Locker patch attachment system

A system for automatically attaching a locker patch having an arcuate edge to a garment by sewing about the arcuate edge of the locker patch as the locker patch and the garment are moved along a substantially arcuate sewing path with respect to a sewing needle of a sewing machine, comprising:

• a sewing platform including a work surface extending about the sewing machine;
• a patch pivot assembly including a pivot plate rotatably mounted adjacent the sewing needle and movable in a downward direction for holding the locker patch and the garment in a fixed, overlaid relationship with respect to each other on said sewing platform, and for pivoting the locker patch and the garment in said fixed, overlaid relationship along the sewing path about an axis of rotation displaced from the sewing needle as the sewing needle sews about the arcuate edge of the locker patch to attach the locker patch to the garment;
• a body gripper means pivotally mounted to the sewing machine displaced from said pivot plate and movable about the sewing path in conjunction with said pivot plate for engaging and pivoting the garment about the sewing machine while maintaining the waist portion of the garment in radial alignment with the locker patch and garment as the locker patch and garment are moved about the sewing path;
• and
• guide means for positioning the garment and the locker patch in an overlying relationship with the arcuate edge of the locker patch aligned with the sewing needle.

A method of automatically attaching a locker patch to a garment, comprising the steps of:

• positioning a garment on a sewing platform of a sewing machine;
• placing a locker patch on the garment in an overlying relationship with a first edge of the locker patch matched with a neck edge of the garment and a second edge of the locker patch aligned with the sewing path;
• engaging the overlaid locker patch and garment with a pivot plate to secure the locker patch in a desired position on the garment for sewing;
• engaging a body portion of the garment with a body pivot assembly;
• advancing the locker patch and the body portion of the garment in conjunction with one another along a substantially arcuate sewing path beneath a sewing needle by rotating the pivot plate and body pivot assembly about an axis displaced from the sewing needle to maintain the neck and body portions of the garment in alignment as the locker patch is attached thereto;
• and
• as the locker patch and garment advance about their sewing path, sewing about the second edge of the locker patch to attach the locker patch to the garment.

A system for automatically attaching a locker patch having an arcuate edge to a neck portion of a garment, comprising:

• a sewing machine having a presser foot and a sewing needle and defining a sewing path extending through said sewing needle;
• means for holding and pivoting the locker patch and neck portion of the garment, positioned adjacent said sewing needle and adapted to be moveable vertically into engagement with the locker patch to secure the locker patch in position at the neck portion of the garment and rotatable about an axis of rotation displaced from said sewing needle for moving the locker patch and neck portion of the garment along said sewing path;
• means for holding and moving a body portion of the garment in relation to the movement of the locker patch, positioned outside of said sewing path and rotatable in conjunction with said means for holding and pivoting the locker patch and neck portion of the garment about said axis of rotation;
• and
• means for aligning the locker patch and neck portion of the garment with said sewing path.

A method of attaching a locker patch to a garment with a sewing machine, comprising the steps of:

• placing the locker patch and garment in a sewing path aligned with a sewing needle;
• aligning edges of the locker patch and garment with the sewing path by locating the edges of the locker patch along the sewing path with a three point alignment;
• engaging and holding the locker patch against a neck portion of the garment with a pivot means;
• moving the locker patch and neck portion of the garment in a substantially arcuate motion about the sewing path past the sewing needle wherein the locker patch is attached to the neck portion of the garment;
• and
• as the locker patch and neck portion of the garment are moved about the sewing path, engaging and moving a body portion of the garment in conjunction with the movement of the locker patch and neck portion of the garment.

A system for attaching a larger garment part to a smaller garment part, said system comprising:

• a sewing machine;
• means for aligning the larger garment part and the smaller garment part with each other at the needles of the sewing machine;
• an upper shelf substantially coextensive with and surrounding the bed of the sewing machine for supporting the smaller garment part and a portion of the upper portion of the larger garment part and defining an arcuate edge;
• a lower shelf positioned parallel to and below said upper shelf for supporting the lower portion of said larger garment part;
• means for pivoting the larger and smaller garment parts about a common axis displaced from said sewing needles;
• and
• means for moving the lower portion of said larger garment part on said lower shelf in an arc about said sewing needles in unison with the pivoting of the larger and smaller garment parts about the common axis.