Method and apparatus for automatically attaching a collarette display and label to a garment body by using a two step sewing operation

An apparatus for sewing a collarette, label and display to a garment body, said garment body having a shoulder seam, comprising:

• a first sewing machine having a sewing head for sewing said collarette, label and display to said garment body to form a sewn assembly;
• a second sewing machine having a sewing head for applying a second sewing operation to said display;
• means for transporting said sewn assembly from said first sewing machine to said second sewing machine;
• and
• controller means for controlling operation of said apparatus, further comprising means for orienting said collarette and said display into position for sewing said display at said second sewing machine.

An apparatus for sewing a collarette, label and display to a garment body, said garment body having a shoulder seam, comprising:

• a first sewing machine having a sewing head for sewing said collarette, label and display to said garment body to form a sewn assembly;
• a second sewing machine having a sewing head for applying a second sewing operation to said display;
• means for transporting said sewn assembly from said first sewing machine to said second sewing machine;
• and
• controller means for controlling operation of said apparatus, further comprising seam detector means for detecting said shoulder seam, said seam detector thereby relaying signals to said controller means for controlling operation of said apparatus.

An apparatus for sewing a collarette, display, and label to a garment body having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a shoulder seam, comprising:

• a first sewing machine having a first sewing head for sewing said collarette, label and display with a joining seam to said garment body to form a sewn assembly;
• a collarette feed means for feeding collarette material under said first sewing head and causing said collarette material to be sewn to said garment body;
• a display feed means for feeding display material under said first sewing head on command and causing said display material to be sewn to said garment body and said collarette material;
• a label feed means for feeding a label under said first sewing head on command and causing said label to be sewn to said garment body, collarette material, and display material;
• a second sewing machine having a second sewing head for applying a second sewing operation to said display;
• means for transporting said sewn assembly from said first sewing machine to said second sewing machine;
• means for orienting positioned along the path of said means for transporting for orienting said collarette and display into position for sewing said display at said second sewing machine;
• and
• controller means for controlling operation of said apparatus.

An apparatus for sewing a collarette and label to a garment body comprising:

• a first sewing machine having a first sewing head for applying a joining seam to join said collarette and label to said garment body to form a sewn assembly;
• a collarette feed means for feeding collarette material under said first sewing head and causing said collarette material to be sewn to said garment body;
• a label feed means for feeding a label under said sewing head on command and causing said label to be sewn to said garment body and said collarette material;
• a second sewing machine having a second sewing head for applying a second sewing operation over said joining seam;
• means for transporting said sewn assembly from said first sewing machine to said second sewing machine;
• and
• a controller means for controlling operation of said apparatus.

A method for sewing a collarette, display and label to a garment body having a shoulder seam comprising the steps of:

• loading said garment body under a first sewing machine sewing head;
• feeding collarette material under said first sewing machine sewing head and causing said collarette material to be sewn to said garment body;
• feeding display material under said first sewing machine sewing head on command and causing said display material to be sewn to said garment body and said collarette material;
• feeding a cut label under said first sewing head to be sewn to said garment body;
• unfolding said collarette and display from beneath said garment body to position said collarette and display for a second sewing operation;
• and
• sewing said display in place at a second sewing machine sewing head.

A method for sewing a collarette, display and label to a garment body with a joining seam, said garment body having a shoulder seam, comprising the steps of:

• loading said garment body under a first sewing machine sewing head;
• feeding collarette material under said first sewing head and causing said collarette material to be sewn to said garment body;
• detecting said shoulder seam;
• feeding said display material under said first sewing machine sewing head upon detection of said shoulder seam and causing said display material to be sewn to said garment body and said collarette material;
• feeding a cut label under said first sewing head to be sewn to said garment body;
• conveying said garment body, display, collarette and label to first unfolding means;
• unfolding said collarette and display at said first unfolding means from beneath said garment body to position said collarette and display to a side of said joining seam and in the plane of said garment body;
• conveying said garment body, display label and collarette to a second unfolding means;
• folding said display at said second unfolding means to cover said joining seam;
• conveying said garment body, collarette, display and label to a second sewing machine;
• sewing said display to said garment body at said second sewing machine;
• and
• severing said collarette once said display has been sewn.

A method for joining with a joining seam a collarette, a display, and a label having a width, to a garment body having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a shoulder seam comprising the steps of:

• loading said garment body under a first sewing machine sewing head;
• feeding collarette material under said first sewing machine sewing head and causing said collarette material to be sewn to said garment body;
• feeding display material under said first sewing machine sewing head on command and causing said display material to be sewn to said garment body and said collarette material;
• feeding said label under said first sewing machine sewing head on command and causing said label to be sewn to said garment body, said collarette material, and said display material;
• conveying said garment body, collarette, label and display to means for orienting said collarette and display into position for a second sewing operation;
• re-orienting said collarette and display to position said display to cover said joining seam;
• conveying said garment body, collarette, display and label to a second sewing machine sewing head;
• and
• sewing said display to said garment body at said second sewing machine sewing head.