US3896749A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated sewing apparatus
Assignee: LAMBDA NOVATRONICS Inc A CORP OF FL
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Filing: 1973-11-16
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1993-11-16
Abstract
Abstract Automated sewing system in which upper and lower webs of fabric or the like are fed continously from supply rolls at substantially constant speed and uniform tension past a webdriven printer, then past sewing machines on an X-Y table whose two dimensional, horizontal movement is programmed by a numerical control apparatus, and then past cutting equipment for cutting individual pieces out of the sewed-together webs. The remainder of the webs is taken up by a takeup roll. The timing of the beginning of the stitching and the piece-cutting operations is controlled by a reference mark printed on the upper web by the printer.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Brauns
- 👤 James B Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:05
CPC Classifications
D; D05; D05B; D05B23/00; D05B25/00; D05D; D05D2207/00; D05D2207/02; D05D2207/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
In an apparatus for sewing together webs of material, said apparatus including sewing machine means, and means for supplying webs to be sewed together, the improvement which comprises the combination of: means for moving said sewing machine means along a predetermined two-dimensional stitching pattern; and means for advancing the webs in overlapped relationship continuously at substantially constant speed and under substantially uniform tension past said sewing machine means while the latter are moved through said two-dimensional pattern to sew corresponding stitch patterns in the overlapped webs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
In an apparatus for sewing together webs of material, said apparatus including sewing machine means, and means for supplying webs to be sewed together, the improvement which comprises the combination of: means for moving said sewing machine means along a predetermined two-dimensional stitching pattern; and means for advancing the webs in overlapped relationship continuously at substantially constant speed and under substantially uniform tension past said sewing machine means while the latter are moved through said two-dimensional pattern to sew corresponding stitch patterns in the overlapped webs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising means for timing the beginning of the two-dimensional pattern movement of said sewing machine means from an imprint on one of said webs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising means operative in timed relationship with the movement of said sewing machine means through said predetermined two-dimensional pattern for cutting individual pieces from the sewed-together webs after the latter pass said sewing machine means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, and further comprising means for timing the beginning of the two-dimensional pattern movement of said sewing machine means, and means for timing the operation of said cutting means from a reference mark printed on one of the webs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, and further comprising: printing Roller means driven by the overlapped webs for printing on one of the webs before they reach said sewing machine means; means ahead of said sewing machine means for sensing a registration mark printed on said one web by said printing roller means and for controlling accordingly the beginning of said two-dimensional pattern movement of said sewing machine means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, and further comprising: means for cutting individual pieces from the sewedtogether webs after they pass said sewing machine means; and means after said sewing machine means and ahead of said cutting means for sensing said registration mark and for timing accordingly the operation of said cutting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a sewing apparatus having a sewing machine moving in a two-dimensional stitching pattern, the combination of: means for advancing web material continuously at substantially constant speed past said sewing machine, said advancing means engaging the web material separately at the inlet and outlet sides of said sewing machine and maintaining the web material under substantially uniform tension as it moves past said sewing machine while said sewing machine is moved through said two-dimensional stitching pattern; means for providing a slack loop in said web material before it is engaged under tension at the inlet side of said sewing machine; and means for providing a slack loop in said web material after its tensioned engagement at the outlet side of said sewing machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
In a sewing apparatus having a sewing machine moving in a two-dimensional stitching pattern, the combination of: means for advancing web material continuously at substantially constant speed past said sewing machine, said advancing means engaging the web material separately at the inlet and outlet sides of said sewing machine and maintaining the web material under substantially uniform tension as it moves past said sewing machine while said sewing machine is moved through said two-dimensional stitching pattern; means for providing a slack loop in said web material before it is engaged under tension at the inlet side of said sewing machine; and means for providing a slack loop in said web material after its tensioned engagement at the outlet side of said sewing machine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, and further comprising: means for printing on the tensioned web material before it reaches said sewing machine; and means for timing the beginning of said two-dimensional stitching pattern by said sewing machines in accordance with the position of a reference mark printed on said web material by said printing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said printing means comprises printing roller means driven by the web material as the latter advances continuously.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, and further comprising cutting means for cutting individual sewed pieces from the web material after its tensioned engagement at the outlet side of said sewing machine and before said last-mentioned slack loop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, and further comprising: cutting means for cutting individual sewed pieces from the web material after its tensioned engagement at the outlet side of said sewing machine and before said last-mentioned slack loop; and means for timing the operation of said cutting means in accordance with the position of said reference mark on the web material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
116 words
A sewing apparatus comprising: at one end, a pair of supply rolls for supplying webs that are to be sewed together; at the opposite end, a takeup roll for winding up the web remnants; juxtaposed tension rollers for withdrawing the webs from the supply rolls and for overlapping one web over the other; juxtaposed drive rollers operative to pulling the overlapped webs forward from the tension rollers uninterruptedly under substantially constant tension and at substantially uniform speed; and means for moving sewing machine means along a predetermined two-dimension stitching pattern over said overlapped webs between said tension rollers and said drive rollers to sew the webs together as they are advanced continuously at substantially constant speed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
A sewing apparatus comprising: at one end, a pair of supply rolls for supplying webs that are to be sewed together; at the opposite end, a takeup roll for winding up the web remnants; juxtaposed tension rollers for withdrawing the webs from the supply rolls and for overlapping one web over the other; juxtaposed drive rollers operative to pulling the overlapped webs forward from the tension rollers uninterruptedly under substantially constant tension and at substantially uniform speed; and means for moving sewing machine means along a predetermined two-dimension stitching pattern over said overlapped webs between said tension rollers and said drive rollers to sew the webs together as they are advanced continuously at substantially constant speed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, and further comprising: means for driving the supply rolls at a speed effective to unwind the webs faster than they are advanced by said tension rollers, so as to produce slack loops in the webs between the supply rolls and the tension rollers; and means for starting said supply roll driving means at a minimum slack loop condition of the corresponding web and for stopping said driving means at a maximum slack loop condition of said web.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, and further comPrising: means for driving the takeup roll at a speed effective to wind up the web remnants faster than the webs are advanced by said drive rollers; means for stopping said last-mentioned driving means to create a slack loop in the web remnants between said drive rollers and said takeup roll; and means for starting said last-mentioned driving means at a maximum slack loop condition between said drive rollers and said takeup roll.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, and further comprising: means for driving the takeup roll at a speed effective to wind up the web remnants faster than the webs are advanced by said drive rollers; means for stopping said last-mentioned driving means to create a slack loop in the web remnants between said drive rollers and said takeup roll; and means for starting said last-mentioned driving means at a maximum slack loop condition between said drive rollers and said takeup roll.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, and further comprising: web-driven printing roller means between said tension rollers and said sewing machine means for printing on the top web; and means for timing the beginning of the pattern movement of said sewing machine means in response to the passage of a reference mark printed on the top web by said printing roller means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, and further comprising: means for cutting individual pieces from the continuously moving webs after they have been sewed together; and means for timing the operation of said cutting means in response to the passage of said reference mark on the top web.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said cutting means is located between said drive rollers and said takeup roll.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, and further comprising: means for driving the takeup roll at a speed effective to wind up the web remnants faster than the webs are advanced by said drive rollers; means for stopping said last-mentioned driving means to create a slack loop in the web remnants between said cutting means and said takeup roll; and means for starting said last-mentioned driving means at a maximum slack loop condition between said drive rollers and said takeup roll.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |