Automatic seaming assemblages
United States Patent 11 1 Heiler et a1.  
 [ AUTOMATIC SEAMING ASSEMBLAGES [75] Inventors: Wolfgang Heiler, Soufflenheim;  
 Rudolf Muller, Sessenheim; Jean-Jaques Becker, Bischheim, all of France [73] Assignee: Vestra-Union S.A., Paris, France [22] Filed: Jan. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 322,157  
 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 21, 1972 France 72.02798 [52] US. Cl ll2/l2l.l5; ll2/121.29 [51] Int. Cl D05b 19/00 [58] Field ofSearch..... 1l2/l21.15,121.11, 121.12, 112/l21.29  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,151,136 3/1939 Moffitt 112/l2l.29 2.740,457 4/1956 Wood, Jr. et a1. 112/l21.29 3,116.705 1/1964 Kosrow l12/l2l.29 3,209,629 10/1965 Spivey 1l2/121.29 3,299,843 1/1967 Alexeff 1l2/121.15  
 3,528,378 9/1970 Westhoff ll2/12l.l5 3,664,657 5/1972 Hawley et a1. 112/l21.11  
 1451 Apr. 8, 1975 11/1973 Guichard ..112/12 1.15 5/1974 Heileretal. 112/155 [57] ABSTRACT A sewing machine having a base plate and a head carrying a vertically reciprocable needle and means adjacent the needle for moving superposed layers of fabric through a stitching zone beneath the needle to form in the superposed layers of fabric an edge seam comprising a line of stitching extending in a stitching direction. An intermediate plate above the base plate moves up and down into and out of contact with the base plate to grasp and release a lower layer of fabric between the intermediate plate and the base plate. Needles convey superposed layers of fabric from the intermediate plate to the stitching zone in a direction perpendicular to the stitching direction. A support plate extends from the stitching zone in the direction the conveying needles move and is connected to the intermediate plate. As a result, the layers of fabric assembled one above and one below the intermediate plate will be conveyed by the conveying needles to the stitching zone with the support plate between the layers of fabric.  
 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR W5 3,875,879  
 sum 1 [1F 4 Fig. 1  
 FRTLNTED APR 8 m5 SIZZET BF 4 AUTOMATIC SEAMING ASSEMBLAGES INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an assemblage for the connection together of a plurality of sewable material layers, which in the region of an introduction position are orientated with respect to each other at at least one position, and are conveyed with the aid of a conveyor from the introduction position to the stitch-forming position of a sewing machine which has a guide device which is provided with a plurality of support plates each for the reception of a respective one of the said layers in the vicinity of the said stitch-forming position, the said layers when connected together being deposited lying on a support table at the stitch-forming position.  
  For the connection together of several layers of material to be sewn together, for example for the production of sewn seams parallel to the edges of the sewable material of any desired shape, there has been proposed a guiding arrangement which in the region of the stitchforming position of the sewing machine provides for each layer of sewable material its own respective sup port surface. By this means, in connection with an orientating component directing the sewable material layers in a particular manner in the feeding motion of these layers it has been possible for the first time to orientate several superimposed layers of material to be sewn with respect to each other during the sewing operation, without it being necessary in this connection to use in its constructive manufacture very expensive guiding means of known kind. This guiding arrangement, in which the edge of each individual layer of material is guided independently of the other layers of material, nevertheless requires a precise introduction of the layers of material in the vicinity of the start of the sewn seam. As there is moreover in the region of the stitch-forming position a respective support plate provided for each layer of material, the layers of material must be individually introduced and orientated in the region of the start of the seam, consequently the introduction procedure is very time-consuming and in consequence very substantially increases the cycle time of the machine.  
  The invention provides an arrangement which makes it possible to place together upon one another the layers of sewable material to be connected with one another within an introduction position spaced from the stitch-forming position and so far as necessary to orientate them with one another, in order to bring them thus in common to the stitch-forming position so that each layer of material comes to lie upon the support plate appertaining to it.  
 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention this is achieved in relation to a sewing machine with a guide device of the kind described initially herein characterized in that in the region of the introduction position there is arranged an intermediate plate separating the mutually adjacent material layers for the reception of the upper one of said material layers in each instance, and the support plate separating the two mutually adjacent&#39;material layers extends as far as the intermediate plate, which after the introduction of the lower material layer is lowerable with the support plate on to the lower material layer.  
 FURTHER DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION By means of the assemblage in accordance with the invention it is also possible to separate the layers of material in the region of the introduction position by means of the intermediate plate, to bring the lower layer of material beneath the intermediate plate, the upper layer of material above the intermediate plate and thus lying upon its support plate to the stitchforming position of the sewing machine, and thus to effeet the bringing of the time necessary for the introduction of the material layers within the sewing time of the preceding layers being sewn together. By the lowering of the intermediate plate on to the already introduced lower layer of material there is achieved the further advantage that during the introduction process of the upper layer of material the lower layer of material is no longer able to shift and the means necessary for holding it fast in no way impede the introduction of the upper layer of material.  
  In order to be able to effect the simultaneous lowering of the support plate and the intermediate plate in the constructively most simple manner, according to a further proposal of the invention the free end of the support plate is connected to the intermediate plate.  
  In order to facilitate the introduction and orientation of the lower layer of material to be sewn there is arranged near the intermediate plate at least one preferably angularly-shaped abutment which is movable up and down and which after introduction of the material layers can be brought out of the subsequent path of movement thereof by a lifting motion.  
  According to a further proposal of the invention the introduction of the two layers of material to be sewn can be facilitated and also may likewise be mechanized in a simple manner if the intermediate plate is disposed at an acute angle to the plane of the support table.  
  During the movement of the orientated layers of material from the introduction position to the stitchforming position care must be taken that these layers do not move relatively to each other during their conveying movement. As also the commencement of the material layers must be brought into correct position under the needle or under the presser foot of the sewing machine and on account of its very small stiffness the material to be sewn cannot be pushed, that is to say must not be pressed forward, the invention further provides at the same time a conveying means which ensures secure guiding of the layers of material to be sewn from the introduction position to the stitch-forming position of the sewing machine.  
  This is achieved in that the conveying arrangement of the conveyor arranged between the introduction position and the stitch-forming position is orientated perpendicularly to the stitch-forming direction and the conveyor comprises holder needles penetrating through the layers of material from the underside thereof, which needles are movable within a slot extending perpendicularly to the stitch-forming direction. The layers of material to be sewn, thus held, can thereby be guided each with its respective end directly under the needle or the presser foot of the sewing machine, so that any contrariwise creasing is impossible.  
  For the taking hold and the releasing of the layers of material it is convenient to arrange the holder needles in the region of the stitch-forming position and the introduction position to be movable up and down as appropriate and to arrange them at the introduction position in relation to a device for holding down the layers of material to be sewn, which device is movable in alternation with the abutment.  
  In order to bring the layers of material to be sewn and already connected with one another in the simplest possible manner out of the region of the stitch-forming position, according to a further proposal of the invention the support table is sub-divided into two planes disposed at different levels in the region following after the stitch-forming position, and between these two table parts is arranged an outlet nozzle for an air jet for assisting the movement of the material which has been sewn together.  
  The invention will be explained in greater detail hereinafter with the aid of a non-limitative form of embodiment of the machine according to the invention which is represented diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS IN THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:  
 FIG. 1 is a plan view of the machine,  
 FIG. 2 is a plan view of the engagement device,  
  FIG. 3 is an elevation of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrow F,  
  FIG. 4 is a partial elevation of FIG. 2, in the direction of the arrow F&#39;I,  
  FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the device for conveying the cloth pieces towards the sewing machine,  
 FIG. 6 is a plan view of a detail of the machine,  
 FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the machine, and  
 FIG. 8 is an elevation of the ejection device.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As represented in the figures of the accompanying drawings, the automatic assemblage for the uniting of pieces of cloth or other materials by means of a seam along one of the sides of these pieces has a positioning surface 1 prolonged by the work table, which is subdivided into a part 2 situated at the same height as the surface 1 and a part 3 disposed at a slightly lower level. While the engagement frame 4 and the stop abutment 5 are fixed on the positioning surface 1 so as to be displaceable upwards and downwards, for example by means of jacks, beneath this surface 1, beside the engagement frame 4 there are provided the transport needles 6 (FIG. 5) which in their rising movement pass through the slots 7 of the surface 1 and co-operate with presser feet 8 disposed above the surface 1 and capable of vertical displacement, the needles 6 constituting the drive elements of a device 6 which moves beneath the surface 1 and brings the cloth pieces towards the sewing machine 10. In the vicinity of the needle 9 of the sewing machine 10 there is fixed the guide 11, which is constituted by three superposed plates, of which the middle plate 11&#39; is prolonged to extend close to the engagement frame 4, in order to connect therewith.  
  As represented in detail in FIGS. 2 to 4, the device for engagement and alignment of the edges of two pieces of cloth is composed of the engagement frame 4 and the angular abutment stop 5, which are disposed above the surface 1.  
  The frame 4 is constituted by a small plate equipped for example with two pairs of rods 19 subject to the action of two jacks 20 and passing through the surface 1. In the low position the frame 4 contacts the surface 1 and in the position raised under the action of the jacks 20 it is displaced vertically above the surface 1 by a distance permitting the free passage of a piece of cloth.  
  The abutment stop 5, constituted by an angular piece, is also connected by means of a rod 21 to a jack 22, one of the ends of the stroke of which applies the abutment 5 against the surface 1 and the other end of the stroke of which raises the abutment 5 from the surface 1 by a distance such that the passage of the pieces of cloth to be united can take place. The descending and/or rising strokes of the frame 4 and/or of the abutment 5 can be effected by mechanical, pneumatic, electric, electro-magnetic or the like means.  
  According to another characteristic of the invention, the surface 1 and the intermediate engagement frame 4 are slightly inclined downwards in the direction of the abutment 5 so as to form a slight angle with the horizontal so that the assembly of the two pieces of cloth may slide by its own weight against the abutment 5.  
  Between the parts 2 and 3 of the work table there are mounted the blowing mechanisms l2, 12&#39; which serve to assist the cloths in their displacement after their seaming.  
  Beneath the part 3 of the work table and at the end thereof, seen in the direction of displacement of the cloths, there are fixed on the one hand the blowing machanisms 13, 13&#39; and on the other hand the stacker 14, which co-operates with the support 15.  
  Of course the automatic assemblage as described comprises also the various contacts and detectors of known type which permit the starting and stopping of the various described elements for the realisation of the successive and/or simultaneous progress of the uniting, transport and stacking operations.  
  The automatic assemblage according to the invention is also characterized in that the surface for positioning the pieces to be united is at such a distance from the sewing machine that an assembly of pieces treated by the sewing machine in no way hinders the positioning of another assembly of pieces to be treated.  
  According to another characteristic of the invention, the direction of feed of the sewing machine preferably forms a right angle with the transport direction of the said machine.  
  The manner of operation of the automatic assemblage as described is as follows:  
  In the starting position, the engagement frame 4 is in the high position and the stop abutment 5 in the low po-. sition against the surface 1. Then the first piece of cloth is introduced between the frame 4 and the surface 1 until it abuts against the abutment 5. After this operation, the frame 4 is lowered against the surface 1 by operation of the jacks 20, which has the effect of immobilizing this first piece of cloth.  
  The last piece of cloth is then placed above the frame 4, again until it abuts against the part 5, a correction of the alignment of this second piece of cloth being greatly facilitated by the presence, between the two pieces of cloth, of the intermediate engagement frame After the two pieces of cloth l6, 17&#39; have thus been positioned in the frame 4 and against the abutment 5, a contact is operated which causes the rise of the needles 6, the descent of the presser feet 8 and the lifting of the frame 4 and the stop 5.  
  At the end of the rise, the needles 6 trip the displacement of the device 6&#39; in the direction of the arrow F.  
  At the end of its stroke, the device 6 actuates another contact, whereupon the needles 6 descend beneath the work table, the device 6 returns into its initial position, and a detection means chronologically causes the descent of the presser foot 17 of the machine, the starting of the machine 10, the raising of the thread cutter l8 and the starting up of the blowing mechhanisms 12, 12.  
  As soon as the cloth pieces have released the detection means 16, the pressure of the presser foot 17 is reduced. Then as the detection means 19 is also released, the machine 10 stops, the presser foot 17 is lifted, the blowers l2, 12&#39; are stopped, the thread cutter 18 descends and the stacking system 13, 13&#39;, l4, 15 is set in action.  
  The invention is not of course limited to the form of embodiment as described and represented, and different variants are possible without departing from the protection scope of it.  
  The automatic assemblage according to the present invention is applied particularly to the uniting of two pieces of cloth or similar materials by means of a seam, along the curve of one of their sides.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. In a sewing machine having a base plate and a head carrying a vertically reciprocable needle and means adjacent the needle for moving superposed layers of fabric through a stitching zone and beneath the needle to form in the superposed layers of fabric an edge seam comprising a line of stitching extending in a stitching direction; the improvement comprising an intermediate plate above the base plate for receiving a lower one of said layers of fabric beneath the intermediate plate and an upper one of said layers of fabric on top of the intermediate plate, means for moving the intermediate plate up and down into and out of contact with the base plate to grasp and release said lower one of said layers of fabric between the intermediate plate and the base plate, conveyor means for conveying said upper and lower layers of fabric in superposed relationship from said intermediate plate to said stitching zone for insertion beneath said needle, said conveyor means extending at an angle to said stitching direction, and a support plate extending above said base plate from said stitching zone in the direction of said conveyor means close to said intermediate plate in order to connect to said intermediate plate whereby said layers of fabric assembled one above and one below said intermediate plate will be conveyed by said conveyor means to said stitching zone with said support plate between said layers of fabric.  
  2. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, and at least one abutment adjacent said intermediate plate on the same side of said intermediate plate as said needle and between said intermediate plate and said needle for aligning at least one point along the edges of said layers when said layers are disposed on opposite sides of said intermediate plate, and means for moving said abutment up and down relative to said base plate thereby selectively to restrain and to free said fabric for movement toward said needle.  
  3. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, said intermediate plate being disposed at an acute angle to the plane of said base plate.  
  4. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, the direction of said conveyor means being perpendicular to said stitching direction.  
  5. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, said conveyor comprising needles, means moving upwardly to penetrate said superposed layers of fabric from below adjacent said intermediate plate, said base having slots therein through which said needles move toward said stitching zone, and means moving said needles downwardly in said stiching zone to release said layers of fabric for movement in said stitching direction.  
  6. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 5, and means for moving said needles vertically at the ends of the travel of said needles through said slots.  
  7. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, said base plate having a portion which is traversed by said fabric after stitching and which is disposed in a plane spaced below the plane of the base plate adjacent said needle, and at least one outlet nozzle for an air jet disposed between said planes and extending in said stitching direction to assist the movement of said fabric therepast.