Automated sewing system

An automated sewing system for sewing two articles together, said automated sewing system comprising:

• a support table;
• a loading unit positioned proximate the first end of said support table, said loading unit including a loading assembly which defines a riser edge notch, a riser support surface, a panel edge notch and a panel support surface, said riser edge notch for receiving the edge of one of the articles such that the article abuts squarely against said riser edge notch as the article rests on said riser support surface, said panel edge notch for receiving the edge of the remaining article such that the remaining article abuts squarely against said panel edge notch as the remaining article rests on the panel support surface, said riser support surface and said panel support surface positioned one directly above the other such that the two articles are overlapping when exiting said loading unit, said loading unit further including a first conveying assembly for clamping down on the two articles to securely maintain a relative disposition of the two articles and advancing the two articles to a seam folding unit supported on said support table;
• said seam folding unit including a seam folder and a second conveying assembly, said seam folder configured to receive the edges of the article therethrough, said seam folder being configured such that the edges of the two articles form an interlocking seam, said second conveying assembly for conveying the two articles through said seam folder and advancing the two articles to a sewing unit supported on said support table;
• said sewing unit for sewing the two articles at the seam to produce a sewn product;
• and,
• a control system for monitoring and controlling said loading unit, said seam folding unit and said sewing unit.

An automated sewing system for sewing two articles together, said automated sewing system comprising:

• a support table;
• a loading unit positioned proximate the first end of said support table, said loading unit including a loading assembly for receiving the two articles, said loading unit including a first conveying assembly for clamping down on the two articles to securely maintain a relative disposition of the two articles and advancing the two articles to a seam folding unit supported on said support table;
• said seam folding unit for receiving the edges of the two articles to fold a seam, said seam folding unit including a seam folder and a second conveying assembly for conveying the two articles through said seam folder and advancing the two articles to a sewing unit supported on said support table;
• said sewing unit for sewing the two articles at the seam to produce a sewn product;
• and,
• a control system for monitoring and controlling said loading unit, said seam folding unit and said sewing unit, said control system including a first leading edge sensor and a second leading edge sensor positioned in said loading unit for detecting a leading edge of one article and a leading edge of the remaining article, respectively, said first and second leading edge sensors for aligning the two articles.

An automated sewing system for sewing two articles together, said automated sewing system comprising:

• a support table;
• a loading unit positioned proximate the first end of said support table, said loading unit including a loading assembly for receiving the two articles, said loading unit including a first conveying assembly for clamping down on the two articles to securely maintain a relative disposition of the two articles and advancing the two articles to a seam folding unit supported on said support table;
• said seam folding unit for receiving the edges of the two articles to fold a seam, said seam folding unit including a seam folder and a second conveying assembly for conveying the two articles through said seam folder and advancing the two articles to a sewing unit supported on said support table;
• said sewing unit for sewing the two articles at the seam to produce a sewn product;
• and,
• a control system for monitoring and controlling said loading unit, said seam folding unit and said sewing unit, said control system including a first trailing edge sensor and a second trailing edge sensor positioned in said loading unit for detecting a trailing edge of one article and a trailing edge of the remaining article, respectively, said first and second trailing edge sensors for aligning the two articles.

An automated sewing system for sewing two articles together, said automated sewing system comprising:

• a support table;
• a loading unit positioned proximate the first end of said support table, said loading unit including a loading assembly for receiving the two articles, said loading unit including a first conveying assembly for clamping down on the two articles to securely maintain a relative disposition of the two articles and advancing the two articles to a seam folding unit supported on said support table;
• said seam folding unit for receiving the edges of the two articles to fold a seam, said seam folding unit including a seam folder and a second conveying assembly for conveying the two articles through said seam folder and advancing the two articles to a sewing unit supported on said support table, said second conveying assembly including a first conveying belt assembly and a second conveying belt assembly, the speed of rotation of said first conveying belt assembly being controlled via a first motor, the speed of rotation of said second conveying belt assembly being controlled via a second motor;
• said sewing unit for sewing the two articles at the seam to produce a sewn product;
• and,
• a control system for monitoring and controlling said loading unit, said seam folding unit and said sewing unit, said control system including a first motor control for offsetting the speed of rotation of said first conveying belt assembly relative to the speed of rotation of said second conveying belt assembly such that the article fed by said first conveying belt assembly is fed to said sewing unit at a different speed than the article fed by said second conveying belt assembly.