Method for manufacturing pillowcases

A method of continuously manufacturing pillowcases having an attached hem along the mouth of the pillowcase, said method comprising

• continuously advancing along a predetermined path from a supply source an indeterminate length relatively narrow width fabric web for forming a hem while longitudinally folding the web about the midpoint of its width and closely adjacent each raw longitudinal edge thereof so that the raw longitudinal edges of the hem-forming web are located in opposing relation to one another and interiorly of the folded hem-forming web to present a finished appearance to the hem portion of the pillowcase, and while
• simultaneously and continuously advancing from another supply source an indeterminate length relatively wider fabric web for forming the body portion of a pillowcase and positioning one longitudinal edge thereof between the opposing longitudinal edge portions of the folded hem-forming web, and while
• directing the thus associated hem-forming and body-forming webs through a hem sewing station and sewing the opposing edge portions of the folded hem-forming web to the portion of the body-forming web positioned therebetween to thereby form an attached hem along one longitudinal edge of the body-forming web, while also continuously advancing the hemmed body-forming web to an through a transitory accumulating station and then to a cutting station,
• successively grasping the leading cut edge of the hemmed body-forming web at the cutting station and pulling the leading cut edge of the web from the cutting station and across and beyond a folding bar located in spaced relation from the cutting station with the web trailing therebehind to the cutting station and, upon the leading cut edge of the web reaching a predetermined distance beyond the folding bar, severing the web at the cutting station,
• grasping the thus severed web at the folding bar and removing the piece from the folding bar to form a transversely extending fold line located medially of the cut edges of the web with the cut edges of the piece positioned in closely adjacent opposing relation to one another, positioning the thus folded pieces in successive relation on a first moving conveyor with the respective folds being located adjacent one side of the conveyor and with the opposing cut edges of the pieces being located adjacent the opposite side of the conveyor, advancing the pieces successively along the conveyor while directing the cut edges of the successive pieces through a sewing machine and forming an overedge seam along the cut edges, transferring the successive pieces from the first moving conveyor to a second moving conveyor oriented generally perpendicular to the first moving conveyor while positioning the pieces in closely spaced relation to one another on the second conveyor with the respective hem portions being located adjacent one side of the conveyor and with the opposite edge portions of the pieces located adjacent the opposite side of the conveyor, and advancing the pieces along the conveyor while directing the thus positioned opposite edge portion of the successive pieces through a second sewing machine and forming a seam therealong to form successive completed pillowcases therefrom, and successively removing the thus formed pillowcases from the second conveyor.

A method of continuously manufacturing pillowcases from a fabric web having a hem formed along one longitudinal edge thereof, said method comprising

• advancing the fabric web along a predetermined path to a cutting station,
• successively grasping the leading cut edge of the hemmed body-forming web at the cutting station and pulling the leading cut edge of the web beyond the cutting station and across and beyond a folding bar located downstream from the cutting station a predetermined distance, and, upon the leading cut edge of the web reaching a predetermined distance beyond the folding bar, severing the web at the cutting station and grasping the piece at the folding bar and removing the piece therefrom to form a fold,
• successively advancing the folded pieces to a side seaming station and sewing along the opposing cut edges thereof to form a seam therealong and also forming thread chains extending between and interconnecting the successive pieces, while
• successively severing the thread chains which interconnect the successive pieces and directing the successive pieces from the side seaming station to an end seaming station, and while
• advancing the pieces successively through the end seaming station and sewing along the edge located opposite the hem to form a seam therealong and thereby closing the end of the successive pieces to form successive pillowcases therefrom.

A method of continuously manufacturing pillowcases from an indeterminate length fabric web having a hem formed along one longitudinal edge thereof, said method comprising

• advancing the fabric web along a predetermined path to a cutting station,
• successively grasping the leading cut edge of the web at the cutting station and pulling the leading cut edge of the web beyond the cutting station and across a folding bar located downstream from the cutting station a predetermined distance and beyond the folding bar for a predetermined distance corresponding substantially to the distance between the folding bar and the cutting station,
• grasping the piece at the folding bar to stabilize the web and then severing the web at the cutting station,
• continuing to grasp the thus severed piece at the folding bar while removing the piece from the folding bar and while releasing the leading cut edge of the piece, and while also conveying the piece to a supporting surface and positioning the piece thereon in folded condition with cut edges of the piece positioned in opposing relation to one another,
• successively advancing the folded pieces to a side seaming station and sewing along the opposing cut edges thereof to form a seam therealong, and while
• successively directing the pieces from the side seaming station to an end seaming station and advancing the pieces through the end seaming station while sewing along the edge located opposite the hem to form a seam therealong and thereby closing the end of the successive pieces to form successive pillowcases therefrom.