Edge contour guidance control for pieces of material

Claim 2

In apparatus having means for feeding forward pieces of material having a curved edge, including pieces having a reversely curved edge, and means for operating on the piece of material at a point spaced inward from said curved edge thereof as it is fed forward, means engageable with the piece of material mounted for movement for laterally shifting the piece of material as it is fed forward to maintain said curved edge in predetermined spaced relation to said operating means, a pneumatIc edge sensor located adjacent said operating means for sensing the position of the edge of the material relative to said operating means, and pneumatic means responsive to deviation of the edge of the material relative to the sensor for actuating the shifting means to effect lateral shifting of the material for maintaining said edge in predetermined spaced relation to said operating means, said shifting means and said sensor being located upstream from and closely adjacent said operating means, said feeding means being downstream from said shifting means, a horizontal backup member for the material, the shifting means comprising a wheel opposed to said backup member, the material being fed between the wheel and the backup member, and means mounting the wheel for rotation on a horizontal axis and for movement by said pneumatic means to effect lateral shift of the material, the wheel-mounting means mounting the wheel for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis offset from the wheel axis on the upstream side thereof in respect to the direction of feed of the material, said pneumatic edge sensor having an air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of the edge of the material, the material acting to control the admission of air to the inlet in accordance with the position of the edge of the material relative to the inlet, and said pneumatic means comprising an air cylinder having a piston thereon, the piston being connected to said wheel-mounting means for swinging the wheel, and means for directing air to opposite ends of the cylinder and proportioning the supply of air to opposite ends of the cylinder in accordance with variation in the admission of air to said inlet.

Claim 3

In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, the edge sensor including a nozzle for directing air toward the inlet with a gap between the outlet end of the nozzle and the inlet, the edge of the material passing through the gap.

Claim 4

In apparatus as set forth in claim 2, means for effecting separation of the wheel and the backup member for insertion of material therebetween.

Claim 5

In apparatus having means for feeding forward first and second pieces of material and means for operating on the two pieces of material at a point spaced inward from an edge thereof as they are fed forward to seam them together, a first means engageable with said first piece of material mounted for movement for laterally shifting said first piece of material as it is fed forward to maintain said edge of said first piece of material in predetermined spaced relation to said operating means, a first pneumatic edge sensor located adjacent said operating means for sensing the position of said edge of said first piece of material relative to said operating means, a first pneumatic means responsive to deviation of the edge of said first piece of material relative to the sensor for actuating said first shifting means to effect lateral shifting of said first piece of material for maintaining its said edge in predetermined spaced relation to said operating means, a second shifting means engageable with said second piece of material being fed forward mounted for movement for laterally shifting the second piece of material as it is fed forward to effect contour edge seaming of the first and the second pieces of material, a second pneumatic sensor located adjacent said operating means for sensing the position of the edge of the second piece of material relative to said operating means, and second pneumatic means responsive to deviation of the edge of the second piece of material relative to said second sensor for actuating said second shifting means to effect lateral shifting of the second piece of material for contour edge seaming of the first and second pieces of material.

Claim 6

In apparatus having means for feeding forward first and second pieces of material and means for operating on the two pieces of material at a point spaced inward from an edge thereof as they are fed forward to seam them together, a first means engageable with said first piece of material mounted for movement for laterally shifting said first piece of material as it is fed forward to maintain said edge of said first piece of material in predetermined spaced relation to said operating means, a first pneumatic edge sensor located adjacent said operating means for sensing the position of said edge of said first piece of material relative to said operating means, a first pneumatic means responsive to deviation of the edge of said first piece of material relative to the sensor for actuating said first shifting means to effect lateral shifting of said first piece of material for maintaining its said edge in predetermined spaced relation to said operating means, a second shifting means engageable with said second piece of material being fed forward mounted for movement for laterally shifting the second piece of material as it is fed forward to effect contour edge seaming of the first and the second pieces of material, a second pneumatic sensor located adjacent said operating means for sensing the position of the edge of the second piece of material relative to said operating means, and second pneumatic means responsive to deviation of the edge of the second piece of material relative to said second sensor for actuating said second shifting means to effect lateral shifting of the second piece of material for contour edge seaming of the first and second pieces of material.

Claim 7

In apparatus as set forth in claim 4, the first and second shifting means and the first and second sensors being located in trailing relation to and closely adjacent said operating means.

Claim 8

In apparatus as set forth in claim 5, a horizontal plate located closEly adjacent the operating means, one piece of material travelling over said plate and the other travelling under said plate, one of said shifting means comprising a wheel engageable with the piece of material travelling over said plate, and the other shifting means comprising a wheel engageable with the piece of material travelling under said plate, and means mounting each wheel for rotation on a horizontal axis and for movement by the respective pneumatic means to effect lateral shift of the respective piece of material.

Claim 9

In apparatus as set forth in claim 6, each wheel-mounting means mounting its wheel for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis offset from the wheel axis on the trailing side thereof in respect to the direction of feed of the material.

Claim 10

In apparatus as set forth in claim 7, each pneumatic edge sensor having an air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of the edge of the respective piece of material, the material acting to control the admission of air to the inlet in accordance with the position of the edge of the material relative to the inlet, and each pneumatic means comprising an air cylinder having a piston therein, the piston being connected to the respective wheel-mounting means for swinging the respective wheel, and means for directing air to opposite ends of the cylinder and proportioning the supply of air to opposite ends of the cylinder in accordance with variation in the admission of air to the respective inlet.

Claim 11

In apparatus as set forth in claim 8, the inlets being in said plate, one extending down from the top of the plate and the other extending up from the bottom of the plate, and each edge sensor including a nozzle for directing air toward the respective inlet with gaps between its outlet ends of the nozzles and the inlets, the edges of the two pieces of material passing through the gaps.

Claim 12

In apparatus as set forth in claim 9, means biasing the wheels toward the plate.

Claim 13

In apparatus as set forth in claim 10, means for retracting the wheels from the plate for insertion of a piece of material between one wheel and the top of the plate and the other piece of material between the other wheel and the bottom of the plate.

Claim 14

Apparatus for guiding pieces of material having a curved edge, including pieces having a reversely curved edge, in accordance with the contour of said curved edge of each piece of material and in relation to a fixed point of reference as the piece of material is being fed forward, comprising means for feeding the material forward, means engageable with the material as it is being fed forward mounted for movement for laterally shifting the material to maintain its said curved edge in a predetermined relation to said fixed point of reference, an air cylinder having a piston therein connected to said shifting means, a pneumatic edge sensor for sensing the position of the edge of the material relative to said fixed point of reference, said shifting means and said sensor being located upstream from and closely adjacent said fixed point of reference, said feeding means being downstream from said shifting means, said sensor comprising an air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of the edge of the material and a nozzle for directing air toward the inlet with a gap between the outlet end of the nozzle and the inlet, the edge of the material passing through the gap and the material acting to control the admission of air to the inlet in accordance with the position of the edge of the material relative to the inlet, an air-proportioning device having an air inlet, a first air outlet connected to one end of the cylinder and a second air outlet connected to the other end of the cylinder and first and second air control passages adapted to proportion the supply of air through the outlets in accordance with the supply of air to said control passages, a line interconnecting said sensor inlet and one control passage, and a reference air supply line connected to the other control passage, a horizontal backup member for the material, the shifting means comprising a wheel opposed to the backup member, the material being fed between the wheel and the backup member, and means mounting the wheel for rotation on a horizontal axis and for movement by said air cylinder and piston to effect lateral shift of the material, the wheel-mounting means mounting the wheels for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis offset from the wheel axis on the upstream side thereof in respect to the direction of feed of the material.

Claim 15

Apparatus for guiding pieces of material having a curved edge, including pieces having a reversely curved edge, in accordance with the contour of said curved edge of each piece of material and in relation to a fixed point of reference as the piece of material is being fed forward, comprising means for feeding the material forward, means engageable with the material as it is being fed forward mounted for movement for laterally shifting the material to maintain its said curved edge in a predetermined relation to said fixed point of reference, an air cylinder having a piston therein connected to said shifting means, a pneumatic edge sensor for sensing the position of the edge of the material relative to said fixed point of reference, said shifting means and said sensor being located upstream from and closely adjacent said fixed point of reference, said feeding means being downstream from said shifting means, said sensor comprising an air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of the edge of the material and a nozzle for directing air toward the inlet with a gap between the outlet end of the nozzle and the inlet, the edge of the material passing through the gap and the material acting to control the admission of air to the inlet in accordance with the position of the edge of the material relative to the inlet, an air-proportioning device having an air inlet, a first air outlet connected to one end of the cylinder and a second air outlet connected to the other end of the cylinder and first and second air control passages adapted to proportion the supply of air through the outlets in accordance with the supply of air to said control passages, a line interconnecting said sensor inlet and one control passage, and a reference air supply line connected to the other control passage, a horizontal backup member for the material, the shifting means comprising a wheel opposed to the backup member, the material being fed between the wheel and the backup member, and means mounting the wheel for rotation on a horizontal axis and for movement by said air cylinder and piston to effect lateral shift of the material, the wheel-mounting means mounting the wheels for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis offset from the wheel axis on the upstream side thereof in respect to the direction of feed of the material.

Claim 16

Apparatus for guiding each of two pieces of material each in accordance with the contour of an edge thereof and in relation to a fixed point of reference as the piece of material is being fed forward for combining of the two pieces with an edge of the first piece generally registering with an edge of the second piece, comprising a first means engageable with said first piece of material as it is being fed forward mounted for movement for laterally shifting said first piece of material to maintain its said edge in a predetermined relation to said fixed point of reference, a first air cylinder having a piston therein connected to said first shifting means, a first pneumatic edge sensor for sensing the position of said edge of said first piece of material relative to said fixed point of reference, said first sensor comprising a first air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of said edge of said first piece of material and a first nozzle for directing air toward the first inlet with a first gap between the outlet end of the first nozzle and the first inlet, said edge of said first piece of material passing through the first gap and the material acting to control the admission of air to the first inlet in accordance with the position of said edge of said first piece of material relative to the first inlet, a first air-proportioning device having an air inlet, a first air outlet connected to one end of said first cylinder and a second air outlet connected to the other end of said first cylinder and first and second air control passages adapted to proportion the supply of air through the outlets in accordance with the supply of air to said control passages, a line interconnecting said inlet of said first sensor and one control passage, and a reference air supply line connected to the other control passage, a second shifting means engageable with said second piece of material as it is fed forward mounted for movement for laterally shifting the second piece of material to effect combination of the first and second pieces with their edges generally in register, a second air cylinder having a piston therein connected to said second shifting means, a second pneumatic edge sensor for sensing the position of the edge of the second piece of material relative to said fixed point of reference, said second sensor comprising a second air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of the edge of the second piece of material and a second nozzle for directing air toward said second inlet with a second gap between the outlet end of the second nozzle and the second inlet, the edge of the second piece of material passing through the second gap and acting to control the admission of air to the second inlet in accordance with the position of the edge of the second piece of material relative to the second inlet, a second air-proportioning device having an air inlet, a first air outlet corrected to one end of the second cylinder and a second air outlet connected to the other end of the second cylinder, and first and second air control passages adapted to proportion the supply of air through the outlets in accordance with the supply of air to said control passages, a line interconnecting said second sensor air inlet to one of the control passages of said second proportioning device, and a reference air supply line connected to the other control passage of said second proportioning device.

Claim 17

Apparatus for guiding each of two pieces of material each in accordance with the contour of an edge thereof and in relation to a fixed point of reference as the piece of material is being fed forward for combining of the two pieces with an edge of the first piece generally registering with an edge of the second piece, comprising a first means engageable with said first piece of material as it is being fed forward mounted for movement for laterally shifting said first piece of material to maintain its said edge in a predetermined relation to said fixed point of reference, a first air cylinder having a piston therein connected to said first shifting means, a first pneumatic edge sensor for sensing the position of said edge of said first piece of material relative to said fixed point of reference, said first sensor comprising a first air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of said edge of said first piece of material and a first nozzle for directing air toward the first inlet with a first gap between the outlet end of the first nozzle and the first inlet, said edge of said first piece of material passing through the first gap and the material acting to control the admission of air to the first inlet in accordance with the position of said edge of said first piece of material relative to the first inlet, a first air-proportioning device having an air inlet, a first air outlet connected to one end of said first cylinder and a second air outlet connected to the other end of said first cylinder and first and second air control passages adapted to proportion the supply of air through the outlets in accordance with the supply of air to said control passages, a line interconnecting said inlet of said first sensor and one control passage, and a reference air supply line connected to the other control passage, a second shifting means engageable with said second piece of material as it is fed forward mounted for movement for laterally shifting the second piece of material to effect combination of the first and second pieces with their edges generally in register, a second air cylinder having a piston therein connected to said second shifting means, a second pneumatic edge sensor for sensing the position of the edge of the second piece of material relative to said fixed point of reference, said second sensor comprising a second air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of the edge of the second piece of material and a second nozzle for directing air toward said second inlet with a second gap between the outlet end of the second nozzle and the second inlet, the edge of the second piece of material passing through the second gap and acting to control the admission of air to the second inlet in accordance with the position of the edge of the second piece of material relative to the second inlet, a second air-proportioning device having an air inlet, a first air outlet corrected to one end of the second cylinder and a second air outlet connected to the other end of the second cylinder, and first and second air control passages adapted to proportion the supply of air through the outlets in accordance with the supply of air to said control passages, a line interconnecting said second sensor air inlet to one of the control passages of said second proportioning device, and a reference air supply line connected to the other control passage of said second proportioning device.

Claim 18

Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 having a horizontal plate, one piece of material Travelling over said plate and the other travelling under said plate, one of said shifting means comprising a wheel engageable with the piece of material travelling over said plate, and the other shifting means comprising a wheel engageable with the piece of material travelling under said plate, and means mounting each wheel for rotation on a horizontal axis and for movement by the respective cylinder and piston to effect lateral shift of the respective piece of material, and wherein each wheel-mounting means mounts its wheel for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis offset from the wheel axis on the trailing side thereof in respect to the direction of feed of the material.

Claim 19

Contour sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine and means associated therewith for feeding therethrough pieces of material having a curved edge, including pieces having a reversely curved edge, means engageable with a piece of material being fed through the machine mounted for movement for laterally shifting the piece of material as it travels past the shifting means to effect contour stitching of the piece of material along said curved edge thereof, said feeding means being downstream from said shifting means, a pneumatic edge sensor located adjacent the sewing machine for sensing the position of said edge of the material relative to the needle of the sewing machine, and pneumatic means responsive to deviation of said edge of the material relative to the sensor for actuating the shifting means to effect lateral shifting of the material for contour stitching thereof along said edge, said shifting means and said sensor being located on the entry side of the sewing machine upstream from and closely adjacent the needle of the machine, a horizontal backup member for the material, said shifting means comprising a wheel opposed to said backup member, the material being fed between the wheel and the backup member, and means mounting the wheel for rotation on a horizontal axis and for movement by said pneumatic means to effect lateral shift of the material, the wheel-mounting means mounting the wheel for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis offset from the wheel axis on the upstream side thereof away from the needle, said pneumatic edge sensor having an air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of the edge of the material, the material acting to control the admission of air to the inlet in accordance with the position of the edge of the material relative to the inlet, and said pneumatic means comprising an air cylinder having a piston therein, the piston being connected to said wheel-mounting means for swinging the wheel, and means for directing air to opposite ends of the cylinder and proportioning the supply of air to opposite ends of the cylinder in accordance with variation in the admission of air to said inlet.

Claim 20

Contour sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine and means associated therewith for feeding therethrough pieces of material having a curved edge, including pieces having a reversely curved edge, means engageable with a piece of material being fed through the machine mounted for movement for laterally shifting the piece of material as it travels past the shifting means to effect contour stitching of the piece of material along said curved edge thereof, said feeding means being downstream from said shifting means, a pneumatic edge sensor located adjacent the sewing machine for sensing the position of said edge of the material relative to the needle of the sewing machine, and pneumatic means responsive to deviation of said edge of the material relative to the sensor for actuating the shifting means to effect lateral shifting of the material for contour stitching thereof along said edge, said shifting means and said sensor being located on the entry side of the sewing machine upstream from and closely adjacent the needle of the machine, a horizontal backup member for the material, said shifting means comprising a wheel opposed to said backup member, the material being fed between the wheel and the backup member, and means mounting the wheel for rotation on a horizontal axis and for movement by said pneumatic means to effect lateral shift of the material, the wheel-mounting means mounting the wheel for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis offset from the wheel axis on the upstream side thereof away from the needle, said pneumatic edge sensor having an air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of the edge of the material, the material acting to control the admission of air to the inlet in accordance with the position of the edge of the material relative to the inlet, and said pneumatic means comprising an air cylinder having a piston therein, the piston being connected to said wheel-mounting means for swinging the wheel, and means for directing air to opposite ends of the cylinder and proportioning the supply of air to opposite ends of the cylinder in accordance with variation in the admission of air to said inlet.

Claim 21

Contour sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein the edge sensor includes a nozzle for directing air toward the inlet with a gap between the outlet end of the nozzle and the inlet, the edge of the material passing through the gap.

Claim 22

Contour sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 16 having means for effecting separation of the wheel and the backup member for insertion of material therebetween.

Claim 23

Contour sewing apparatus for contour edge seaming of two pieces of material comprising a sewing machine and means associated therewith for feeding first and second pieces of material therethrough, first means engageable with the first piece of material being fed through the machine mounted for movement for laterally shifting the first piece of material as it travels past the first shifting means to effect contour stitching of the first piece of material along an edge thereof, a first pneumatic edge sensor located adjacent the sewing machine for sensing the position of the edge of the first piece of material relative to the needle of the sewing machine, and first pneumatic means responsive to deviation of the edge of the first piece of materiaL relative to the first sensor for actuating the first shifting means to effect lateral shifting of the first piece of material for contour stitching thereof along its said edge, a second shifting means engageable with the second piece of material being fed through the machine mounted for movement for laterally shifting the second piece of material as it travels past said second shifting means to effect contour edge seaming of the first and the second pieces of material, a second pneumatic sensor located adjacent the sewing machine for sensing the position of the edge of the second piece of material relative to the needle, and second pneumatic means responsive to deviation of the edge of the second piece of material relative to said second sensor for actuating said second shifting means to effect lateral shifting of the second piece of material for contour edge seaming of the first and second pieces of material.

Claim 24

Contour sewing apparatus for contour edge seaming of two pieces of material comprising a sewing machine and means associated therewith for feeding first and second pieces of material therethrough, first means engageable with the first piece of material being fed through the machine mounted for movement for laterally shifting the first piece of material as it travels past the first shifting means to effect contour stitching of the first piece of material along an edge thereof, a first pneumatic edge sensor located adjacent the sewing machine for sensing the position of the edge of the first piece of material relative to the needle of the sewing machine, and first pneumatic means responsive to deviation of the edge of the first piece of materiaL relative to the first sensor for actuating the first shifting means to effect lateral shifting of the first piece of material for contour stitching thereof along its said edge, a second shifting means engageable with the second piece of material being fed through the machine mounted for movement for laterally shifting the second piece of material as it travels past said second shifting means to effect contour edge seaming of the first and the second pieces of material, a second pneumatic sensor located adjacent the sewing machine for sensing the position of the edge of the second piece of material relative to the needle, and second pneumatic means responsive to deviation of the edge of the second piece of material relative to said second sensor for actuating said second shifting means to effect lateral shifting of the second piece of material for contour edge seaming of the first and second pieces of material.

Claim 25

Contour sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein the first and second shifting means and the first and second sensors are located on the entry side of the sewing machine closely adjacent the needle of the machine.

Claim 26

Contour sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 19 having a horizontal plate located closely adjacent the sewing machine on the entry side thereof generally at the level of the top of the bed of the sewing machine, one piece of material travelling over said plate and the other travelling under said plate, one of said shifting means comprising a wheel engageable with the piece of material travelling over said plate, and the other shifting means comprising a wheel engageable with the piece of material travelling under said plate, and means mounting each wheel for rotation on a horizontal axis and for movement by the respective pneumatic means to effect lateral shift of the respective piece of material.

Claim 27

Contour sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein each wheel-mounting means mounts its wheel for swinging movement about a generally vertical axis offset from the wheel axis on the side thereof away from the needle.

Claim 28

Contour sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein each pneumatic edge sensor has an air inlet adapted for passage thereacross of the edge of the respective piece of material, the material acting to control the admission of air to the inlet in accordance with the position of the edge of the material relative to the inlet, and wherein each pneumatic means comprises an air cylinder having a piston therein, the piston being connected to the respective wheel-mounting means for swinging the respective wheel, and means for directing air to opposite ends of the cylinder and proportioning the supply of air to opposite ends of the cylinder in accordance with variation in the admission of air to the respective inlet.

Claim 29

Contour sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein the inlets are in said plate, one extending down from the top of the plate and the other extending up from the bottom of the plate, and wherein each edge sensor includes a nozzle for directing air toward the respective inlet with gaps between its outlet ends of the nozzles and the inlets, the edges of the two pieces of material passing through the gaps.

Claim 30

Contour sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 23 having means biasing the wheels toward the plate.

Claim 31

Contour sewing apparatus as set forth in claim 24 having means for retracting the wheels from the plate for insertion of a piece of material between one wheel and the top of the plate and the other piece of material between the other wheel and the bottom of the plate.