METHOD & APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CUSTOM MANUFACTURED ITEMS

摘要

Automated made-to-measure garment manufacturing method and apparatus. A subject's measurements are taken with a hand held measuring device and transmitted to a computer. The computer checks to see if the customer's style preference and physique are compatible and if they are, an order is generated. The customer measurements are then transmitted to a remote location for manufacture. At this location a computer has a set of co-ordinates defined for the customer's style in one size. These co-ordinates are modified based upon the actual customer measurements to produce a modified set of co-ordinates which in turn define the garment pieces for that customer. A control tape for a laser cutter is generated and the garment pieces are cut and sewn together. During the post cutting fabrication process, routing sheets for the garment indicate precision assembly steps to insure a quality finished garment is produced. Finally, the custom tailored suit is sent back to the retail outlet and delivered to the subject. Two embodiments of a measuring device used in the custom manufacturing process are disclosed. One takes only length measurements and a second takes both length and angle measurements. Each includes a frequency modulated transmitter for sending signals corresponding to the mesurements to a separate receiver and storage unit where the measurements are stored for later use in the tailoring process. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage unit comprises a personal computer with a visual display that can prompt a user into taking the measurements in a predetermined sequence.