The mechatronic design of an automated garment production line

The DTI launched CIMTEX project for automated garment production system was undertaken by the Robotics Group at Hull University and the final system recommissioned in Leicester at the end of the project in early 1992. The purpose of this paper is to look at the design of this automated system. The garment chosen was a leisurewear top made from a medium weight fleecy knitted material in a range of sizes from ladies small to extra large. The starting point taken was a `main body´ comprising the front and back panels sewn together along the shoulders with the neck inserted. A commercially available overhead hanging system from Gerber supplies both the main body and the sleeve panels. The end point is a completed garment, inside-out ready for pressing/packaging. A typical assembly sequence is given