Profile sewing apparatus

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, comprising clamping the part at the first position at places apart from the course of stitching to be formed thereon, clamping the part following stitching at different places and releasing the first clamped places, trimming the part while held clamped at said second position, releasing the clamped part following trimming, and withdrawing the part for stacking.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3, comprising trimming the parts at said second position.

Claim 7

Apparatus for stitching a part according to a predetermined pattern, comprising in combination with a sewing instrumentality and a work holder movable relative to the sewing instrumentality at a sewing position, according to said predetermined pattern as determined by programming the movement of the work holder, said work holder being movable from a first lateral position to said sewing position and from thence beyond the sewing position to a second lateral position, means for effecting movement of the work holder successively from the first position to the sewing position and from the sewing position to the second position, means operable at the first position of the work holder to clamp a part to the work holder for movement therewith, means operable at the second position of the work holder to release the part from the work holder and return the latter to the first position, means at the second position for holding the part at said second position during release of the part from the work holder, a loading device reciprocably movable relative to said first position, gauge members carried by the loading device for predetermining the orientation of the part, means operable to apply holding pressure to the part during transmittal to the work holder until said means clamps onto said part, wherein the work holder comprises lower flat plates constituting lower jaws of sufficient area to receive the part and longitudinally spaced flat plates supported above the lower flat plates constituting upper jaws, and the means for effecting clamping and releasing are motors connected to the jaws.

Claim 8

Apparatus for stitching a part according to a predetermined pattern, comprising in combination with a sewing instrumentality and a work holder movable relative to the sewing instrumentality at a sewing position, according to said predetermined pattern as determined by programming the movement of the work holder, said work holder being movable from a first lateral position to said sewing position and from thence beyond the sewing position to a second lateral position, means for effecting movement of the work holder successively from the first position to the sewing position and from the sewing position to the second position, means operable at the first position of the work holder to clamp a part to the work holder for movement therewith, means operable at the second position of the work holder to release the part from the work holder and return the latter to the first position, means at the second position for holding the part at said second position during release of the part from the work holder, a loading device reciprocably movable relative to said first position, gauge members carried by the loading device for predetermining the orientation of the part, means operable to apply holding pressure to the part during transmittal to the work holder until said means clamps onto said part, wherein the work holder comprises lower flat plates constituting lower jaws of sufficient area to receive the part and longitudinally spaced flat plates supported above the lower flat plates constituting upper jaws, and the means for effecting clamping and releasing are motors connected to the jaws.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at the first position of the work holder the upper jaws are held separated from the lower jaws to permit entry of the part between the jaws, and there is means on the work holder operable by engagement of the loader therewith as the part is moved between the jaws to effect operation of the motors for closing the jaws.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein there is means operative as the loader retracts from the work holder to initiate movement of the work holder from the first position to the sewing position.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the loader comprises an arm movable in an arc about one end from a position at right angles to the work holder to a position substantially parallel thereto, said arm being provided with gauge elements for receiving the part and predetermining its position, means for effecting reciprocal movement of the arm from said right angular position to said parallel position and back, said arm being arranged to move over the lower jaws and beneath the upper jaws and supporting tracks for guiding the arm between the jaws.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the loader is reciprocably movable from an assembly position to said first position, said loader comprising a flat elongate tray, means supporting the tray for reciprocal movement, gauge blocks on the tray against which the parts are adapted to be assembled, holding fingers supported on the tray above its supporting surface movable into engagement with the gauged parts to hold them while the tray moves to said first position, and means for effecting movement of the fingers into holding position during such movement of the tray to said first position.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the gauge blocks are individually adjustable transversely of the tray.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein one of the gauge blocks is adjustable longitudinally of the tray.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a spindle is supported parallel to an edge of the tray, the holding fingers are fixed thereto, spring means operates on the spindle to hold the holding Fingers elevated from the tray, and there is means operable as the tray is moved toward the first position to rotate the spindle in a direction to lower the holding fingers into engagement with the part.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the tray is pivotally mounted at one end for arcuate movement about a vertical axis, and a fluid motor is operably connected thereto to effect reciprocation.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the work holder comprises lower clamp plates, spaced parallel arms, means pivotally supporting said arms on the clamp plates so as to extend in parallel relation thereto, upper clamp plates fixed to the distal ends of the arms in parallel relation to the lower clamp plates, and fluid motors pivotally connected to the arms intermediate their ends and to the upper clamp plates at their proximal ends operable to lift and lower the arms relative to the lower clamp plates.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the work holder comprises lower clamp plates, upper clamp plates supported above the lower clamp plates, and motors for effecting movement of the upper clamp plates into and out of clamping engagement with the lower clamp plates.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein there is an adjustable stop mounted on one of the lower clamp plates for positioning the tray as it is moved into position between the clamp plates.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein there is a screw operably associated with the adjustable stop for effecting adjustment thereof.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the upper clamp plates are pivotally supported for rocking movement about axes parallel to the lower clamp plates and are spring biased to positions parallel to the lower clamp plates.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein there is means mounting one of the upper clamp plates for movement longitudinally relative to the other clamp plates.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein there is a scale fixed to said one of the upper clamp plates for movement therewith when the latter is moved relative to the other and to a fixed index mark to enable determining the distance between the upper clamp plates.

Claim 24

Apparatus for stitching a part according to a predetermined pattern, comprising in combination with a sewing instrumentality and a work holder movable relative to the sewing instrumentality at a sewing position, according to said predetermined pattern as determined by programming the movement of the work holder, said work holder being movable from a first lateral position to said sewing position and from thence beyond the sewing position to a second lateral position, means for effecting movement of the work holder successively from the first position to the sewing position and from the sewing position to the second position, means operable at the first position of the work holder to clamp a part to the work holder for movement therewith, means operable at the second position of the work holder to release the part from the work holder and return the latter to the first position, means at the second position for holding the part at said second position during release of the part from the work holder, wherein there are longitudinally spaced clamp fingers at said second position normally elevated with respect to the work holder such that as the work holder moves the part to said second position the part is moved beneath said clamp fingers, means operable when the work holder moves the part beneath the clamp finers to lower the clamp fingers into engagement with the part, and wherein each clamp finger is pivotally supported for movement about a horizontal axis, a spring is connected at one end to the finger above said axis and to a support rearwardly thereof which holds the finger elevated, and there is a fluid motor provided with a rod arranged to engage the finger between the pivot axis and the spring operable to pivot the arm downwardly about its pivot axis.

Claim 25

Apparatus for stitching a part according to a predetermined pattern, comprising in combination with a sewing instrumentality and a work holder movable relative to the sewing instrumentality at a sewing position, according to said predetermined pattern as determined by programming the movement of the work holder, said work holder being movable from a first lateral position to said sewing position and from thence beyond the sewing position to a second lateral position, means for effecting movement of the work holder successively from the first position to the sewing position and from the sewing position to the second position, means operable at the first position of the work holder to clamp a part to the work holder for movement therewith, means operable at the second position of the work holder to release the part from the work holder and return the latter to the first position, means at the second position for holding the part at said second position during release of the part from the work holder, wherein there are longitudinally spaced clamp fingers at said second position normally elevated with respect to the work holder such that as the work holder moves the part to said second position the part is moved beneath said clamp fingers, means operable when the work holder moves the part beneath the clamp finers to lower the clamp fingers into engagement with the part, and wherein each clamp finger is pivotally supported for movement about a horizontal axis, a spring is connected at one end to the finger above said axis and to a support rearwardly thereof which holds the finger elevated, and there is a fluid motor provided with a rod arranged to engage the finger between the pivot axis and the spring operable to pivot the arm downwardly about its pivot axis.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein there is means at said second position operable while the part is held by said clamp fingers to trim the part.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said last means comprises cutters having right angularly disposed cutting edges and motors operably connected thereto for effecting movement of the cutters into and out of engagement with the part to effect trimming.

Claim 28

Apparatus for stitching a part according to a predetermined pattern, comprising in combination with a sewing instrumentality and a work holder movable relative to the sewing instrumentality at a sewing position, according to said predetermined pattern as determined by programming the movement of the work holder, said work holder being movable from a first lateral position to said sewing position and from thence beyond the sewing position to a second lateral position, means for effecting movement of the work holder successively from the first position to the sewing position and from the sewing position to the second position, means operable at the first position of the work holder to clamp a part to the work holder for movement therewith, means operable at the second position of the work holder to release the part from the work holder and return the latter to the first position, means at the second position for holding the part at said second position during release of the part from the work holder, an unloading means at said second position for moving the part to a third position and a stacking platform at said third position, said unloading means supported for movement at the second position to withdraw a part from the clamping fingers and for movement from a second position to the third position to deposit the part on the stacking platform, wherein there is a first motor for effecting movement of said unloading means to withdraw the part from the clamping fingers and a second motor for effecting movement of said unloading means to deposit the part on the stacking platform.

Claim 29

Apparatus for stitching a part according to a predetermined pattern, comprising in combination with a sewing instrumentality and a work holder movable relative to the sewing instrumentality at a sewing position, according to said predetermined pattern as determined by programming the movement of the work holder, said work holder being movable from a first lateral position to said sewing position and from thence beyond the sewing position to a second lateral position, means for effecting movement of the work holder successively from the first position to the sewing position and from the sewing position to the second position, means operable at the first position of the work holder to clamp a part to the work holder for movement therewith, means operable at the second position of the work holder to release the part from the work holder and return the latter to the first position, means at the second position for holding the part at said second position during release of the part from the work holder, an unloading means at said second position for moving the part to a third position and a stacking platform at said third position, said unloading means supported for movement at the second position to withdraw a part from the clamping fingers and for movement from a second position to the third position to deposit the part on the stacking platform, wherein there is a first motor for effecting movement of said unloading means to withdraw the part from the clamping fingers and a second motor for effecting movement of said unloading means to deposit the part on the stacking platform.