US3583341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cloth-sorting and garment-forming apparatus
Assignee: Blue Bell Inc
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Filing: 1969-11-05
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Granted: 1971-06-08
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Expires: 1989-11-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for feeding and handling a plurality of fabric segments wherein a suction device is employed to dispense singularly and continuously a plurality of fabric segments from a storage location to a work area where the segments may subsequently be folded, sewn and collected in some form of fabricated garment component.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred Birdsong
- 👤 John W Wilder Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:04
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05B; D05B35/00; D05B35/06; D05B35/066; D05B35/068; A; A41; A41H; A41H43/00; A41H43/02; D05B33/00; D05B33/02; D05B33/006; D05D; D05D2207/00; D05D2207/02; D05D2207/04; D05D2303/00; D05D2303/20; D05D2305/00; D05D2305/02; D05D2305/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for dispensing preshaped, stacked, relatively limp, flat cloth segments for subsequent fabrication into garment components comprising: means retaining said segments in a stacked, parallel relationship; porous means traveling beneath said segment retaining means; means positioned below said segment-retaining means for applying a pressure differential to a leading edge portion of the bottom segment of said stacked segments and for continuously applying a pressure differential to said porous means immediately adjacent thereto to initiate sliding movement of said bottom segment beneath the segments stacked in said retaining means; said segment-retaining means being angularly disposed with respect to a vertical plane extending transversely of said traveling porous means for maintaining the segments in an offset, vertical relationship such that said bottom segment leading edge extends forwardly of the other stacked segMents in the direction of travel of said porous means; said bottom segment cooperating with said pressure differential applying means to preclude a pressure differential being applied to another of the stacked segments until said bottom segment is substantially dispensed from said retaining means for sequentially dispensing cloth segments singularly from the stacked parallel segments and means receiving the segments advanced by said porous means for forming a garment component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for dispensing preshaped, stacked, relatively limp, flat cloth segments for subsequent fabrication into garment components comprising: means retaining said segments in a stacked, parallel relationship; porous means traveling beneath said segment retaining means; means positioned below said segment-retaining means for applying a pressure differential to a leading edge portion of the bottom segment of said stacked segments and for continuously applying a pressure differential to said porous means immediately adjacent thereto to initiate sliding movement of said bottom segment beneath the segments stacked in said retaining means; said segment-retaining means being angularly disposed with respect to a vertical plane extending transversely of said traveling porous means for maintaining the segments in an offset, vertical relationship such that said bottom segment leading edge extends forwardly of the other stacked segMents in the direction of travel of said porous means; said bottom segment cooperating with said pressure differential applying means to preclude a pressure differential being applied to another of the stacked segments until said bottom segment is substantially dispensed from said retaining means for sequentially dispensing cloth segments singularly from the stacked parallel segments and means receiving the segments advanced by said porous means for forming a garment component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus for dispensing cloth segments as claimed in claim 1, said retaining means including a segment hopper assembly, and a gate communicating with said assembly passing at least one cloth segment therethrough.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for dispensing cloth segments as claimed in claim l, said means for continuously applying a pressure differential comprising vacuum means operative with said engaging and dispensing means for engaging and urging said segments singularly and continuously along a directed path of travel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus for dispensing cloth segments as claimed in claim 2, said means for continuously applying a pressure differential comprising vacuum means proximate said gate and operative with said engaging and dispensing means for engaging and urging said segments singularly and continuously along a directed path of travel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for dispensing cloth segments as claimed in claim 1, said porous means including a conveyor movably positioned adjacent said segment retaining means contacting the stacked segments sequentially and continuously and moving the segments selectively along a predetermined path of travel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for dispensing cloth segments as claimed in claim 2, said porous means including a conveyor movably positioned adjacent said segment retaining means contacting the stacked segments sequentially and continuously and moving the segments selectively along a directed path of travel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for dispensing cloth segments as claimed in claim 4, said porous means including a conveyor movably positioned adjacent said segment retaining means contacting the stacked segments sequentially and continuously and moving the segments selectively along a directed path of travel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
An apparatus for dispensing cloth segments as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for forming a garment component includes guide means receiving the segments from said porous means and orienting the segments in registry and alignment for subsequent seaming and sewing means receiving the segments in continuous sequence and in registry, said sewing means selectively folding and seaming the segments to form a folded and sewn finished garment component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for dispensing cloth segments as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for forming a garment component includes guide means proximate said hopper assembly receiving the segments from said porous means and orienting the segments in registry and alignment for subsequent seaming and sewing means receiving the segments in continuous sequence and in registry, said sewing means selectively folding and seaming the segments to form a folded and sewn finished garment component; and further comprising collecting means operative with said sewing means gathering the segment-formed components for storage. C
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus for dispensing cloth segments as claimed claim 4 wherein said means for forming a garment component includes guide means proximate said hopper assembly receiving the segments from said porous means and orienting the segments in registry and alignment for subsequent seaming and sewing means receiving the segments in continuous sequence and in registry, said sewing means selectively folding and seaming the segments to form a folded and sewn finished garment component; and further comprising collecting means operative with said sewing means gathering the segment-formed components for storage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |