Edge finishing system

A method of finishing a work product having a plurality of approximately rectilinear edges arranged in series adjacent one another about the perimeter of the work product comprising:

• moving the work product toward a finishing station with a first edge approaching approximately normal to its length toward the finishing station,
• detecting the first edge of the work product as the first edge moves into the finishing station,
• advancing the work product approximately parallel to the first edge along a path through the finishing station,
• finishing the first edge as the first edge advances through the finishing station,
• detecting an adjacent edge of the work product following the first edge as the adjacent edge approaches the finishing station,
• in response to detecting the adjacent edge approaching the finishing station turning the work product until the adjacent edge is oriented approximately parallel to the path,
• advancing the work product approximately parallel to the adjacent edge along the path at the finishing station,
• finishing the adjacent edge of the work product as the adjacent edge advances through the finishing station,
• repeating the steps of detecting, turning, advancing and finishing of the subsequent adjacent edges of the work product until all of the edges of the work product desired to be finished have been finished, and
• wherein the steps of moving, advancing and turning comprise placing the work product on a work table, moving a transport member down into engagement with the work product, and moving the work product with the transport member about the work table through X and Y axes parallel to the work table and rotating the work product with the transport member about an axis normal to the work table.

Apparatus for finishing a work product having a series of edges extending about its perimeter comprising:

• a flat horizontal work surface,
• an edge finishing apparatus positioned adjacent said work surface and defining a path along which an edge of the work product travels when the edge finishing apparatus operates,
• a transport member,
• means for moving said transport member toward engagement with the work product positioned on said work surface,
• linear drive means for moving said transport member in right angle X and Y directions parallel to said work surface,
• rotary drive means for rotating said transport member about an axis perpendicular to said work surface,
• first detector means for detecting a first one of the edges of the work product as the work product is moved by said transport means into the path, and
• second detector means for detecting a next adjacent edge in series about the perimeter of the work product as the next adjacent edge of the work product approaches the edge finishing apparatus,
• whereby the transport member moves the first edge of the work product on the work surface at the edge finishing apparatus along the path, the edge finishing apparatus finishes the first edge of the work product positioned at the edge finishing apparatus, the second detector means detects the next adjacent edge of the work product moving toward the edge finishing apparatus, and the transport member rotates the work product on the work surface in response to the detection of the next adjacent edge of the work product until the next adjacent edge is detected by the first detector, and the edge finishing apparatus finishes the next adjacent edge of the work product.

A method of finishing a segment of material having a plurality of edges arranged in intersecting series adjacent one another about the perimeter of the segment comprising:

• placing the segment with a first edge of the segment in a path extending through a finishing station,
• detecting with a first detector the placement of the first edge of the segment in the path,
• in response to detecting with the first detector the first edge of the segment advancing the segment in a direction that moves the first edge of the segment along the path through the finishing station,
• finishing the first edge of the segment as the first edge of the segment moves through the finishing station,
• as a second edge of the segment, which is the following adjacent edge in series about the segment from the first edge, approaches the finishing station, detecting with a second detector the second edge of the segment at a position out of the path of and closer to the finishing station than the first detector,
• in response to detecting with the second detector the second edge of the segment turning the segment about an axis displaced from the finishing station and extending through the segment until the second edge becomes aligned with the path,
• detecting with the first detector the turning of the second edge into alignment with the path,
• in response to detecting with the first detector the turning of the second edge into alignment with the path terminating the turning of the segment and advancing the segment in a direction that moves the second edge of the segment along the path and through the finishing station, and
• finishing the second edge of the segment as the second edge moves through the finishing station.

A method of finishing a segment of sheet material having a plurality of edges arranged in intersecting series about the perimeter of the segment as the edges of the segment are moved along a path through a finishing station comprising:

• aligning a first edge of the segment with the path extending through the finishing station,
• detecting the first edge of the segment positioned in alignment with the path through the finishing station with a first detector,
• in response to detecting the first edge with the first detector advancing the segment in a rectilinear direction that moves the first edge of the segment along the path through the finishing station and finishing the first edge at the finishing station until the segment moves beyond the first detector,
• as the first edge of the segment is being finished and after the segment moves beyond the first detector detecting the second edge in series about the perimeter of the segment with a second detector displaced from the path and positioned closer to the finishing station than the first detector,
• in response to detecting the second edge with the second detector turning the segment about an axis displaced from the finishing station and extending through the segment until the second edge is turned into alignment with the path and is detected by the first detector,
• in response to detecting the second edge with first detector terminating the turning of the segment and advancing the segment in a rectilinear direction that moves the second edge of the segment along the path through the finishing station, and finishing the second edge at the finishing station.

Apparatus for finishing a segment of sheet material having a series of edges about its perimeter comprising:

• a work table,
• a sewing machine including a sewing needle positioned adjacent said work table and defining a sewing path intersecting the sewing needle,
• a first detector means positioned in said sewing path,
• a second detector means positioned out of the sewing path and closer to said needle than said first detector means,
• a transport member for moving the segment in right angle X and Y directions on said work table and for turning the segment about an axis extending through said work table at a position displaced from the needle,
• control means responsive to said first and second detector means for turning the segment about said axis in response to the second detector means detecting that the segment is passing beyond said second detector means and advancing the segment along the sewing path in response to the first detector means detecting that an edge of the segment has turned to a position in the sewing path.