Guiding apparatus for a stitching machine

Claim 2

Apparatus for folding the edge of a tubular article in preparation for stitching a folded welt by a sewing machine head around the edge of said tubular article, the folding device comprising a base member, a first tongue contiguous at one end thereof with the base member and extending at the other end thereof in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the base member, an upper member, a second tongue contiguous at one end thereof with the upper member and extending at the other end thereof in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from the upper member, the tongues and members having an operating position in which the first tongue extends between the upper member and the second tongue towards the conjunction thereof and the second tongue extends between the first tongue and the base member towards the conjunction thereof in such a manner as to form an S-shaped fold in the edge of the tubular article, and means responsive to detection of the beginning of the stitched edge of the tubular article for effecting movement of the first tongue away from the second tongue and upper member to allow the previously stitched edge of the article to pass by the folding device at the end of the stitching operation.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first tongue and the base member are fixed relative to one another and form a first element.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the second tongue and the upper member are fixed relative to one another and form a second element.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the second element is movable to the said operating position from an inoperative position which allow an edge portion of the article to be laid over the first element the movement of the tongues into their operating positions being such as to carry the material of the edge portion into the required S-shaped fold.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the means for effecting movement of the first tongue comprises pivot means allowing the first tongue to pivot on a third element about an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of the first tongue upon contact of the first tongue with the beginning of said stitched edge.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the means for effecting movement of the first tongue comprises switch means arranged to be actuated by pivotal movement of the first tongue on the third element and means for moving the third element upon actuation of the switch means to withdraw the first tongue from between the second tongue and the upper member.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the third element has a third tongue extending in the same plane and same direction as the first tongue but spaced therefrom.

Claim 9

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing along the edge of a tubular article a stitching operation in which the edge of said tubular article is displaced relative to the position the edge had before said stitching operation; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidAnce signal indicative of the position of said edge of said article to be stitched, and control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation; seam detector means arranged to detect the beginning of the stitched edge of the tubular article as that beginning returns towards the sewing machine head, and arranged to give a seam detection signal upon such detection; and means responsive to the seam detection signal for discontinuing the guidance of the edge in response to the said sewing guidance signal.

Claim 10

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing along the edge of a tubular article a stitching operation in which the edge of said tubular article is displaced relative to the position the edge had before said stitching operation; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidAnce signal indicative of the position of said edge of said article to be stitched, and control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation; seam detector means arranged to detect the beginning of the stitched edge of the tubular article as that beginning returns towards the sewing machine head, and arranged to give a seam detection signal upon such detection; and means responsive to the seam detection signal for discontinuing the guidance of the edge in response to the said sewing guidance signal.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 in which upon discontinuance of said guidance in response to said sewing guidance signal, said control means operates to put said article and said sewing machine head in a fixed relationship for the remainder of said stitching operation.

Claim 12

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article t o be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal indicative of the position of said edge of said article to be stitched; control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation; and a device for folding the edge of said tubular article in preparation for stitching a folded welt by said sewing machine head around said edge of tubular article, said folding device comprising a base member, a first tongue contiguous at one end thereof with said base member and extending at the other end thereof in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from said base member, an upper member, a second tongue contiguous at one end thereof with said upper member and extending at the other end thereof in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from said upper member, said tongues and members having an operating position in which said first tongue extends between said upper member and said second tongue towards the conjunction thereof, and said second tongue extends between said first tongue and said base member towards the conjunction thereof, in such a manner as to form an S-shaped fold in said edge of said tubular article, and means responsive to detection of the beginning of the stitched edge of the tubular article for effecting movement of said first tongue away from said second tongue to allow the stitched edge of the article to pass by said folding device at the end of said stitching operation.

Claim 13

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article t o be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal indicative of the position of said edge of said article to be stitched; control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation; and a device for folding the edge of said tubular article in preparation for stitching a folded welt by said sewing machine head around said edge of tubular article, said folding device comprising a base member, a first tongue contiguous at one end thereof with said base member and extending at the other end thereof in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from said base member, an upper member, a second tongue contiguous at one end thereof with said upper member and extending at the other end thereof in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced from said upper member, said tongues and members having an operating position in which said first tongue extends between said upper member and said second tongue towards the conjunction thereof, and said second tongue extends between said first tongue and said base member towards the conjunction thereof, in such a manner as to form an S-shaped fold in said edge of said tubular article, and means responsive to detection of the beginning of the stitched edge of the tubular article for effecting movement of said first tongue away from said second tongue to allow the stitched edge of the article to pass by said folding device at the end of said stitching operation.

Claim 14

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending, within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal for urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation; and means responsive to detection of the beginning of said stitched edge of said tubular article as that beginning returns towards said sewing machine head, said responsive means being arranged to effect movement of said edge of said article clear of said sewing machine head after the elapse of a predetermineD delay following detection of said beginning of said stitched edge.

Claim 15

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending, within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal for urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation; and means responsive to detection of the beginning of said stitched edge of said tubular article as that beginning returns towards said sewing machine head, said responsive means being arranged to effect movement of said edge of said article clear of said sewing machine head after the elapse of a predetermineD delay following detection of said beginning of said stitched edge.

Claim 16

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal indicative of the position of an edge of said article to be stitched, said sensor means comprising fluidic sensor means in which the presence or absence of an output signal is determined by interruption of a stream of gas by said edge portion of said article; and control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for effecting relative movement between at least part of said support means and said sewing machine head, said relative movement urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation.

Claim 17

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal indicative of the position of an edge of said article to be stitched, said sensor means comprising fluidic sensor means in which the presence or absence of an output signal is determined by interruption of a stream of gas by said edge portion of said article; and control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for effecting relative movement between at least part of said support means and said sewing machine head, said relative movement urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation.

Claim 18

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal indicative of the position of an edge of said article to be stitched; and control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for effecting relative movement between at least part of said support means and said sewing machine head, said relative movement urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation.

Claim 19

Sewing machine apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal indicative of the position of an edge of said article to be stitched; and control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for effecting relative movement between at least part of said support means and said sewing machine head, said relative movement urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 13, comprising a main frame to which said sewing machine head and said support means are coupled, said coupling being such that in operation said sewing machine head is fixedly coupled to said main frame, and at least part of said support means is movable coupled to said main frame to allow movement under the control of said control means.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 13, in which said support means comprises a plurality of spaced apart supports, and including loading means which comprises means for effecting movement of at least one support towards another support to facilitate loading a tubular article onto said supports.

Claim 22

Sewing maching apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal indicative of the position of an edge of said article to be stitched, and control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation.

Claim 23

Sewing maching apparatus comprising: a sewing machine head for performing a stitching operation along the edge of a tubular article; support means adapted to present said tubular article to said sewing machine head in a position for said article to be stitched by said sewing machine head, said support means being adapted to support said tubular article in tubular configuration with said support means extending within said tubular article; sensor means arranged to provide a sewing guidance signal indicative of the position of an edge of said article to be stitched, and control means responsive to said sewing guidance signal for urging said article to be stitched and said sewing machine head towards a predetermined relationship required for the performance of a satisfactory stitching operation.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 16 in which said support means comprises a plurality of arms spaced apart in a non-linear configuration and extending in operative positions substantially at right angles to the path of said edge portion of said article when being stitched, and the control means is arranged to urge said article and said sewing machine head towards saiD required relationship by effecting relative movement between at least one of said arms and said sewing machine head.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 17 in which at least one of said arms is cantilevered.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 17, in which each arm carries roller means arranged to allow transverse movement of said tubular article across said arm during said stitching operation.