U.S. patent number 3,640,235 [Application Number 05/043,756] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-08 for method and apparatus for cutting and hemming cloth lengths.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Burton & Noonan. Invention is credited to Perry E. Burton.
United States Patent |
3,640,235 |
Burton |
February 8, 1972 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING AND HEMMING CLOTH LENGTHS
Abstract
A method and apparatus for cutting and hemming cloth lengths
wherein a continuous supply of cloth is fed along a first path to a
cutting and transfer station, a predetermined length of cloth is
cut from the supply and transferred to a second path extending
approximately at a right angle to the first path, a first cut end
of the cloth length is hemmed, the cloth length is folded across
its length so that its second cut end overlaps the hemmed end, and
the second cut end is hemmed.
Inventors: |
Burton; Perry E. (Atlanta,
GA) |
Assignee: |
Burton & Noonan
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
21928728 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/043,756 |
Filed: |
June 5, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/470.36;
83/370; 112/147; 83/367; 112/DIG.2; 493/418; 83/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D05B
25/00 (20130101); A41H 42/00 (20130101); D05D
2305/50 (20130101); D05B 65/00 (20130101); Y10T
83/541 (20150401); D05B 41/00 (20130101); D05D
2207/04 (20130101); D05D 2305/12 (20130101); Y10T
83/536 (20150401); D05D 2305/14 (20130101); Y10T
83/2205 (20150401); D05D 2209/02 (20130101); Y10S
112/02 (20130101); D05D 2305/04 (20130101); D05D
2209/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A41H
42/00 (20060101); D05B 25/00 (20060101); D05B
65/00 (20060101); D05B 41/00 (20060101); D05b
033/00 (); D05b 035/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;112/121.29,121.11,121.12,121.15,10,203,262,147,141
;270/69,61,66,86 ;271/74 ;214/1AB,1BB,1BC,1BD,1BT,1BV,1BE ;93/84
;156/443,444,204 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Boler; James R.
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for fabricating lengths of cloth from a continuous
supply of cloth comprising a transfer platform, feed means for
feeding the end of the continuous supply of cloth in a first
direction onto said transfer platform, sensing means for
determining when a predetermined length of cloth has been fed onto
said transfer platform, cutting means responsive to said sensing
means for cutting the length of cloth on said transfer platform
from the supply of cloth, conveyor means for moving the length of
cloth in a second direction generally normal to the first
direction, transfer means responsive to said sensing means for
engaging the cut length of cloth and urging the cut length of cloth
from said transfer platform toward said conveyor means, first
edge-treating means positioned adjacent one side of said conveyor
means for treating one cut edge of the cut length of cloth as the
cut length of cloth moves in the second direction, folding means
for folding the other cut edge of the cut length of cloth across
the length of the cut length of cloth as the cut length of cloth
continues to move the second direction, and second edge-treating
means positioned adjacent said one side of said conveyor means for
treating the other cut edge of the cut length of cloth as the cut
length of cloth continues to move in the second direction.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said transfer platform
defines a plurality of spaced openings through its surface and
means for flowing air upwardly through said openings.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said transfer means
comprises a cloth-engaging member, first pneumatic cylinder means
for moving said cloth-engaging member in a downward direction
toward said transfer platform into engagement with a length of
cloth on said transfer platform, second pneumatic cylinder means
for urging said cloth-engaging means across said transfer platform
toward said conveyor means, and means for adjusting the position of
said second pneumatic cylinder means with respect to said
platform.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said folding means
comprises a folding rod supported in a cantilever arrangement with
its free end extending above and in the direction of movement of
said conveyor means, and an air blower arranged to blow air
generally across said conveyor means and flip the other cut edge of
the cloth across said folding rod.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 and wherein said first and second
edge-treating means comprise hemming means constructed and arranged
to form a thread chain between the edges of the cut length of
cloth, and further comprising cutting means along the said one side
of said conveyor means for cutting the thread chains.
6. A method of hemming or otherwise treating cut ends of cloth
lengths comprising moving flat unfolded cloth lengths in series
through a horizontal path with the cut ends of the cloth lengths
extending along the direction of the path, sequentially treating
one cut end of each cloth length as it moves along its path,
folding more than one-half the length of each cloth length across
its length to position its untreated cut end beyond the treated cut
end, and treating the other cut end of each cloth length.
7. The method of claim 6 and wherein the step of folding the cloth
lengths comprises passing the cloth length beneath a cantilever
folding rod, urging the other cut end of the cloth length over the
folding rod with a flow of air, and passing the length of cloth off
the end of the folding bar.
8. A continuous method of fabricating lengths of cloth from a
continuous supply of cloth comprising feeding a generally
continuous length of cloth from a supply along a first path,
continually cutting predetermined lengths of the cloth away from
the continuous length of cloth as the cloth moves along the first
path, moving the cut lengths of cloth along a second path
approximately normal to the first path without changing the
attitude of the lengths of cloth, hemming one of the cut ends of
each length of cloth as each length of cloth moves along the second
path, folding each length of cloth so that its other cut end
extends beyond its hemmed end, and hemming the second cut end of
each length of cloth.
9. The method of claim 8 and wherein the step of feeding the
generally continuous length of cloth from a supply along a first
path comprises feeding the leading end of the continuous length of
cloth past a cutting device until a predetermined length of the
cloth has been moved past the cutting device, and terminating the
feeding of the continuous length of cloth until the step of cutting
the cloth has occurred and the step of moving the predetermined
length of cloth along the second path has begun.
10. The method of claim 8 and wherein the step of moving each
length of cloth along a second path is initiated by engaging the
top surface of each length of cloth with a cloth-engaging member
and urging the lengths of cloth in a direction transverse with
respect to the direction of movement of the first path.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the manufacture of cloth lengths, such as towels, diapers,
wiping rags, etc., the cloth lengths are usually manufactured by
cutting lengths of cloth from a substantially continuous supply of
the cloth and the cut ends of the cloth lengths are hemmed to
prevent the ends from raveling. In the past, the cloth lengths were
processed through a sewing machine by hand with the operator
guiding the cut ends of the cloth lengths through the machine.
While some automated machinery has been developed to relieve the
machine operators from continuous and close observation and control
of the machines used for hemming the cloth lengths, it has usually
been necessary for the cut lengths of cloth to be cut, accumulated
in a stack, and then fed into a sewing machine in separate steps,
which requires the manual handling of the cloth lengths between and
during the separate steps.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described the present invention comprises a method and
apparatus for cutting and hemming lengths of cloth from a
substantially continuous supply of cloth in a continuous unbroken
mechanical process without requiring the manual handling of the
cloth lengths between the steps of cutting and hemming. The cloth
lengths are cut from the continuous supply of cloth and moved at a
right angle with respect to the length of the continuous supply
without changing the attitude of the cloth lengths so that the
cloth lengths move in a path parallel to the cut ends. This
direction of movement facilitates the step of hemming the cut ends
as they are continuously moved through this path. Moreover, in
order that only "right handed" hemming machines be utilized to hem
both cut ends of the cloth lengths, one cut end is hemmed as the
cloth lengths move through their path, the other cut end is folded
across the hemmed end, and the other cut end is hemmed by the
second machine which is a duplicate of the first machine.
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and
apparatus for cutting and hemming the cut ends of lengths of cloth
in a continuous process.
Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive,
durable and versatile apparatus for rapidly and accurately cutting
and hemming the cut ends of cloth lengths.
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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the process of cutting and
hemming lengths of cloth from a continuous supply of cloth.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the apparatus utilized in
the process of cutting and hemming the cut ends of lengths of cloth
from a continuous supply of cloth.
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an alternate form of the
apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
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. 2 shows
cloth cutting and hemming apparatus 10 which is to perform the
process disclosed in FIG. 1. As is illustrated in FIG. 1, a
continuous supply of cloth is taken from a supply source such as a
large reel 11 and moved through a first path 12 by pull rollers 14
and by feed roller 15 beneath cutting means, such as shear knife
16, onto a cutting table or transfer table 18. The lengths of cloth
fed to transfer table 18 are cut by shear knife 16 and moved toward
a second path of travel 19 by transfer means, such as transfer arm
20, onto a conveyor without changing the attitude of the cloth
lengths. As the cloth lengths 17 are moved along the second path
19, a first cut end or edge 20 of the cloth length is trimmed by a
first trimming means 21 which is a part of a sewing machine 22, and
hemmed by the first sewing machine 22. In the meantime, the center
portions of the cloth lengths 17 pass beneath folding rod 24.
As the cloth lengths 17 leave sewing machine 22, the chain of
stitching 25 extending back from end 20 is cut by chain cutting
means 26. Also, a stream of air intermittently blows across path 19
and flips the other cut end 28 of the lengths of cloth 17 over
folding rod 24. The spacing of folding rod 24 with respect to the
path 19 and the cloth lengths is such that the cut ends 28 will be
moved beyond their cut ends 20 in an overlapping relationship and
will be exposed for trimming and hemming. The cloth lengths 17 move
off the end of folding rod 24 and are trimmed and hemmed by second
trimming means 31 and second sewing machine 32. The chain stitching
35 is cut by chain cutting means 36.
As is illustrated in FIG. 2, pull rollers 14 grip the continuous
supply of cloth extending from reel 11 and rotate in the direction
indicated by arrows 38 to move the continuous supply of cloth
around pivotable J-shaped feed tray 37 and onto feed table 39. Feed
roller 15 continues the movement of the continuous supply of cloth
across the table 39 and onto the transfer platform 40 of transfer
table 18. As the supply of cloth passes from feed roller 15 to
transfer platform 40, it passes beneath the blade of shear knife 16
which is pivotally held at one end 41 by a fulcrum and is driven at
its other end 42 by means of pneumatic cutting ram 44.
A source of pressurized air 45 communicates with pneumatic cutting
ram 44 through control valve 46 and conduits 48, 49, 50 and 51.
When valve spool 52 is moved to the left (FIG. 2) the source of
pressurized air 45 flows through conduits 48 and 50 to retract
pneumatic cutting ram 44 and shear knife 16, while conduits 51 and
49 are opened to the atmosphere through the valve housing. When the
valve spool 52 is shifted in the other direction, the source of
pressurized air 45 communicates through conduits 49 and 51 to
extend pneumatic cutting ram 44 and move shear knife 16 in a
downward direction to cut a length of cloth, while conduits 50 and
48 are opened to the atmosphere through the valve housing.
Valve 46 is controlled by solenoid 54 and solenoid 54 is controlled
by electric eyes 55 and 57 which respond to the presence or absence
of light. Electric eyes 55 and 57 are spaced above or below the
surface of transfer platform 40 while the light sources are placed
on the opposite side of the platform from the electric eyes.
Transfer platform 40 is translucent and can be fabricated from
various glass or plastic substances, such as plexiglass, to allow
the light emanated from the light sources to be received in
electric eyes 55 and 57 so that the electric eyes function to
control the movements of the apparatus as will be more fully
described hereinafter.
Transfer arm 20 comprises an upper rigid arm 58 and a lower
resilient strip or insert 59. Insert 59 can be fabricated from
various plyable and flexible materials such as neoprene, sponge
rubber, hard rubber, or the various other rubber and plastic
substances. Transfer arm 20 is connected to the rod 60 of transfer
ram 61. Transfer ram 61 is connected at its base end to rigid
support member 62 in such a manner that it is free to move, at
least to a limited extent, horizontally across and transfer
platform 40 and toward and away from transfer platform 40. The
other end of transfer ram 61 is supported and moved upwardly and
downwardly by the rod 64 of engaging ram 65. Adjusting arm 66 forms
a triangle between rigid support member 62 and transfer ram 61 and
the adjusting nuts 68 are effective to alter the length of
adjusting arm 66 so as to pivot transfer ram 61 about its base end
and adjust the direction of movement of its rod 60 and transfer arm
20 across transfer platform 40. Normally, transfer ram 61 will be
adjusted to move transfer arm 20 in a direction which is
approximately 60.degree. from the direction of movement of the
cloth in path 12.
Transfer ram 61 and engaging ram 65 are connected by means of
conduits 69 and 70 and 71 and 72 to conduits 48 and 49 of valve 46.
When valve spool 52 is moved by means of solenoid 54 to the left,
(FIG. 2), the source of air pressure 45 flows through conduits 48,
70 and 71 to lift and retract transfer arm 20. In the meantime,
conduits 49, 69 and 72 are opened to the atmosphere through valve
housing 46. When solenoid 54 is deenergized the spring in valve
housing 46 shifts valve spool 56 to the right (FIG. 2) so that the
source of air pressure 45 communicates through conduits 49, 69, and
72 to move transfer arm 20 down into engagement with transfer
platform 40 and to extend the transfer arm which causes it to move
across transfer platform 40.
Solenoid 54 and valve spool 52 function in response to electric
eyes 55 and 57. As the leading end of the continuous supply of
cloth is fed from reel 11 onto transfer platform 40, the cloth
first blocks the light to electric eye 57 and subsequently blocks
the light to electric eye 55. When electric eye 57 is first
blocked, its circuit to relay 53 is open, so that it does not cause
a function in the system. When the light to electric eye 55 is
subsequently blocked, it energizes relay 53 to open the circuit
made to feed roll motor 56 and solenoid 54. This terminates the
operation of motor 56 and causes solenoid 54 to shift valve spool
52 to the left (FIG. 2), so that shear knife 16 functions to cut
the cloth nd transfer arm 20 moves down into engagement with the
cut length of cloth and moves the cut length across transfer
platform 40. When the contact of relay 53 is lifted, it closes the
circuit between electric eye 57 and relay 53 to form a holding
circuit. When transfer arm 20 moves the cut length of cloth across
transfer platform 40, electric eye 55 will again be exposed to
light, so that its circuit to relay 53 is opened; however, the
holding circuit made through electric eye 57 with relay 53 keeps
the relay contact open to motor 56 and solenoid 54 until transfer
arm 20 moves the cloth far enough to expose electric eye 57 to its
light source. When electric eye 57 is exposed in this manner, its
circuit to relay 53 is opened which allows the relay contact to
drop and close the circuit to motor 56 and solenoid 54, which
starts the motor and shifts valve 46 to retract shear knife 16 and
transfer arm 20.
The positions of electric eyes 55 and 57 are adjustable so that the
length of the cloth fed from shear knife 16 across transfer
platform 40 can be varied, and so that the distance of the positive
lateral movement or transfer of the cloth across transfer platform
40 can be varied and the feed and cutting of the apparatus will
begin during the next cycle of the apparatus only after electric
eye 57 has been cleared.
Conveyor 78 is arranged to move the cloth lengths in the path 19
which is at right angle to path 12, and comprises a pair of rollers
79 and 80 which are arranged to move a plurality of conveyor belts
81 across work table 82. A pair of support bars 84 and 85 are
suspended above work table 82 at a position close to transfer table
18, and a plurality of cloth length guides 86 and 88 are suspended
from support bars 84 and 85. Cloth length guides 86 comprise rigid
straps that are pivotally supported by support bar 85 and extended
back toward transfer table 18 and allowed to pivot down into
engagement with the conveyor belts. The ends of the guides 86 are
turned upwardly so that the cloth lengths being moved from transfer
table 18 onto conveyor 78 tend to move beneath guides 86 and are
gently urged into positive contact with the conveyor belts 81.
Guides 88 are connected to support bar 84 and comprise roller
chains having enlarged rollers that are allowed to contact conveyor
belts 81. The arrangement is such that the cloth lengths will
naturally tend to pass between guides 88 and their corresponding
conveyor belts 81, and the cloth lengths will also be gently urged
into positive contact with the conveyor belts. Thus, guides 86 and
88 function to cause conveyor belts 81 to gently but positively
grip the cloth lengths as they are moved from transfer table
18.
First and second sewing machines 22 and 32 are located at the right
edge 89 of work table 82, with sewing machine 32 being displaced
behind sewing machine 22. Sewing machines 22 and 32 also include
first and second trimming means 21 and 31 (not shown in FIG.
2).
Chain cutting means 26 and 36 (FIG. 1) are located beneath slots 91
and 92 in work table 82, and the cutting mechanisms (not shown)
tend to cut the chainstitching that drops into the slots. In order
to induce the chainstitching to drop into the slots, the slots are
connected to the inlet of a fan, such as fan 94. Slots 91 and 92
are sized, positioned, and shaped to receive the chainstitching and
to reject the cloth lengths. The cutting mechanism utilized beneath
slots 91 and 92 can be of various different conventional
constructions such as a high-speed rotary blade mounted on a
rotatable drum that cuts by impact or by scissors action. The
chainstitching cut by the cutting mechanism will be induced to flow
through slots 91 and 92 and toward blower 94, where this material
is accumulated and periodically discharged by means of a collecting
bag (not shown).
Blower header 96 is positioned along left edge 95 of work table 82
and defines an opening or a plurality of openings directed across
work table 82. Fan 98 is connected to header 96 through valve 99
and valve 99 is controlled by solenoid 100. Solenoid 100 functions
in response to electric eye 101 and light source 102. When electric
eye 101 detects the presence of a cloth length on conveyor 78 by
the blockage of light from light source 102, solenoid 100 is
energized to open the valve 99 and allow fan 98 to pressurize
header 96. This results in a stream or flow of air 28 from header
96 across work table 82.
Folding rod 24 is mounted generally centrally of the width of work
table 82 and is supported in cantilever fashion by support bars 84
and 85 so that it is suspended above work table 82 and extends
along path 19. The cloth lengths moving along path 19 will pass
beneath folding rod 24 and the airstream 28 from header 96 will
tend to flip the end of the cloth lengths between header 96 and
folding rod 24 over folding rod 24. The position of folding rod 24
will be carefully maintained so that its edge 104 is positioned
slightly to the right of the center of the cloth lengths, so that
the flipping or folding movement created by airstream 28 and
folding rod 24 will result in the cut ends 28 of the cloth lengths
being positioned beyond the cut ends 20. With this arrangement, cut
ends 20 will be passed through first sewing machine 22 and cut ends
28 will be passed through second sewing machine 32 which is
displaced behind sewing machine 22. Thus, second sewing machine 32
will function to hem cut ends 28 without making contact with cut
ends 20.
Transfer table 18 includes an air plenum chamber beneath transfer
platform 40 and fan 105 tends to pressurize the plenum chamber. A
plurality of spaced openings 106 are defined in transfer platform
40. Spaced openings 106 are angled or sloped in the direction of
path 12, which is generally away from feed roller 15 and shear
knife 16 and at right angles to path 19 of conveyor 78. The angle
of openings 106 is approximately 30.degree. from the vertical and
the air from the plenum chamber of transfer table 18 is moved
gently through openings 106 in a direction that tends to lift the
cloth from transfer platform 40 and move the cloth in the direction
of path 12, thus tending to stretch the cloth away from feed roller
15 along path 12. This causes the leading end of the cloth to move
along path 12 from reed roller 15 beneath shear knife 16 and over
transfer table 18 toward electric eye 55, in spite of the absence
of any positive drive mechanisms beyond feed roller 15. Thus, the
cloth will move properly along path 12 between each cycle of shear
knife 16 and transfer arm 20.
While electric eyes 55 and 57 have been disclosed as being in
control of the movement of transfer arm 20, shear knife 16 and feed
roller 15, it should be obvious that individual electric eyes can
be utilized to control the functions of each of the various
components. Moreover, while a single air pressure source 45 has
been disclosed as communicating through a single valve 46 to
control all of the rams 44, 61 and 65, various other flow
arrangements can be utilized so that these rams are independently
controlled with respect to each other. Also, while motor 56 is
disclosed as a belt drive mechanism controlling the movements of
feed roller 15, obviously similar drive mechanisms can be utilized
for pull rollers 14 and the drive mechanisms can be driven in
response to other control means, such as by a weigh pan for pull
rollers 14 and by a measuring wheel or other device for feed roller
15. Moreover, while electric eyes 55, 57 and 101 have been
disclosed as the sensing means for determining the presence or
absence of a cloth length on transfer table 18 and on conveyor 78,
it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other
sensing mechanisms can be utilized, such as microswitches, airflow
detectors, measuring wheels, etc. Also, while a single header 96
has been disclosed to create the desired airstream 28 that flips or
folds the cloth lengths, various other and different airflow
arrangements can be utilized as may be desired.
While FIG. 2 discloses feeding the cloth lengths onto transfer
table 18 with feed roller 15 and with the use of the air streams
flowing through the openings 106 in the transfer platform 40, FIG.
3 discloses an alternate feeding mechanism. Feed brush 110 includes
pneumatic cylinder 111, brush rod 112 and brush 114. Brush rod 112
and pneumatic cylinder 111 are long enough so that brush 114 can
reach from its retracted full-line position to the extended
position shown in dashed lines, which is just beyond shear knife
16a. Transfer platform 40a is constructed without the air openings
shown in FIG. 2 so that a smooth top surface is presented for brush
114 and the cloth to slide over. While pneumatic cylinder 111
functions as a transfer ram, upright pneumatic cylinder functions
as an engaging ram so that the movement of brush 114 with respect
to transfer platform 40a is somewhat similar to the movement of
transfer arm 20a, previously described. Brush 114 is maintained out
of engagement with transfer platform 40a by engaging ram 115 as the
brush is extended toward its dashed-line position. When the brush
reaches its dashed-line position, engaging ram 115 lowers the brush
so that its bristles 116 impale and otherwise engage the leading
edge of the continuous length of cloth, and transfer ram 111
reverses and begins to pull brush 114 across transfer platform 40a.
The bristles 116 of brush 114 will normally be angled so as to
extend from the brush generally in a downward direction and
inclined in the direction extending back toward transfer ram 111 so
as to tightly grasp the continuous length of cloth at its leading
edge. When brush 114 reaches its retracted position, transfer ram
111 will terminate its movement and engaging ram 115 will lift
brush 114 out of engagement with the cloth.
The schematic electrical and pneumatic illustration of FIG. 3
illustrates that the same basic circuitry and flow arrangement is
utilized to operate pneumatic cutting ram 44a and the rams 61a and
65a of transfer arm 20a. The motor or clutch mechanism and feed
roll of FIG. 2 are replaced with feed brush 110 of FIG. 3, and
solenoid 118 is placed in the circuitry so as to be responsive
electric eyes 55a and 57a. Solenoid 118 operates air control valve
119 which regulates the flow of air from air source 120. Reversing
valve 121 is controlled by its solenoid 122 which is responsive to
electric eye 124 which is placed closely adjacent shear knife 16a.
Electric eye 124 senses the presence of brush 114 as it moves
beneath shear blade 16a, and continues in its sensing function as
the brush draws the cloth across transfer platform 40a until shear
knife 16a cuts the cloth.
The arrangement of the circuitry and flow system of FIG. 3 is such
that when electric eyes 55a and 57a and 124 see light, relay 53a
closes its switch and energizes solenoids 54a and 118. Solenoid 54a
shifts its valve 46a so that air from source 45a flows to the
bottom of cutting ram 44a, to the bottom of engaging ram 65a, and
to the front of transfer ram 61a. This causes shear knife 16a and
transfer arm 20a to be retracted.
Solenoid 118 causes its valve 119 to shift so that the flow of air
from source 120 will pass through conduit 126 and reversing valve
121 to the rear of transfer ram 111 and to the lower end of
engaging ram 115. The system will stay in this configuration until
electric eye 124 is blocked from its light source by the presence
of brush 114 reaching beneath shear knife 16a, whereupon solenoid
122 functions to shift reversing valve 121. This causes the air
from source 120 and valve 119 to be diverted to the upper end of
engaging ram 115 and to the forward end of transfer ram 111, which
causes brush 114 to move down into engagement with the cloth and
begin to drag the cloth across transfer platform 40a. When brush
114 moves the cloth in this manner, the cloth will continue to
block the light from electric eye 124 so that the movement of brush
114 will continue. If the brush 114 should fail to properly engage
the cloth, electric eye 124 will again be exposed and operate its
solenoid 122 and shift reversing valve 121 to reverse the movements
of engaging ram 115 and transfer ram 111 to attempt to obtain a
better grip of the cloth.
As brush 114 carries the cloth across transfer platform 40a the
electric eye 57a will be blocked from its light source; however,
the blocking of electric eye 57a will have no effect in the system
since the contact of relay 53a is down and maintains the circuit
from electric eye 57a open. As brush 114 reaches electric eye 55a,
relay 53a will be operated to lift its contact from the circuits
made to solenoids 54a and 118, which deactivates these solenoids,
and to close the circuit from electric eye 57a. When solenoid 54a
is deenergized, the spring of control valve 46a functions to shift
the valve so that the air flowing from source 45a functions to
actuate cutting ram 44a, engaging ram 65a and transfer ram 61a.
Thus, shear knife 16a functions to cut a length of cloth from the
continuous supply of cloth and transfer arm 20a is moved down into
engagement with the cut length of cloth and pushes the cloth onto
the conveyor. Since the initial movement of transfer arm of 20a
will tend to uncover electric eye 55a, the circuit from electric
eye 55a to relay 53a will be open; however, the circuit from
electric eye 57a functions as a holding circuit to maintain the
contact of relay 53a in its upper position until the cloth length
is moved substantially off transfer platform 40a whereupon electric
eye 57a is again exposed and functions to drop relay 53a and
reenergize solenoids 54a and 118 to begin the next cycle of
operation. In the meantime, however, when solenoid 118 is
deenergized by the operation of relay 53a, valve 119 is shifted so
that the air source 120 sill communicate with conduit 127. Since
reversing valve 121 had already been reversed by the blockage of
light to electric eye 124, the air would tend to flow to the rear
of transfer ram 111 and to the lower end of engaging ram 115, to
begin the next cycle of feed brush 110; however, when shear knife
16a makes its cut, electric eye 124 is almost immediately exposed
to its light source, which causes reversing valve 121 to shift back
to the position as illustrated, so that the air flowing from source
120 communicates with the forward end of transfer ram 111 and the
lower end of engaging ram 115 to maintain brush 114 elevated and
retracted, and waiting for the cloth to be transferred off of
transfer platform 40a. Of course, when the cloth is removed from
transfer platform 40a to expose electric eye 57a, relay 53a will be
dropped to start the next cycle of operation.
The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 is arranged so that
tension is applied to the cloth as it is moved onto transfer
platform 40a and any creases or folds that extend transversely
across the length of cloth will be stretched open, and a true
length of the cloth will be measured from shear knife 16 to the
point where electric eye 55a is blocked. By contrast, the
embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2 allows the
lateral creases of the cloth to be generally undisturbed by the
feeding of the cloth across the transfer platform.
As is set forth with respect to FIG. 2, it will be understood that
the various electric eyes, the electrical circuitry and pneumatic
flow arrangement can be altered and the identical or similar
function can be achieved.
While the inventions are disclosed as functioning to hem the ends
of cut lengths of cloth, it should be understood that various other
edge-treating means can be utilized for treating the cut ends. For
instance, the cut ends can be coated with a liquid substance, such
as a thermosetting liquid, solvent liquid nylon, a resin, or any
suitable liquid which has properties compatible with the use to
which the cloth lengths are to be used. MOreover, any conventional
liquid applicator means can be used to apply the liquid to the cut
ends of the cloth lengths, such as rotatable grooved wiping wheels,
spray devices, etc., which would be substituted for the sewing
machines 22 and 32.
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.
* * * * *