Method and apparatus for maintaining fabric folds and shapes during manufacture of a fabric product

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is applied before forming of the fabric piece into the desired configuration.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is applied during forming of the fabric piece into the desired configuration.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric piece is maintained in the desired configuration during manufacture of a fabric product comprised of the fabric piece.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is dissipated by the application of steam.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is liquid glue.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6, wherein the liquid glue is sprayed on the selected locations of the fabric piece.

Claim 9

The method of claim 4, wherein the fabric piece and the fabric product comprise a single fabric piece.

Claim 10

The method of claim 4, wherein the fabric piece is separate from the fabric product.

Claim 11

The method of claim 4, wherein the fabric piece comprises a fabric pocket blank and the fabric product comprises a garment.

Claim 12

The method of claim 4, wherein the fabric piece is chosen from the group consisting of pocket blanks, facings, cuffs, and yokes.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 and further comprising automatically picking up each fabric piece from a first location and discharging it in a second location, wherein fabric piece locations having adhesive thereon are contacted by a pick-up surface to adhere the fabric piece to the pick-up surface by means of the adhesive and thereafter at a second location separating the fabric piece from the pick-up surface by applying sufficient force therebetween to overcome the adhesive force adhering the fabric piece to the pick-up surface to discharge the fabric piece.

Claim 14

The method of claim 12, wherein the fabric piece is picked-up from a bundle and discharged into apparatus for forming the fabric piece.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12, wherein the fabric piece is picked-up from said apparatus and discharged elsewhere.

Claim 18

The method of claim 15, wherein the fabric piece is picked up from the top of a bundle of fabric pieces and discharged in an apparatus for forming the fabric piece into a desired configuration.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15, wherein air pressure is used to overcome the adhesive force.

Claim 20

The method of claim 15, wherein a mechanically applied force is used to overcome the adhesive force.

Claim 25

the method of claim 20 and further comprising the step of thereafter dissipating the adhesive.

Claim 28

The method of claim 22 and further comprising the step of thereafter dissipating the glue with steam.

Claim 29

Apparatus for forming and maintaining a fabric piece in a desired configuration comprising: (a) adhesive applying means for applying an adhesive to at least one surface of the fabric piece at least at selected locations thereof; (b) forming means for forming the fabric piece into the desired configuration in which parts of said surface including said selected locations with adhesive thereon are opposed; (c) pressure means for bringing together at least said parts of said surface which are opposed under sufficient pressure to cause said adhesive to adhere said parts of said surface together; and (d) means for dissipating the adhesive.

Claim 30

Apparatus for forming and maintaining a fabric piece in a desired configuration comprising: (a) adhesive applying means for applying an adhesive to at least one surface of the fabric piece at least at selected locations thereof; (b) forming means for forming the fabric piece into the desired configuration in which parts of said surface including said selected locations with adhesive thereon are opposed; (c) pressure means for bringing together at least said parts of said surface which are opposed under sufficient pressure to cause said adhesive to adhere said parts of said surface together; and (d) means for dissipating the adhesive.

Claim 31

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the adhesive is a glue dissipable by steam.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the forming means comprises first and second die means disposed in respective parallel planes operative to be moved from a first spaced apart position through coincidence of the respective parallel planes to a second spaced apart position, said first and second die means each comprising a pair of die members diposed in a respective die means plane and opposed at least in part, the die members being operative to be moved along the respective plane, whereby relative movement of the die means through the coincidence thereof is operative to fold at least a part of a fabric piece initially positioned between the first and second die means and movement of the die members along the respective plane being operative to fold the said at least part of the fabric piece on itself, the forming means further comprising means for moving the die members along the respective plane including for moving the die members of one of the die means activator means including a member movable in a first direction, and linking means linking said member and said die members for moving said die members in a direction substantially transverse to the first direction, said linking means comprising a plurality of linking members, first pivot means pivotally connecting at least one linking member with each of said die members and second pivot means pivotally connecting said member with each of said at least one linking member.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the dissipating means is operative to provide steam to dissipate the adhesive.

Claim 34

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the dissipating means is located remotely from the remainder of said apparatus.

Claim 35

Apparatus for forming and temporarily maintaining a fabric piece in a desired configuration during manufacture of the fabric piece comprising: (a) adhesive applying means for applying a dissipable adhesive to at least one surface of the fabric piece at least at selected locations thereof; (b) forming means for forming the fabric piece into the desired configuration in which parts of said surface including said selected locations with adhesive thereon are opposed; and (c) pressure means for bringing together at least said parts of said surface which are opposed under sufficient pressure to cause said adhesive to adhere said parts of said surface together, whereby said fabric piece may be maintained in the desired configuration during manufacture thereof.

Claim 36

Apparatus for forming and temporarily maintaining a fabric piece in a desired configuration during manufacture of the fabric piece comprising: (a) adhesive applying means for applying a dissipable adhesive to at least one surface of the fabric piece at least at selected locations thereof; (b) forming means for forming the fabric piece into the desired configuration in which parts of said surface including said selected locations with adhesive thereon are opposed; and (c) pressure means for bringing together at least said parts of said surface which are opposed under sufficient pressure to cause said adhesive to adhere said parts of said surface together, whereby said fabric piece may be maintained in the desired configuration during manufacture thereof.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 29 and further comprising dissipating means for dissipating the adhesive.

Claim 38

Die apparatus comprising opposed die members disposed along a common plane and die member moving means for moving said members along the plane, said die member moving means comprising actuator means including a member movable in a first direction and linking means linking said member and said die members for moving said die members in a direction substantially transverse to the first direction, said linking means comprising a plurality of linking members, first pivot means pivotally connecting at least one linking member with each of said die members and second pivot means pivotally connecting said members with each of said at least one linking member.

Claim 39

Die apparatus comprising opposed die members disposed along a common plane and die member moving means for moving said members along the plane, said die member moving means comprising actuator means including a member movable in a first direction and linking means linking said member and said die members for moving said die members in a direction substantially transverse to the first direction, said linking means comprising a plurality of linking members, first pivot means pivotally connecting at least one linking member with each of said die members and second pivot means pivotally connecting said members with each of said at least one linking member.