US3785898A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for producing seamed articles from sheet material
Assignee: Gerber Technology LLC
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Filing: 1972-01-14
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1992-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of layers of sheet material, to be joined to one another along desired seam lines to produce garment components or other articles, are supported on a supporting surface. An applicator member movable in the plane of the supporting surface deposits a bonding agent along the seam lines. This deposition of the bonding agent may be made on the top surface of the first sheet prior to the spreading of the second sheet thereover or may be made on the top surface of the second sheet after its spreading over the first sheet. The bonding agent is thereafter activated, if necessary, to cause it to adhere to and join together the two layers, and the layers are thereafter cut along or adjacent the seam lines to produce the finished articles. The applicator member is supported and moved along the seam lines by a carriage driven relative to the supporting surface by a numerically controlled drive system. The activation of the bonding agent and the cutting of the layers may be performed by an activating member and a cutting tool also driven along the seam lines by the numerically controlled drive system. The activating means may also be a means for applying activating energy and/or pressure over the entire area of the sheets. The bonding agent may also be supplied in the form of third sheet or film, in which case the applicator member may be omitted. Vacuum may be used to hold the sheets in place during the various operations performed thereon and in particular to press the two sheets to one another during the activation of the bonding agent.
Inventors
- 👤 H Gerber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:40
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C66/00; B29C66/80; B29C66/83; B29C66/836; A; A41; A41D; A41D27/00; A41D27/24; A41D27/245; B26; B26D; B26D1/00; B26D7/00; B26D7/01; B26D7/018; B26F; B26F1/00; B26F1/38; B26F1/3806; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C65/48; B29C65/52; B29C65/524; B29C65/78; B29C65/7841; B29C65/7847; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/20; B29C66/24; B29C66/244; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/45; B29C66/70; B29C66/72; B29C66/729; B29C66/8362; B29C65/14; B29C65/4805; B29C65/481; B29C65/4815; B29C65/482; B29C65/483; B29C65/4835; B29C65/486; B29C66/84; B29C66/863; B29C66/87; B29C66/872; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/12; Y10T156/1378; Y10T156/1383; Y10T156/1387; Y10T156/1391; Y10T156/17; Y10T156/1788; Y10T156/179
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles from sheet material, said apparatus comprising: means providing a generally planar supporting surface for supporting a plurality of superimposed layers of sheet material in spread condition, means for bonding at least two of said sheets to one another by means of a bonding agent along a desired seam line forming a part of an article, said bonding means including a bonding member, a cutter for cutting said superimposed sheets of sheet material as it is moved along a desired line of cut, means supporting both said bonding member and said cutter for movement in two dimensions relative to and over said supporting surface to enable said bonding member to be moved along a desired seam line on said superimposed sheets of sheet material and to enable said cutter to be moved along a desired line of cut on said superimposed sheets of sheet material which line of cut may be different from and uncorrelated with said seam line, and a drive system associated with said means for supporting both said bonding member and said cutter for automatically driving said bonding member along said desired seam line independently of the movement of said cutter along said desired line of cut and for automatically driving said cutter along said desired line of cut independently of th movement of said bonding member along said desired seam line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
230 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles from sheet material, said apparatus comprising: means providing a generally planar supporting surface for supporting a plurality of superimposed layers of sheet material in spread condition, means for bonding at least two of said sheets to one another by means of a bonding agent along a desired seam line forming a part of an article, said bonding means including a bonding member, a cutter for cutting said superimposed sheets of sheet material as it is moved along a desired line of cut, means supporting both said bonding member and said cutter for movement in two dimensions relative to and over said supporting surface to enable said bonding member to be moved along a desired seam line on said superimposed sheets of sheet material and to enable said cutter to be moved along a desired line of cut on said superimposed sheets of sheet material which line of cut may be different from and uncorrelated with said seam line, and a drive system associated with said means for supporting both said bonding member and said cutter for automatically driving said bonding member along said desired seam line independently of the movement of said cutter along said desired line of cut and for automatically driving said cutter along said desired line of cut independently of th movement of said bonding member along said desired seam line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles from sheet material as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said bonding member being an applicator member for depositing bonding agent onto one of said sheets of sheet material as it is moved along said desired seam line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles from sheet material as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said bonding member being an activating member operable to activate bonding agent located along its path of travel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles as defined in claim 1 further characterized by means for pressing said superimposed layers of sheet material to one another while they are supported on said supporting surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles as defined in claim 1 further characterized by means providing a vacuum adjacent said supporting surface for drawing said superimposed layers of sheet material toward said supporting surface and toward one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said bonding member being an applicator member for depositing a bonding agent onto one of said sheets of sheet material as it is moved along said desired seam line, said bonding agent being one requiring activation by a given influence in order to effect a desired bond between said two sheets, and said bonding means further including an activator means for subsequently applying said given influence to said bonding agent deposited by said applicator member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles as defined in claim 6 further characterized by said activating means being a device extending transversely of said supporting surface and operable to exert an activating influence on an associated transversely extending area of said sheets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles from sheet material as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said bonding member being an applicator member for depositing a bonding agent onto one of said sheets of sheet material as it is moved along said desired seam line, said bonding agent being one requiring activation by a given influence in order to effect a desired bond between said two sheets, and said bonding means further including member subsequently movable along said desired seam line for applying said given influence to said bonding agent deposited by said applicator member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles a defined in claim 1 further characterized by said activating member being a heated Member supported for rolling movement over the upper surface of said two superimposed sheets of sheet material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles as defined in claim 2 further characterized by said means providing a supporting surface being a bed of penetrable material, and said cutter having a reciprocating cutting tool which when cutting said sheets of sheet material during at least a portion of its stroke extends beyond the lower one of said sheets and penetrates said penetrable material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles as defined in claim 2 further characterized by said applicator member being a tubular nozzle through which said bonding agent is ejected onto said one of said sheets of sheet material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles as defined in claim 11 further characterized by means providing a vacuum adjacent said supporting surface for drawing said superimposed layers of sheet material toward said supporting surface and toward one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for producing seamed articles as defined in claim 12 further characterized by said bed of penetrable material being air permable and said means for producing a vacuum adjacent said supporting surface comprising means for exposing a portion of said bed to a vacuum source so that air passes through said bed of penetrable material to said supporting surface to produce a vacuum at said supporting surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |