Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
An automatic sewing appAratus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; means for storing a plurality of work pieces; means for transferring a work piece from said storage means to said sewing station; guide means for leading said work piece at said sewing station with the border of said work piece advancing past said sewing point; means motivating said sewing machine to apply stitches to the border of said guided work piece following the transfer of said work piece to said sewing station; means for sensing the position of a trailing end of said stitches on said work piece at said sewing station proximate the border of said work piece and said sewing point; means responsive to said sensing means for stopping said sewing machine a predetermined interval following said response; and means for discharging said work piece from said sewing station after said predetermined interval.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
An automatic sewing appAratus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; means for storing a plurality of work pieces; means for transferring a work piece from said storage means to said sewing station; guide means for leading said work piece at said sewing station with the border of said work piece advancing past said sewing point; means motivating said sewing machine to apply stitches to the border of said guided work piece following the transfer of said work piece to said sewing station; means for sensing the position of a trailing end of said stitches on said work piece at said sewing station proximate the border of said work piece and said sewing point; means responsive to said sensing means for stopping said sewing machine a predetermined interval following said response; and means for discharging said work piece from said sewing station after said predetermined interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interval is of a length to effect the application of stitches to the border of the said guided work piece for a distance in excess of the length of said border whereby the tailing and leading ends of said stitches on said border overlap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 2, including means for adjusting the length of said interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 2, including means for driving said sewing machine a predetermined interval following the actuation of said discharge means for producing a chain of stitches attached to and trailing said sewn work piece. 6.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 4, including cutting means positioned rearwardly of said sewing point for severing said stitch chain as said chain is carried by the next successive work piece toward said sewing point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said cutting means is motivated concurrently with the motivation of said sewing machine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide means comprises means for sensing the edge of a work piece at said sewing station proximate said sewing point, a guide wheel engaging said work piece at a point transversely offset from said sewing point and being rotatable about a transverse axis, and means for rotating said guide wheel at a speed responsive to said edge sensing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said discharge means comprises means for rotating said guide wheel at a relatively high speed independently of said edge sensing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
An automatic sewing apparatus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; means for storing a plurality of work pieces; means for transferring a work piece from said storage means to said sewing station; guide means for leading said work piece at said sewing station with the border of said work piece advancing past said sewing point; means motivating said sewing machine to apply stitches to the border of said guided work piece following the transfer of said work piece to said sewing station; means for sensing the position of a trailing end of said stitches on said work piece at said sewing station proximate the border of said work piece and said sewing point; and means responsive to said sensing means for discharging said work piece from said sewing station a predetermined interval following said response.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
An automatic sewing apparatus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; means for storing a plurality of work pieces; means for transferring a work piece from said storage means to said sewing station; guide means for leading said work piece at said sewing station with the border of said work piece advancing past said sewing point; means motivating said sewing machine to apply stitches to the border of said guided work piece following the transfer of said work piece to said sewing station; means for sensing the position of a trailing end of said stitches on said work piece at said sewing station proximate the border of said work piece and said sewing point; and means responsive to said sensing means for discharging said work piece from said sewing station a predetermined interval following said response.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 9, including means for stopping said sewing machine a second predetermined interval after said actuation of said discharge means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
An automatic sewing apparatus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; guide means for advancing a work piece located in said sewing station along a predetermined path while actuating said sewing machine to apply stitching thereto; means for sensing tHe position of the trailing end of said stitching proximate said work piece periphery and said sewing point, and means responsive to said sensing means for stopping said sewing machine a predetermined first interval following said sensing of said stitching trailing end.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
An automatic sewing apparatus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; guide means for advancing a work piece located in said sewing station along a predetermined path while actuating said sewing machine to apply stitching thereto; means for sensing tHe position of the trailing end of said stitching proximate said work piece periphery and said sewing point, and means responsive to said sensing means for stopping said sewing machine a predetermined first interval following said sensing of said stitching trailing end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 11, including means for discharging a work piece from said sewing station and means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said discharge means a predetermined second interval following said sensing of said stitching trailing end and before said stopping of said machine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 12, including means for adjusting the lengths of said first and second intervals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 10, including means for adjusting the length of said second interval.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
238 words
An automatic sewing apparatus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; means for storing a plurality of work pieces; means for transferring a work piece from said storage means to said sewing station; guide means for leading said work piece at said sewing station with the border of said work piece advancing past said sewing point; means motivating said sewing machine to apply stitches to the border of said guided work piece following the transfer of said work piece to said sewing station; and means for discharging said work piece from said sewing station after said sewing machine has applied stitching to said work piece along a predetermined length of said border, said transfer means including an arm swingable between said storage means and said sewing station, a vacuum pickup head mounted on said swingable arm and having a bottom opening and being connected to a source of reduced pressure, transfer drive means responsive to the stopping of said sewing machine following the application of said stitching for advancing said transfer arm and said pickup head from said storage means to said sewing station and returning said transfer arm and pickup head from said sewing station to said storage means, and means responsive to a rise in pressure in said low pressure source above a predetermined level for disabling said transfer drive means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
238 words
An automatic sewing apparatus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; means for storing a plurality of work pieces; means for transferring a work piece from said storage means to said sewing station; guide means for leading said work piece at said sewing station with the border of said work piece advancing past said sewing point; means motivating said sewing machine to apply stitches to the border of said guided work piece following the transfer of said work piece to said sewing station; and means for discharging said work piece from said sewing station after said sewing machine has applied stitching to said work piece along a predetermined length of said border, said transfer means including an arm swingable between said storage means and said sewing station, a vacuum pickup head mounted on said swingable arm and having a bottom opening and being connected to a source of reduced pressure, transfer drive means responsive to the stopping of said sewing machine following the application of said stitching for advancing said transfer arm and said pickup head from said storage means to said sewing station and returning said transfer arm and pickup head from said sewing station to said storage means, and means responsive to a rise in pressure in said low pressure source above a predetermined level for disabling said transfer drive means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
260 words
An automatic sewing apparatus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; means for storing a plurality of work pieces; means for transferring a work piece from said storage means to said sewing station; guide means for leading said work piece at said sewing station with the border of said work piece advancing past said sewing point; means motivating said sewing machine to apply stitches to the border of said guided work piece following the transfer of said work piece to said sewing station; and means for discharging said work piece from said sewing station after said sewing machine has applied stitching to said work piece along a predetermined length of said border, said transfer means including an arm swingable between said storage means and said sewing station, a vacuum pickup head mounted on said swingable arm and having a bottom opening and being connected to a source of reduced pressure, and transfer drive means responsive to the stopping of said sewing machine following the application of said stitching for advancing said transfer arm and said pickup head from said storage means to said sewing station and returning said transfer arm and pickup head from said sewing station to said storage means, and said storage means including a platform supporting a stack of said work pieces and means responsive to a rise in pressure of said low pressure source above a predetermined level when said pickup head is in a retracted position for raising said platform.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
260 words
An automatic sewing apparatus comprising: a motor-driven sewing machine including a needle movable between advanced and retracted positions through a sewing point at a sewing station; means for storing a plurality of work pieces; means for transferring a work piece from said storage means to said sewing station; guide means for leading said work piece at said sewing station with the border of said work piece advancing past said sewing point; means motivating said sewing machine to apply stitches to the border of said guided work piece following the transfer of said work piece to said sewing station; and means for discharging said work piece from said sewing station after said sewing machine has applied stitching to said work piece along a predetermined length of said border, said transfer means including an arm swingable between said storage means and said sewing station, a vacuum pickup head mounted on said swingable arm and having a bottom opening and being connected to a source of reduced pressure, and transfer drive means responsive to the stopping of said sewing machine following the application of said stitching for advancing said transfer arm and said pickup head from said storage means to said sewing station and returning said transfer arm and pickup head from said sewing station to said storage means, and said storage means including a platform supporting a stack of said work pieces and means responsive to a rise in pressure of said low pressure source above a predetermined level when said pickup head is in a retracted position for raising said platform.