping fingers 38 to open. When grasping member ram 35 causes its ram rod 36 to retract, grasping fingers 38 will come together and grasp any objects positioned there between.
Grasping fingers 38 are curved at their lower ends and pads of resilient material 42 are applied to the convex or inner surfaces of the grasping fingers, so that when the grasping fingers are brought together at the work table, they tend to gather the flexible garment material up from the table and then grasp or grip the material until the fingers are subsequently opened.
Pivot ram 44 has one of its ends connected to transfer arm 24 and its ram rod 45 is connected to one end of chain 46. Chain 46 is wrapped around sprocket 29 and the other end of the chain is connected to tension spring 48. The arrangement is such that tension spring 48 normally maintains grasping member 31 in the position shown in FIG. 1. When pivot ram 44 is energized, it causes its ram rod 45 to retract and link chain 46 is pulled about sprocket 29 against the tension applied by spring 48, causing pivot axle 28 to rotate and to rotate or oscillate grasping member 31 about the end of transfer arm 24 through an arc of approximately 90 to the position illustrated in FIG. 5.
Elevating ram 50 is connected at one of its ends to upright support rod 20, and its ram rod 51 is pivotally connected to lever 52. Lever 52 is rigidly connected at its other end to pivot block 25 by means of pivot pin 54 so that when ram rod 51 of elevating ram 50 is extended, transfer arm 24 is lifted in an upward direction about yoke 22 at the upper end of support rod 20.
Turning ram 55 is connected at one of its ends to extension arm 56 of brace bar 18 and its ram rod 58 is pivotally connected to the outer end of lever 59. The inner end of lever 59 is rigidlyconnected to the lower end of upright support rod 20, so that the extension and contraction of ram rod 58 of turning ram 55 causes upright support rod to pivot or oscillate and move transfer arm 24 between the position shown in FIG. 1 and a position above and in front of stacker member 14, through an arc of approximately 90.
Stacker member 14 comprises pivotable stacking element 60, support rod 61, and crank 62. Stacking element 60 comprises a relatively flat packing plate 64 which is normally maintained in a generally upright attitude by support rod 61 and packing plate 64 includes backward folds 65, 66 and 67 which form a upper shield. Resilient pad 69 is attached to fold 65.
Crank 62 of stacker member 14 is rotatably supported by hearing blocks 70 at the outer end of lateral support bar 19 of the support frame 15. Bearing blocks 71 are spaced outwardly from bearing blocks and function to rotatably support sprocket 72. A continuous chain 74 is extended around sprocket 72 and sprocket 75 which is rigidly attached to crank 62. Packing plate ram 76 is connected at one of its ends to upright stanchion 16 and its ram rod 18 is pivotally connected to one end of lever 79. The other end of lever 79 is rigidly connected to the axle 80 of sprocket 72, so that when the ram rod 78 of stacking plate ram 76 reciprocates, axle 80 oscillates sprockets 72 and 75 and crank 62 oscillates, causing packing plate 64 to oscillate. Usually a portable basket, pallet or trolley 81 is placed at the bottom of the are 82 through which packing plate 64 oscillates. The area 84 immediately in front of packing plate 64 is a garment release area 84 for grasping member 31, and packing plate 64 is arranged to engage the side of a garment released by grasping member 31 and move the garment from an upright attitude through arc 82 to a generally horizon tal attitude on to trolley 81, as will be explained hereinafter.
Air ducts 85 are located in the surface of work table 1 1 behind sewing machine 12 at the grasping area 86 of grasping member 31. Air intermittently flows through air ducts 85 so as to cause the garment in the grasping area to pucker up or lift in an upward direction into the grasping fingers 38 as they move together.
Electric motor 88 is supported at the lower end of upright stanchion 15 and is connected to cam box 89 by means of endless chain 90 extending around sprockets 91 and 92. Cam box 89 houses a plurality of cams (FIG. 7) which are rigidly connected to axle 94. A plurality of valves and switches are connected to cam box 89 and open and close in response to the movement of the cam in the cam box in a conventional manner. The valves are connected between a source of air pressure and rams 35, 44, 50, 55 and 76 as will be more fully illustrated by referring to FIG. 7.
As is illustrated in FIG. 7, cams 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and 107 are rigidly connected to axle 94 and rotate in unison. Switch 111 and valves 112, 113, 114, 115, 116 and 117 are spring urged into engagement with their respective cams. Air supply 118 pressurizes manifold 119, and various air ducts communicate between manifold 1 19 and valves 112-117. Foot switch is located at the sewing machine operators position at sewing station 10 and functions to close an electrical circuit to electric motor 88. When motor 88 is energized, axle 94 is rotated, and cam 101 closes switch 111. Switch 111 functions as a holding switch so that when the machine operator releases foot switch 120, motor 88 will continue to operate, causing axle 94 to continue to rotate until the indentation of cam 101 returns to the position of switch 111, whereupon the holding circuit is broken and axle 94 and the cams carried thereby no longer rotate.
Cams 106 and 107 are arranged to shift their respective valves 116 and 117 immediately after motor 88 is energized. Air is taken from a position immediately downstream of the air supply 118 through valve 117 to air ducts 85 at the grasping area of work table 11. Air from manifold 119 passes through valve 1 16 and causes grasping member ram 35 to retract its ram rod 36, thereby causing grasping member 31 to move its grasping fingers '38 together or to close or grip or grasp a garment at grasping area 86.
shift their respective valves 114 and l 15, causing pressurized air to flow from manifold 1 19 to elevating ram 50 and turning ram 55. Elevating ram extends its ram rod 51 while turning ram retracts its ram rod 58, thus causing transfer arm to move in an upward and lateral direction, generally through an are from the grasping area 86 of work table 11 toward garment release area 84 at stacker member 14.
As axle 94 continues to rotate, cam 107 shifts its valve 117 to terminate the flow of air through air ducts 85 in the grasping area of the work table, and cam 103 shifts its valve 113. Air then flows from manifold 119 through valve 113 to pivot ram 44 causing ram rod 45 to retract and pivot grasping member 31 about socket 26 at the end of transfer arm 24.
As axle 94 continues to rotate, cam 106 allows its valve 1 16 to return to its original position and cam 102 shifts its valve 112. These valves are shifted simultaneously so that grasping member ram 35 causes grasping member 31 to release the garment as packing plate ram extends its ram rod 78, causing packing plate 64 to move in a downward arc 82 through garment release area 84 and carry the released garment with it. An additional air flow regulator is placed in the line upstream from valve 112 so that both the speed and force of the packing plate in its upward and downward movements can be regulated.
As axle 94 continues to rotate, cams 104, 105 and 103 cause their respective valves 114, 115 and 113 to shift back to their original positions, thus reversing elevating ram 50, turning rams 55 and pivot ram 44, causing transfer arm 24 to begin its movement back toward its original position at grasping area 86 of work table 11 and grasping member to pivot back to its ready position. Shortly thereafter, cam 102 shifts its valve 112 and causes ram 76 to oscillate packing plate 64 back to its upright position. By the time axle 94 has rotated through 360 the cycle of all the movements will have been completed, and cam 101 of micro switch 111 will cause the micro switch to open, thereby opening the holding circuit made to electric motor 88. The system then rests until the sewing machine operator presses her foot switch 120 to start the cycle again.
As is illustrated in the sequence of operation in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, grasping member 31 is normally positioned immediately above the grasping area 86 on the work table, so that when the sewing machine operator finishes the sewing function on the collar 121 of a shirt 120, the grasping member 31 will be located just above the collar and its grasping fingers 38 will be in alignment with the collar. Guide shield 122 is attached to the work table and is located so that when the sewing machine operator pushes the tail and body portion of the shirt out of her way toward the rear edge of the work table, the collar 121 will generally remain beneath grasping member 31.
When the sewing machine operator closes her foot switch 120 to actuate garment grasping member 13, grasping fingers 38 will pivot toward each other through downward arcs and their pads 42 will engage the collar 121 on opposite sides of the center of the collar while air ducts 85 direct a stream of air in an upward direction intermediate the ends of the collar, causing the collar to fold upwardly. As the grasping fingers continue to close, the collar is lifted as illustrated in FIG. 3 and grasped as illustrated in FIG. 4.
As is illustrated in FIG. 4, transfer arm 24 moves in an upward and lateral direction, generally through an arc about upright support rod 20, (FIG. 1) toward garment release area 84 at packing plate 64 of stacker member 14. In order that the shirts be stacked with their collars oriented with the folds extending in a generally horizontal plane, or in a generally flate configuration, the shirt which is hanging from its collar is pivoted about the end of transfer arm 24 as illustrated by arrow 125 in FIG. 5.
When grasping member 31 releases shirt 120, packing plate 64 moves in the direction indicated by arrow 82 through an arc of approximately from a generally upright attitude toward a generally horizontal attitude, and engages the side of the shirt and urges the shirt from its upright attitude to the horizontal attitude illustrated in FIG. 6. As a shirt moves through the are 82, it will move toward trolley 81, and as subsequent shirts are handled in this manner they are arranged in a stack 126 that has all of the collars 121 folded intermediate their ends, arranged flat at one end of the stack and facing in the proper direction. Under normal circumstances, the stack 126 will be neatly formed and all of the shirts will be in the predetermined position which is proper for retrieval by the operator at a subsequent sewing station.
While this particular stacker member 14 and garment grasping member 13 have been illustrated as being used at a sewing station where the collar connect function in a shirt making processing is performed, it will be understood that the garment grasping means and stacker member can be utilized at the collar finish sewing station, or at virtually any sewing station where a sewing function is performed on a collar. The grasping member 31 has been constructed so as to specifically grasp shirt collars and the movement of garment grasping member 13 has been arranged so as to trail the lower portion of the shirt in a downward direction generally behind the collar as the shirt is lifted or moved away from grasping area 86 toward release area 84. This is so the shirt will be properly oriented for lateral and downward engagement by stacker member 14. The arrangement is desirable for rather long garments, such as shirts, trousers or ladies dresses, etc. These larger garments are somewhat shapeless and cumbersome to handle at the various garment parts connecting stages in the garment manufacturing process, and it is highly desirable to have the garments properly stacked for subsequent sewing operation.
While the garment grasping means 13 and stacker member 14 have been specifically disclosed as being used in connection with shirt making steps, it will be understood that the grasping member 31 can be adjusted or modified to grasp other garments, particularly pants, by changing the shape of grasping fingers 38. Moreover, stacker member 14 can be used without modification to move pants through the downward are 82 to a stack 126 if desired. Of course, packing plate 64 not only functions to move the garment through the are 82, but also functions to pack the garment in the stack, which is a desirable feature for the lighter material which might be used in shirts, etc.
While the 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. In a method of manufacturing shirts or the like, the steps of performing a sewing function on the collar of the shirt with a sewing machine, gathering the ends of the collar downwardly together about the neck portion of the shirt, lifting the collar in an upwardly inclined direction away from the sewing machine while trailing the remaining portion of the shirt in a downward direction, and orienting the shirt in a general horizontal attitude with the collar folded intermediate its ends.
2 In a method of manufacturing shirts or the like having collars attached thereto, the steps of:
performing a sewing function on the collar of a shirt,
sequentially grasping and moving the collar of the shirt away from the sewing machine while trailing the remaining portion of the shirt in an approximately vertical attitude below the collar, releasing the shirt, and engaging and moving the shirt in a downward arc to an approximately horizontal attitude in a stack of shirts.
3. Apparatus for stacking garment parts or the like at a sewing machine comprising a garment grasping member, a support arm connected at one of its ends to said grasping member and arranged to move said grasping member between said sewing machine and a garment release area, a stacking member movable between the garment release area and stacking area, fluid powered control means comprising a first ram member for closing and opening said grasping member, a second ram member for moving said support arm in an upward direction, a third ram member for moving said support arm laterally away from said sewing machine, and a fourth ram member for moving said stacking member between the garment release area and the stacking area, said fust, second, third and fourth rarn members being constructed and arranged for sequentially causing said grasping member to grasp a garment at the sewing machine, causing said support arm, grasping member and garment to move to the release area, causing said grasping member to release the garment and causing said stacking member to move the garment from the release area to the stacking area.
4. The apparatus for stacking shirts or the like received from a sewing machine comprising a garment grasping member for grasping the collar portion of a shirt, a support member connected to said grasping member and arranged to move said grasping member and the shirt grasped by said grasping member away from the sewing machine to a garment release area while trailing the portion of the shirt below the collar portion downwardly below the collar portion, a stacking member movable through a downward are between the garment release area and a stacking area below the garment release area, control means connected to said grasping member, support member and stacking member for sequentially causing said grasping member to grasp a garment at the sewing machine, moving the support arm, grasping member and garment to the release area, and then simultaneously causing said grasping member to release the garment in the release area and causing said stacking member to engage the garment and move the garment from the release area through a downward arc to the stacking area.

Claims (4)

1. In a method of manufacturing shirts or the like, the steps of performing a sewing function on the collar of the shirt with a sewing machine, gathering the ends of the collar downwardly together about the neck portion of the shirt, lifting the collar in an upwardly inclined direction away from the sewing machine while trailing the remaining portion of the shirt in a downward direction, and orienting the shirt in a generally horizontal attitude with the collar folded intermediate its ends.
2. In a method of manufacturing shirts or the like having collars attached thereto, the steps of: performing a sewing function on the collar of a shirt, sequentially grasping and moving the collar of the shirt away from the sewing machine while trailing the remaining portion of the shirt in an approximately vertical attitude below the collar, releasing the shirt, and engaging and moving the shirt in a downward arc to an approximately horizontal attitude in a stack of shirts.
3. Apparatus for stacking garment parts or the like at a sewing machine comprising a garment grasping member, a support arm connected at one of its ends to said grasping member and arranged to move said grasping member between said sewing machine and a garment release area, a stacking member movable between the garment release area and stacking area, fluid powered control means comprising a first ram member for closing and opening said grasping member, a second ram member for moving said support arm in an upward direction, a third ram member for moving said support arm laterally away from said sewing machine, and a fourth ram member for moving said stacking member between the garment release area and the stacking area, said first, second, third and fourth ram members being constructed and arranged for sequentially causing said grasping member to grasp a garment at the sewing machine, causing said support arm, grasping member and garment to move to the release area, causing said grasping member to release the garment and causing said stacking member to move the garment from the release area to the stacking area.
4. The apparatus for stacking shirts or the like received from a sewing machine comprising a garment grasping member for grasping the collar portion of a shirt, a support member connected to said grasping member and arranged to move said grasping member and the shirt grasped by said grasping member away from the sewing machine to a garment release area while trailing the portion of the shirt below the collar portion downwardly below the collar portion, a stacking member movable through a downward arc between the garment release area and a stacking area below the garment release area, control means connected to said grasping member, support member and stacking member for sequentially causing said grasping member to grasp a garment at the sewing machine, moving the support arm, grasping member and garment to the release area, and then simultaneously causing said grasping member to release the garment in the release area and causing said stacking member to engage the garment and move the garment from the release area through a downward arc to the stacking area.
US105451A 1971-01-11 1971-01-11 Garment retriever and stacker Expired - Lifetime US3701328A (en)

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US3917336A (en) * 1974-08-02 1975-11-04 Ford Motor Co Glass handling tongs
US4144825A (en) * 1976-10-29 1979-03-20 Pfaff Industriemaschinen Gmbh Workpiece stacking device for sewing machines
US4481896A (en) * 1982-01-13 1984-11-13 Wembley Industries, Inc. Flexible material stacker
FR2576295A1 (en) * 1985-01-22 1986-07-25 Vosgienne Applications Ind GRIPPER FOR TEXTILE OR THE LIKE TABLECLOTH
US4664367A (en) * 1985-02-04 1987-05-12 Vergnetti Joseph A Workpiece stacker for sewing machines
US5040776A (en) * 1987-07-16 1991-08-20 Giovanni Cartabbia Automatically operating system for taking up and discharging cloth articles or portions thereof from ironing apparatus
US5758590A (en) * 1996-02-22 1998-06-02 Collier; Horace I. Stacking device for sheet material
US5816178A (en) * 1995-09-20 1998-10-06 Jet Sew Technologies, Inc. Automatic unloading and stacking apparatus
US6055921A (en) * 1998-02-19 2000-05-02 Atlanta Attachment Company Waistband attachment system

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US3228364A (en) * 1963-01-14 1966-01-11 Phillips Van Heusen Corp Apparatus for facilitating the attachment of buttons
US3314675A (en) * 1966-03-31 1967-04-18 Southern Machinery Co Apparatus for conveying, straightening and stacking flexible sheet material articles
US3389906A (en) * 1966-08-01 1968-06-25 United Shoe Machinery Corp Machines for stacking flexible sheets
US3464602A (en) * 1968-06-12 1969-09-02 Mc Graw Edison Co Shirt unloader and delivery apparatus

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GB981292A (en) * 1961-09-21 1965-01-20 Dennis Elias Arnold Improvements relating to the manufacture of bags
US3228364A (en) * 1963-01-14 1966-01-11 Phillips Van Heusen Corp Apparatus for facilitating the attachment of buttons
US3314675A (en) * 1966-03-31 1967-04-18 Southern Machinery Co Apparatus for conveying, straightening and stacking flexible sheet material articles
US3389906A (en) * 1966-08-01 1968-06-25 United Shoe Machinery Corp Machines for stacking flexible sheets
US3464602A (en) * 1968-06-12 1969-09-02 Mc Graw Edison Co Shirt unloader and delivery apparatus

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3917336A (en) * 1974-08-02 1975-11-04 Ford Motor Co Glass handling tongs
US4144825A (en) * 1976-10-29 1979-03-20 Pfaff Industriemaschinen Gmbh Workpiece stacking device for sewing machines
US4481896A (en) * 1982-01-13 1984-11-13 Wembley Industries, Inc. Flexible material stacker
FR2576295A1 (en) * 1985-01-22 1986-07-25 Vosgienne Applications Ind GRIPPER FOR TEXTILE OR THE LIKE TABLECLOTH
EP0189352A1 (en) * 1985-01-22 1986-07-30 Société "Les Applications Industrielles Vosgiennes" par abréviation "S.A.P.I.V.O.G." Gripper assembly for textiles or the like
US4697837A (en) * 1985-01-22 1987-10-06 Les Applications Industrielles Vosiennes ("S.A.P.I.V.O.G") Gripper for textile layer or the like
US4664367A (en) * 1985-02-04 1987-05-12 Vergnetti Joseph A Workpiece stacker for sewing machines
US5040776A (en) * 1987-07-16 1991-08-20 Giovanni Cartabbia Automatically operating system for taking up and discharging cloth articles or portions thereof from ironing apparatus
US5816178A (en) * 1995-09-20 1998-10-06 Jet Sew Technologies, Inc. Automatic unloading and stacking apparatus
US5758590A (en) * 1996-02-22 1998-06-02 Collier; Horace I. Stacking device for sheet material
US6055921A (en) * 1998-02-19 2000-05-02 Atlanta Attachment Company Waistband attachment system

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