Loader-unloader for automatic sewing apparatus

Claim 2

A loader-unloader for automatic sewing apparatus, said automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a needle, a work holder for holding work to be sewn, means for effecting relative movement of the work holder and the sewing machine to stitch the work held by the work holder along a predetermined stitching line, said loader-unloader comprising transfer means on which work to be sewn may be positioned for being transferred to said work holder, means for locating the work on said transfer means in a predetermined position, means mounting the transfer means for movement from a retracted position relative to the work holder to a load position relative to the work holder, means for retaining the work in the work holder as the transfer means returns to retracted position, and means on the transfer means for engaging previously sewn work in the work holder and removing it from the work holder as the transfer means returns to retracted position.

Claim 3

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 1 further having means for holding said work on the transfer means in said predetermined position.

Claim 4

A loader-unloader for automatic sewing apparatus, said automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a needle, a work holder for holding work to be sewn, means for moving the work holder and the work held thereby along a predetermined path relative to the needle to stitch the work along a predetermined stitching line, said loader-unloader comprising transfer means on which work to be sewn may be positioned for being transferred to said work holder, means for locating the work on said transfer means in a predetermined position, and means for moving said transfer means for transferring the work to be sewn to said work holder and for removing previously sewn work from the work holder, further having means for holding said work on the transfer means in said predetermined position, said work holder being movable relative to the sewing machine from a home position in which work held by the work holder is clear of said needle and in which work may be loaded on and unloaded from the work holder for stitching said work along said predetermined stitching line, and said transfer means being positioned relative to the sewing machine for transferring the work to be sewn to the work holder and for removing previously sewn work therefrom when the work holder is in its home position.

Claim 5

A loader-unloader for automatic sewing apparatus, said automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a needle, a work holder for holding work to be sewn, means for moving the work holder and the work held thereby along a predetermined path relative to the needle to stitch the work along a predetermined stitching line, said loader-unloader comprising transfer means on which work to be sewn may be positioned for being transferred to said work holder, means for locating the work on said transfer means in a predetermined position, and means for moving said transfer means for transferring the work to be sewn to said work holder and for removing previously sewn work from the work holder, further having means for holding said work on the transfer means in said predetermined position, said work holder being movable relative to the sewing machine from a home position in which work held by the work holder is clear of said needle and in which work may be loaded on and unloaded from the work holder for stitching said work along said predetermined stitching line, and said transfer means being positioned relative to the sewing machine for transferring the work to be sewn to the work holder and for removing previously sewn work therefrom when the work holder is in its home position.

Claim 6

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 3 further comprising means for conveying away previously sewn work unloaded from the work holder.

Claim 7

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 3 wherein said work holder is movable generally laterally with respect to the sewing machine to and from a first home position at one side of the sewing machine to its operating position, and upon completion of stitching of said work is movable to a second home position on the other side of the sewing machine, said work being clear of the needle of the sewing machine with said work holder positioned in either its first or second home position, and wherein said transfer means further comprises a first transfer member positioned adjacent said first home position and a second transfer member positioned adjacent said second home position, each of said transfer means having means for moving its respective transfer member for transferring the work to be sewn to said work holder and for removing previously sewn work, said first transfer member being operable to load a first piece of work onto the Work holder and to unload a previously sewn piece of work from the work holder at said first home position, said work holder being movable for stitching of the work along said predetermined stitching line and upon completion of stitching being movable to its second home position and said second transfer member being operable to load a second piece of work to be sewn on the work holder and to remove the completed first piece of work from the work holder at said second home position.

Claim 8

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 3 wherein said transfer means comprises a table, and said means for moving said transfer means includes means for supporting said table adjacent said home position and for moving said table from a retracted position in which the table is clear of said work holder, and in which work to be sewn may be placed on said table in said predetermined position, to a load position in which the work to be sewn is positioned for being held by said work holder, and for then returning said table to its retracted position thereby simultaneously to deposit work from the table on the work holder in a predetermined sewing position relative to the work holder and to unload previously sewn work from the work holder.

Claim 9

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 6 wherein said work holder comprises clamping means having an open position for receiving work and a closed position in which work is clamped in said sewing position, said clamping means being movable from its open position toward its closed position and when said work holder is in its home position and when said table is in its load position thereby to engage work carried by the table and to hold it relative to the work holder in its sewing position as the table returns to its retracted position.

Claim 10

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 7 further comprising means on said table for engaging said previously sewn work on said work holder for removing it from the work holder as said table returns to its retracted position.

Claim 11

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 8 further comprising means for conveying away completed work removed from the work holder.

Claim 12

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 8 wherein said table when in its load position is movable downwardly thereby to engage previously sewn work on the work holder and to remove said previously sewn work from the work holder upon movement of the table from its load position to its retracted position.

Claim 13

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 10 wherein said clamping means is engageable with work carried by said table with said table to tilt said table downwardly when said table is in its load position upon movement of said clamping means from its open position toward its closed position, whereby upon movement of the table from its load to its retracted position the work to be sewn is held relative to the work holder by said clamping means and, after movement of the table clear of the work holder, is held clamped in its sewing position on the work holder.

Claim 14

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 6 wherein said work locating means comprises at least one stop projecting up above the surface of the table when the latter is in its retracted position for locating the work on the table in said predetermined position, said stop being clear of said table when the table is in its load position thereby to permit the work to be sewn to be deposited on said work holder.

Claim 15

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 12 further comprising means for effecting movement of said stop and table relative to one another between a locating position in which said stop extends up above the upper surface of said table when the latter is in its retracted position thereby to locate work to be sewn in said predetermined position and a retracted position in which the stop is clear of said workpiece.

Claim 16

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 12 wherein said stop is adjustable relative to the retracted position of the table to vary the predetermined position Of the work on the table and to accommodate pieces of work of various sizes and shapes.

Claim 17

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for holding said work on said transfer means comprises at least one clamp carried by said table movable relative to the table between an unclamped position in which it is clear of the workpiece to be sewn when the work is in its stated predetermined position on the table and a clamped position in which it is engageable with the work to hold the latter in its stated predetermined position on the table as the table is moved from its retracted position to its load position.

Claim 18

A loader-unloader for automatic sewing apparatus, said automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a needle, a work holder for holding work to be sewn, means for moving the work holder and the work held thereby along a predetermined path relative to the needle to stitch the work along a predetermined stitching line, said loader-unloader comprising transfer means on which work to be sewn may be positioned for being transferred to said work holder, means for locating the work on said transfer means in a predetermined position, and means for moving said transfer means for transferring the work to be sewn to said work holder and for removing previously sewn work from the work holder, further having means for holding said work on the transfer means in said predetermined position, said transfer means comprising a table on which said work is positioned and said means for moving the transfer means comprising means for supporting the table adjacent said work holder when the latter is in a home position and for moving said table between a retracted position in which said table is clear of said work holder and a load position in which said work on said table is in position for depositing said work on said work holder.

Claim 19

A loader-unloader for automatic sewing apparatus, said automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a needle, a work holder for holding work to be sewn, means for moving the work holder and the work held thereby along a predetermined path relative to the needle to stitch the work along a predetermined stitching line, said loader-unloader comprising transfer means on which work to be sewn may be positioned for being transferred to said work holder, means for locating the work on said transfer means in a predetermined position, and means for moving said transfer means for transferring the work to be sewn to said work holder and for removing previously sewn work from the work holder, further having means for holding said work on the transfer means in said predetermined position, said transfer means comprising a table on which said work is positioned and said means for moving the transfer means comprising means for supporting the table adjacent said work holder when the latter is in a home position and for moving said table between a retracted position in which said table is clear of said work holder and a load position in which said work on said table is in position for depositing said work on said work holder.

Claim 20

A work holder as set forth in claim 16 wherein said moving means further comprises power operated means actuable for effecting generally translational movement of said table between its retracted and load positions.

Claim 21

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means for supporting the table comprises a frame, means carried by the frame for guiding said table between its retracted and load position, and wherein said moving means further comprises linkage means interconnecting said power operated means to said table thereby to effect translational movement of the table upon actuation of said power operated means.

Claim 22

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 17 wherein said guide means comprises a guide bar carried by the frame and extending generally parallel to the direction of movement of the table between its starting and load position and a slider carried by the table slidable along said guide bar.

Claim 23

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 19 wherein said power operated means comprises a fluid power unit interconnected between said frame and said linkage means actuable to effect movement of the table between its retracted and loading position.

Claim 24

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 16 wherein one end of said table adjacent said work holder is tiltable downwardly when the table is in its load position from a raised position in which said one end of the table is clear of previously sewn work supported on the work holder and a lowered position in which said one end of the table is engageable with said previously sewn work whereby upon movement of the table from its load position to its starting position said previously sewn work is removed from the work holder.

Claim 25

A loader-unloader as set forth in claim 21 wherein said table includes means on the bottom thereof at its said one end for engaging said previously sewn work.

Claim 26

A loader-unloader for automatic sewing apparatus, said automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a needle, a work holder for holding work to be sewn, and means for moving the work holder and the work held thereby along a predetermined pAth relative to the needle to stitch the work along a predetermined stitching line, said work holder comprising a platform for supporting the work and a clamp movable between a raised open position and a lowered closed position for clamping work on the platform with the margin of the work clear for being sewn, said platform and clamp being movable relative to the sewing machine from the home position in which work held by the work holder is clear of said needle and in which work may be loaded on and unloaded from the work holder for stitching said work along said predetermined stitching line, said loader-unloader comprising transfer means on which work may be positioned for being transferred onto said platform when the platform is in its home position, said transfer means comprising a table and means for moving the table from a retracted position in which the table is clear of said work holder and in which work to be sewn may be placed on the table in a predetermined position, to a load position in which work is positioned for being loaded on said platform, and for then returning said table to its retracted position thereby simultaneously to deposit work from the table on the platform in a predetermined sewing position relative to the platform and to unload previously sewn work from the platform, said table being movable over said platform as said table moves between its retracted and load position, said clamp being movable from its open position toward its closed position for engagement with the work carried by the table and with the table to tilt the table downwardly when the table is in its load position thereby to cause said table to engage previously sewn work on said platform, whereby upon movement of the table from its load to its retracted position the work to be sewn is held relative to the platform by said clamp and said previously sewn work is removed from the platform and, after movement of the tray clear of the platform, the work to be sewn is held clamped in its sewing position on the platform, said loader-unloader further comprising means for conveying away completed work removed from the platform.

Claim 27

A loader-unloader for automatic sewing apparatus, said automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine having a needle, a work holder for holding work to be sewn, and means for moving the work holder and the work held thereby along a predetermined pAth relative to the needle to stitch the work along a predetermined stitching line, said work holder comprising a platform for supporting the work and a clamp movable between a raised open position and a lowered closed position for clamping work on the platform with the margin of the work clear for being sewn, said platform and clamp being movable relative to the sewing machine from the home position in which work held by the work holder is clear of said needle and in which work may be loaded on and unloaded from the work holder for stitching said work along said predetermined stitching line, said loader-unloader comprising transfer means on which work may be positioned for being transferred onto said platform when the platform is in its home position, said transfer means comprising a table and means for moving the table from a retracted position in which the table is clear of said work holder and in which work to be sewn may be placed on the table in a predetermined position, to a load position in which work is positioned for being loaded on said platform, and for then returning said table to its retracted position thereby simultaneously to deposit work from the table on the platform in a predetermined sewing position relative to the platform and to unload previously sewn work from the platform, said table being movable over said platform as said table moves between its retracted and load position, said clamp being movable from its open position toward its closed position for engagement with the work carried by the table and with the table to tilt the table downwardly when the table is in its load position thereby to cause said table to engage previously sewn work on said platform, whereby upon movement of the table from its load to its retracted position the work to be sewn is held relative to the platform by said clamp and said previously sewn work is removed from the platform and, after movement of the tray clear of the platform, the work to be sewn is held clamped in its sewing position on the platform, said loader-unloader further comprising means for conveying away completed work removed from the platform.

Claim 28

Automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine, a work holder, means for effecting relative movement of said sewing machine and work holder for stitching work held by the holder, and transfer means for loading the work holder with work and unloading work from the work holder, wherein the work holder comprises a platform and means for clamping work on the platform, and the transfer means comprises a table movable between a retracted position and a load position relative to the work holder, said table being adapted for placement of work thereon where in its retracted position and for bringing the work to the work holder when moved to its load position, said clamping means being engageable with the work on the table when the table is moved to its load position to cause the work to be deposited on the platform as the table moves back to its retracted position, and means on the table engageable with previously sewn work on the platform as the table moves back to its retracted position to move said previously sewn work off the platform.

Claim 29

Automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine, a work holder, means for effecting relative movement of said sewing machine and work holder for stitching work held by the holder, and transfer means for loading the work holder with work and unloading work from the work holder, wherein the work holder comprises a platform and means for clamping work on the platform, and the transfer means comprises a table movable between a retracted position and a load position relative to the work holder, said table being adapted for placement of work thereon where in its retracted position and for bringing the work to the work holder when moved to its load position, said clamping means being engageable with the work on the table when the table is moved to its load position to cause the work to be deposited on the platform as the table moves back to its retracted position, and means on the table engageable with previously sewn work on the platform as the table moves back to its retracted position to move said previously sewn work off the platform.

Claim 30

Automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine, a work holder, means for effecting relative movement of said sewing machine and work holder for stitching work held by the holder, and transfer means for loading the work holder with work and unloading work from the work holder, wherein the work holder comprises a platform and means for clamping work on the platform, and the transfer means comprises a table movable between a retracted position and a load position relative to the work holder, said table being adapted for placement of work thereon where in its retracted position and for bringing the work to the work holder when moved to its load position, said clamping means being engageable with the work on the table when the table is moved to its load position to cause the work to be deposited on the platform as the table moves back to its retracted position, and means on the table engageable with previously sewn work on the platform as the table moves back to its retracted position to move said previously sewn work off the platform.

Claim 31

Automatic sewing apparatus comprising a sewing machine, a work holder, means for effecting relative movement of said sewing machine and work holder for stitching work held by the holder, and transfer means for loading the work holder with work and unloading work from the work holder, wherein the work holder comprises a platform and means for clamping work on the platform, and the transfer means comprises a table movable between a retracted position and a load position relative to the work holder, said table being adapted for placement of work thereon where in its retracted position and for bringing the work to the work holder when moved to its load position, said clamping means being engageable with the work on the table when the table is moved to its load position to cause the work to be deposited on the platform as the table moves back to its retracted position, and means on the table engageable with previously sewn work on the platform as the table moves back to its retracted position to move said previously sewn work off the platform.