Method and apparatus for sensing the preferred side of garment portions
AssigneeRussell Corporation
InventorFletcher D. Adamson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for use in an automated garment making process detects whether a garment portion on a continuously moving conveyor is right side up by use of a photodetector. If the garment portion is not right side up, the photodetector signals a control unit which causes a flipper assembly to flip the garment portion over as it is discharged from the conveyor. The garment portion retains its original position relative to other garment portions on the conveyor and the conveyor does not stop.
Claims20
Apparatus for processing fabric garment portions having a preferred side and a non-preferred side selected in accordance with the weave of the fabric comprising:
- (a) first means for detecting whether said preferred side is face up or face down;
- (b) second means for detecting the leading and trailing edge of said garment at a predetermined point as it moves along a conveyor;
- (c) means for selectively inverting a garment as it is discharged from said conveyor;
- and
- (d) control means responsive at selected time intervals to said first and second detecting means for controlling said inverting means.
A method for the processing of garment portions on a continuously moving conveyors comprising the following steps:
- (a) determining the orientation of the garment portion as right side up or wrong side up based on the reflection of light from said fabric at a predetermined angle;
- (b) detecting the passage of the leading edge of garment portions determined to be wrong side up at a predetermined point relative to the end of said conveyor;
- (c) allowing a predetermined part of said garment portion to accumulate adjacent the end of said conveyor;
- and
- (d) rotating a plurality of garment portion engaging fingers upwardly and forwardly through openings in said conveyor to lift and throw the trailing edge of said garment portion forwardly into engagement with a second conveyor such that the trailing edge becomes the leading edge and the accumulated part is drawing onto said second conveyor in a right side up position.
A method for the processing of garment portions on a continuously moving first and second conveyor comprising the following steps:
- (a) determining the orientation of the garment portion as right side up or wrong side up based on the reflection of light from said fabric at a predetermined angle;
- (b) rotating a plurality of garment portion supporting members into position extending forwardly of said first conveyor such that the garment portions determined to be right side up are supported intermediate said first and second conveyors;
- and
- (c) inverting garment portions determined to be wrong side up as they are discharged from said conveyor.
Apparatus for detecting and positioning a woven garment portion in a preferred orientation comprising:
- (a) a plurality of parallel spaced apart endless belt conveyors mounted for synchronous movement;
- (b) first means for detecting the leading and trailing edge of a garment portion carried by said conveyors relative to a predetermined position;
- (c) second means for detecting the orientation of fibers in the weave of said garment portion;
- (d) means for selectively inverting a garment portion as it is discharged from said plurality of conveyors;
- and
- (e) control means receiving input from said first and second means for activating said means for selectively inverting said garment portion at a selected time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.