Claims
- 1. An automated sewing system for applying stitching to a continuous cuff edge of a knit glove to inhibit said cuff edge from unraveling, with said knit glove having a body portion extending from said cuff edge, said automated sewing system comprising:
- a sewing station whereat said cuff edge of said glove is sewn, said sewing station including a sewing machine having sewing instrumentalities for applying overedge stitching to a raw edge of the glove to create a sewn cuff edge thereby inhibiting said cuff edge from unraveling, said sewing machine further including a driven cutting assembly positioned adjacent said sewing instrumentalities;
- a first apparatus arranged upstream of said sewing station for advancing said cuff edge along and automatically positioning the cuff edge relative to a predetermined path of travel; and
- a system operably connected to and controlling the first apparatus and said sewing machine to progressively advance the edge of said glove through said sewing machine until a leading portion of the sewn cuff edge is sewn over a predetermined distance by said stitching instrumentalities, with said system operating said first apparatus after the sewn cuff edge is sewn over said predetermined distance to automatically remove said sewn cuff edge from said predetermined path of travel while continuing to operate said sewing machine thereby creating a chain of stitches extending from said sewn cuff edge, and wherein said chain of stitches is drawn toward said cutting assembly and severed a predetermined distance from said sewn cuff edge.
- 2. The automated sewing system according to claim 1 further including a glove expansion assembly constructed and arranged to automatically expand the body portion of said glove to a predetermined size thereby facilitating advancement of said cuff edge through said sewing station.
- 3. The automated sewing system according to claim 2 wherein said expansion assembly includes a carrier about which said cuff edge is at least partially passed prior to expansion of said body portion of the glove.
- 4. The automated sewing system according to claim 3 wherein said expansion assembly further includes a driver for selectively moving said carrier of said expansion assembly toward and away from said stitching instrumentalities of said sewing machine.
- 5. The automated sewing system according to claim 4 wherein said driver of said expansion assembly is operated in timed relationship relative to said sewing machine.
- 6. The automated sewing system according to claim 1 wherein said system includes electronics for controlling operation of said sewing station and thereby the predetermined distance the sewn cuff edge is sewn over.
- 7. The automated sewing system according to claim 6 wherein the electronics of said system are programmable to yield selective control over the predetermined distance said sewn edge is sewn over.
- 8. The automated sewing system according to claim 6 wherein said sewing machine includes a rotatable handwheel, and wherein said electronics of said system monitors revolutions of said handwheel as said cuff edge is sewn.
- 9. The automated sewing system according to claim 1 further including an apparatus for automatically ejecting a glove with said sewn cuff edge from said sewing station.
- 10. The automated sewing system according to claim 1 further including a label inserting apparatus for automatically inserting a label at a predetermined position into the sewn cuff edge of the glove.
- 11. The automated sewing system according to claim 1 further including a pusher apparatus arranged upstream of said sewing station for laterally positioning said sewn cuff edge relative to said predetermined path of travel.
- 12. An automated sewing system for applying overedge stitching to a continuous raw cuff edge of a knit glove as said cuff edge moves along a sewing path, said knit glove having a body portion extending from said cuff edge, said automated sewing system comprising:
- a sewing machine including stitching instrumentalities for sewing said overedge stitching along said raw cuff edge to create a sewn cuff edge thereby inhibiting said cuff edge from unraveling, said sewing machine further including a driven thread cutting assembly positioned adjacent said sewing instrumentalities;
- a driven guiding apparatus arranged upstream of said sewing machine for advancing said cuff edge along and automatically positioning the cuff edge by lateral movement thereof relative to a predetermined path of travel;
- a puller apparatus arranged downstream of the stitching instrumentalities of said sewing machine for operably pulling said sewn cuff edge from said sewing machine; and
- a system operably connected to and controlling said guiding apparatus, said puller apparatus, and said sewing machine to progressively advance the cuff edge through said machine until a leading portion of the sewn cuff edge is sewn over a predetermined distance, with said system operating said guiding apparatus to remove the sewn cuff edge from the predetermined path of travel after the leading portion of the sewn cuff edge has been sewn over, and with said system thereafter operating said sewing machine and said puller apparatus to create slack in the sewn cuff edge to allow a chain of overedge stitches extending from said cuff edge to be drawn toward and severed a predetermined distance from said sewn cuff edge.
- 13. The automated sewing system according to claim 12 wherein said puller apparatus comprises a puller roller positioned adjacent said sewing instrumentalities, and a driver for operably rotating said puller roller in a first direction to move the sewn cuff edge along the predetermined path of travel and through the sewing machine.
- 14. The automated sewing system according to claim 13 wherein said driver for operably rotating said puller comprises a motor capable of positively rotating said puller roller in opposite rotational directions.
- 15. The automated sewing system according to claim 14 wherein said system operates said driver for said puller roller after the sewn cuff edge is sewn over a predetermined distance to operably rotate said puller roller in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, to create slack in a portion of the sewn cuff edge extending between said puller roller and said sewing instrumentalities.
- 16. The automated sewing system according to claim 12 further including a glove expansion assembly constructed and arranged to automatically expand the body portion of said glove to a predetermined size thereby facilitating advancement of said cuff edge through said sewing station.
- 17. The automated sewing system according to claim 16 wherein said expansion assembly is operated in timed relationship relative to said sewing machine.
- 18. The automated sewing system according to claim 12 wherein said system includes electronics for controlling operation of said sewing station and thereby the predetermined distance the sewn cuff edge is sewn over.
- 19. The automated sewing system according to claim 18 wherein the electronics of said system are programmable to yield selective control over the predetermined distance said sewn edge is sewn over.
- 20. The automated sewing system according to claim 12 further including an apparatus for automatically removing a glove with said sewn cuff edge from said sewing station.
- 21. The automated sewing system according to claim 12 further including a pusher apparatus arranged upstream of said sewing station for laterally positioning said sewn cuff edge relative to said predetermined path of travel.
- 22. The automated sewing system according to claim 12 further including a label inserting apparatus for automatically inserting a label in a predetermined location into the sewn cuff edge of said glove.
- 23. An automated sewing system for attaching elastic to a cuff edge portion of a knit glove as said glove is turned and said cuff edge moves along a sewing path, said automated sewing system comprising:
- a sewing station including a sewing machine and a driven apparatus for directing a tensioned elastic strip to stitching instrumentalities of said sewing machine to permit said tensioned elastic strip to be attached to said cuff edge, with said sewing instrumentalities applying a stitching pattern along said raw cuff edge to create an elasticized sewn cuff edge which inhibits said knit glove from unraveling, said sewing machine further including a driven thread cutting assembly positioned adjacent said sewing instrumentalities;
- a driven guiding apparatus arranged upstream of said sewing machine for automatically positioning a raw cuff edge for movement along a predetermined path of travel relative to said stitching instrumentalities;
- a puller apparatus arranged downstream of the stitching instrumentalities of said sewing machine for operably pulling said elasticized sewn cuff edge from said sewing machine; and
- a system operably connected to and controlling said guiding apparatus, said puller apparatus and said sewing machine including said driven apparatus to progressively advance the raw cuff edge through said machine until a leading portion of the sewn cuff edge is sewn over a predetermined distance, with said system operating said puller apparatus and sewing machine after the leading portion of the sewn cuff edge has been sewn over to create slack in at least that portion of the elasticized sewn cuff edge disposed between said puller apparatus and said sewing instrumentalities to allow a chain of overedge stitches extending from said elasticized and sewn cuff edge to be drawn toward and severed a predetermined distance from said elasticized sewn cuff edge.
- 24. The automated sewing system according to claim 23 wherein said sewing machine includes a presser foot assembly including a pair of laterally spaced elastic strip guides for directing the elastic strip to the sewing instrumentalities of the sewing machine, and wherein at least one of said guides is laterally movable under the influence of said system and in timed relation to operation of said sewing machine.
- 25. The automated sewing system according to claim 23 wherein said sewing machine includes a presser foot assembly configured to position one edge of said tensioned elastic strip a predetermined distance outside of the sewn cuff edge of said glove.
- 26. The automated sewing system according to claim 23 further including a pusher apparatus arranged adjacent said sewing machine for automatically and laterally moving said elasticized sewn cuff edge away from said predetermined path of travel after the leading sewn edge of said glove cuff has been sewn over said predetermined distance.
- 27. An automated method of sewing a continuous cuff edge of a knit glove to inhibit said cuff edge from inadvertently unraveling, said knit glove having a body portion extending from said cuff edge, said method of sewing comprising the steps of:
- moving a raw edge of said glove cuff along a predetermined path of travel toward a sewing station, said sewing station including a sewing machine with stitching instrumentalities and a driven vacuum operated cutting assembly positioned adjacent said sewing instrumentalities for cutting threads;
- positioning an edge of said glove automatically along said predetermined path of travel and relative to said stitching instrumentalities;
- controlling said sewing machine to progressively apply an interlocked stitching pattern to the raw edge of the glove as said cuff edge passes through said sewing machine to create a sewn cuff edge thereby inhibiting the cuff edge from inadvertently unraveling, said application of interlocked stitches continuing until a leading portion of the sewn cuff edge is sewn over a predetermined distance by said stitching instrumentalities;
- removing said sewn cuff edge from said predetermined path of travel after the sewn cuff edge is sewn over said predetermined distance; and
- continuing operation of said sewing machine after said sewn cuff edge is removed from said predetermined path of travel to create a chain of stitches extending from said sewn cuff edge, and wherein said chain of stitches is drawn toward said cutting assembly and severed a predetermined distance from said sewn cuff edge.
- 28. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 27 further comprising the step of: expanding the body portion of the glove to a predetermined size in timed relation relative to operation of said sewing machine thereby facilitating movement of the cuff edge through said sewing machine.
- 29. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 27 further comprising the step of: monitoring operation of the sewing machine to control the predetermined distance the leading edge of said sewn cuff edge is sewn over.
- 30. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 27 further comprising the step of: programming operation of the sewing machine to control the predetermined distance the leading edge of said sewn cuff edge is sewn over.
- 31. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 27 further comprising the step of: ejecting said knit glove with said sewn cuff edge relative to said sewing station after said chain of stitches is severed between the sewn cuff edge and the sewing instrumentalities.
- 32. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 27 further comprising the step of: inserting a label at a predetermined location into the sewn cuff edge of said glove.
- 33. An automated method of sewing a continuous cuff edge of a knit glove to inhibit said cuff edge from inadvertently unraveling, said knit glove having a body portion extending from said cuff edge, said method of sewing comprising the steps of:
- moving an edge of said glove cuff along a predetermined path of travel toward a sewing station, said sewing station including a sewing machine with stitching instrumentalities and a driven vacuum operated cutting assembly positioned adjacent said sewing instrumentalities for cutting threads;
- positioning an edge of said glove cuff automatically along said predetermined path of travel and relative to said stitching instrumentalities;
- pulling said cuff edge from said sewing machine in a first direction extending generally parallel to the predetermined path of travel of said cuff edge with a puller apparatus;
- controlling said sewing machine to progressively apply an interlocked stitching pattern to the raw edge of the glove as said cuff edge passes through said sewing machine to create a sewn cuff edge thereby inhibiting the cuff edge from inadvertently unraveling, with said application of interlocked stitches continuing until a leading portion of the sewn cuff edge is sewn over a predetermined distance by said stitching instrumentalities;
- evicting the cuff edge approaching said sewing instrumentalities from said predetermined path of travel after the leading edge of the sewn cuff edge has been sewn over said predetermined distance; and
- continuing operation of said sewing machine while creating slack in that portion of the sewn cuff edge between said puller and said sewing instrumentalities to create a chain of stitches extending from said sewn cuff edge, and wherein said chain of stitches is drawn toward said cutting assembly and severed a predetermined distance from said sewn cuff edge.
- 34. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 33 further comprising the step of: expanding the body portion of the glove to a predetermined size in timed relation relative to operation of said sewing machine thereby facilitating movement of the cuff edge through said sewing machine.
- 35. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 33 further comprising the step of: monitoring operation of the sewing machine to control the predetermined distance the leading edge of said sewn cuff edge is sewn over.
- 36. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 33 further comprising the step of: programming operation of the sewing machine to control the predetermined distance the leading edge of said sewn cuff edge is sewn over.
- 37. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 33 further comprising the step of: ejecting said knit glove with said sewn cuff edge relative to said sewing station after said chain of stitches is severed between the sewn cuff edge and the sewing instrumentalities.
- 38. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 33 wherein the step of creating slack in that portion of the cuff edge extending between said puller apparatus and said sewing instrumentalities of said sewing machine is effected through operation of said puller apparatus in a second direction opposed to said first direction.
- 39. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 33 further comprising the step of: inserting a label at a predetermined location into the sewn cuff edge of said glove.
- 40. An automated method of attaching elastic to a glove cuff edge of a knit glove having a body portion extending integral with and from said cuff edge, said automated method comprising the steps of:
- moving a raw edge of said glove cuff along a predetermined path of travel toward a sewing machine having stitching instrumentalities and a driven vacuum operated cutting assembly positioned adjacent said sewing instrumentalities;
- positioning said edge of said glove automatically along said predetermined path of travel and relative to said stitching instrumentalities of said sewing machine;
- applying an interlocked stitching pattern to the cuff edge as said cuff edge passes through said sewing machine thereby creating a sewn cuff edge;
- elasticizing the cuff edge of said glove with a relatively narrow tensioned strip of elasticized material, said tensioned strip of elasticized material being sewn into and positioned immediately adjacent to the cuff edge sewn by said sewing instrumentalities;
- controlling said sewing machine to progressively advance the elasticized and sewn cuff edge through said sewing machine until a leading portion of the elasticized and sewn cuff edge is sewn over a predetermined distance by said sewing instrumentalities and a chain of stitches extends from the elasticized and sewn cuff edge to the sewing instrumentalities of said sewing machine, and with said chain of stitches extending from said elasticized and sewn cuff edge and said sewing instrumentalities being drawn toward and severed by said cutting assembly.
- 41. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 40 further comprising the step of: expanding the body portion of the glove to a predetermined size in timed relation relative to operation of said sewing machine thereby facilitating movement of the cuff edge through said sewing machine.
- 42. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 40 further comprising the step of: monitoring operation of the sewing machine to control the predetermined distance the leading edge of said sewn cuff edge is sewn over.
- 43. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 40 further comprising the step of: programming operation of the sewing machine to control the predetermined distance the leading edge of said sewn cuff edge is sewn over.
- 44. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 40 further comprising the step of: ejecting said knit glove with said elasticized and sewn cuff edge relative to said sewing station after said chain of stitches is severed between the elasticized and sewn cuff edge and the sewing instrumentalities.
- 45. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 40 further comprising the step of: pulling said elasticized and sewn cuff edge in a first direction extending generally parallel to the predetermined path of travel of said cuff edge with a puller apparatus arranged downstream of said sewing instrumentalities thereby applying a tension to that portion of the elasticized and sewn cuff edge extending between said puller apparatus and said sewing instrumentalities.
- 46. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 45 further including the step of: operating said puller apparatus in a reverse direction opposed to said first direction after said elasticized and sewn edge is sewn over said predetermined distance to create slack in that portion of the cuff edge extending between said puller apparatus and said sewing instrumentalities of said sewing machine to facilitate severance of said chain of stitches.
- 47. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 40 further including the step of: removing said elasticized and sewn cuff edge from said predetermined path of travel after the sewn cuff edge is sewn over said predetermined distance while continuing operation of said sewing machine thereby creating said chain of stitches extending from said elasticized and sewn cuff edge.
- 48. The automated method of sewing the knitted glove according to claim 40 further comprising the step of: inserting a label at a predetermined location into the elasticized sewn cuff edge of said glove.
Parent Case Info
This application claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/116,127 filed Jan. 15, 1999.
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