Automatic unit for overcasting or assembling pieces of fabric along seam lines of different forms

Claim 2

A unit for the overcasting or assembling of fabric pieces each along three seam lines of different forms, comprising a first machine having fabric guiding means to produce the first of said seam lines; a second machine having fabric guiding means to produce the second of said seam lines and the transPort direction of fabric of which forms an angle slightly less than a right angle with respect to the transport direction of said first machine; a third machine having fabric guiding means to produce the third of said seam lines and having a transport direction which is parallel but opposite to the transport direction of the second machine; and two fabric transport devices situated between the second and third machines and forming a right angle between them.

Claim 3

A unit as claimed in claim 1, a first of said transport devices comprising a pair of vertically disposed needles, a common support for said needles, means for moving said needles vertically relative to said support, horizontal guide spindles on which said support is movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of said second machine, a jack for moving said support along said spindles, a work table adjacent said second and third machines and on which said fabric pieces slide, and two grooves in said work table parallel to said spindles and in which said needles move when said needles are raised and said jack moves said support.

Claim 4

A unit as claimed in claim 2, and a pair of stop feet disposed above said needles when said needles are in their position nearest said second machine, and means for moving said stop feet vertically, said stop feet having grooves therein to receive said needles in a lower position of said stop feet.

Claim 5

A unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the first of said transport devices delivers fabric pieces to the second of said transport devices, said second transport device comprising two vertical needles, a common support for said needles, means for moving said needles vertically relative to said support, two horizontal spindles on which said support is mounted for horizontal movement in the direction of transport of said second transport device, a jack for moving said support on said spindles, hemispherical protectors having downwardly convex surfaces, each needle passing through a said protector, and means fixedly mounting said protectors on said support in a position such that said needles reciprocate vertically relative to said protectors between a raised position in which said needles are above said convex surfaces and a lowered position in which said needles pass through said convex surfaces.

Claim 6

A unit as claimed in claim 1, and a brake cylinder disposed at the exit from said third machine for releasably retaining said fabric pieces, and a stacker for receiving said fabric pieces when said brake cylinder releases said fabric pieces.

Claim 7

A unit as claimed in claim 1, and a stacker for fabric pieces emerging from said third machine, said stacker comprising a fixed support, a push rod for pressing said fabric pieces against said fixed support, a jack for operating said push rod, and a blowing mechanism for blowing a portion of a said fabric piece over the fixed support of the stacker when the push rod holds another portion of the fabric piece against said fixed support.

Claim 8

A unit as claimed in claim 1, and a work table for slidably supporting said fabric pieces thereon as said fabric pieces emerge from and move between said machines, said work table comprising three horizontal surfaces disposed at different levels comprising an upper surface, a middle surface and a lower surface, a first blowing mechanism for assisting movement of the fabric pieces between said upper and middle surfaces during transfer of the fabric pieces from said second machine to said third machine, and a second blowing mechanism for assisting the movement of the fabric pieces from said middle surface to said lower surface after the fabric pieces emerge from said third machine.