Abstract: An automatic flange applying machine for sewing the raw edges of a mattress panel and attaching a flange strip. A multi-speed sewing machine sews at high speed along straight sides and a straight top end and bottom end and forms rounded corners at a slower speed as the mattress panel is incrementally rotated about a pivot point. Photodetectors align the edges of the panel with the sewing needles while other detectors determine the location of the panel so that suitable operations begin. The panel is moved by pressure rollers through the sewing machine and the corners are formed by reversing certain of the rollers.

Abstract: A carrier transport device is provided with a stator table comprised of a plurality of stators 4 which themselves are comprised of cores 2 and coils 3, and a carrier C in which permanent magnets m1-m4 are provided such that by passing an appropriate current through the coil, the cores of the stators are magnetized. The attraction or repulsion generated between the cores of the stators and the permanent magnets of the carrier is used to transport the carrier along the stator table in two dimensions. This carrier transport device allows for transport of a carrier in two dimensions with a simple design for quick transport of a carrier, and for reliably bringing the carrier to a stop at a predetermined location.

Abstract: An apparatus for trimming the edges of a fabric panel. The apparatus includes a holding fixture for holding the panel such that the edges to be trimmed hang freely in the holding fixture. A trimming apparatus is insertable into the holding fixture for trimming the edges of the panels together while the panels are held in the holding fixture. The trimming apparatus includes a frame having a movable slide and at least one trimming assembly attached to the slide. A fixture drive engages the holding fixture holding the edges of the panels to be trimmed and repositions the holding fixture prior to trimming the edges of the panel.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is applied to a case of folding, for example, the sleeve cloth of short-sleeved T-shirt in half while conveying. A holding device grips the leading end of the cloth conveyed on a conveying surface of narrow conveyor belts, lifts the gripped leading end of the cloth from the conveying surface, and holds it above the conveying surface temporarily. A cloth stopping device stops conveying of the front side portion of the conveyed cloth on the conveying surface at a position of an upstream side in the conveying direction from the holding device. When cloths are put on the conveying surface by overlaying mutually in part, a space is formed between the preceding cloth and succeeding cloth by the cloth stopping device, so that the leading end of the cloth is gripped and lifted by the holding device.

Abstract: A hem folding attachment (23) or former having a support plate (26), an underlay plate (29), a set of air nozzles (32) or air jets, and a vacuum chamber (35) having a reduced pressure area defined therein. The support plate (26) or tongue is adjustably mounted above the vacuum chamber (35) and the front edge (38) of the support plate (26) extends beyond and overhangs the edge of the vacuum chamber (35). An edge of a piece of material is folded around the front edge (38) of the support plate (26) and extends back toward the vacuum chamber (35). The vacuum chamber has a guiding surface (41) with a set of air intake orifices (47) defined therein for aligning the edge of the material. The orifices (47) receive air from a set of nozzles (32). The nozzles (32) and the vacuum chamber (35) assist the raw edge of the piece of material in being folded back underneath the rest of the material. An underlay plate (29) also guides the edge of the material toward the vacuum chamber (35).

Abstract: A hemming and seaming machine is disclosed, the machine having a hemming conveyor on which a workpiece is moved along a first leg of a U-shaped path of travel toward and through a hemming station which sews a hem in the workpiece. Thereafter, the hemmed workpiece is then moved downstream toward a folding station where a spaced series of first air jets selectively emit a stream of air in a direction opposite the direction of the path of travel between a folding plate and a clamping plate to create a vacuum therebetween to draw the leading edge of the workpiece upward and between the folding plate and the clamping plate. Thereafter, the leading edge of the workpiece is held between the clamping and folding plates while a second series of air jets positioned upstream of the folding plate selectively blows a stream of air underneath the folding plate and against at least a portion the workpiece as it moves along the path of travel.

Abstract: A stitching clamp for an automatic sewing sewing machine. The stitching clamp has a flexible membrane defining a track for the presser foot of a sewing head to maintain the presser foot in a spaced relationship with respect to a workpiece as the workpiece is moved through a sewing head by the combination of at least one feed dog and a servocontrol. The stitching clamp further includes a label clamp for securely holding a label against a workpiece.

Abstract: A machine for automatically producing apparel sleeves that includes a station at which the sleeve blank is trimmed, folded and hemmed. Another station is provided at which the hemmed sleeve blank is folded and turned inside out. The sleeve blank must then be stopped at a position at which it is aligned with a seaming sewing machine and then transported to the sewing head of the seaming sewing machine. A curve generating mechanism then controls the sleeve blank as it is fed through the seaming sewing machine.

Abstract: A machine for automatically aligning cut sleeve blanks after they are manually placed on the conveying surface by the operator. A material presence sensor is provided that recognizes the leading edge of the cut sleeve blank as it is being fed toward the hemming machine. Recognition of the leading edge of the sleeve blank causes an edge guider and blowers to be activated. An edge sensor is provided that senses the location of the marginal edge of the sleeve blank relative to the stitch line and sends signals that are conveyed to the edge guider. The edge guider maintains the marginal edge of the sleeve blank a predetermined distance from the stitch line. Air jets are directed on the upper surface of the sleeve blank to maintain it flat during the aligning process. The leading edge of the cut shirt blank is captured by a driven top belt conveyor which functions to maintain control of the sleeve blank.

Abstract: A running carriage (33) delivers, spreads, and piles a sheet material to be spread to form a piled sheet material (24), while running on a spreading table (22) of a cloth spreading machine (21). The piled sheet material (24) is placed on an underlay sheet (25) which has a larger area than that of the piled sheet material (24). At the bottom of the running carriage (33), a foot presser (27) is provided. The foot presser (27) is designed to be vertically displaced by a cylinder (28). A blower motor (29) drives a fan (30) to blow air through nozzles (31) towards the surface of the spreading table (22), thereby reducing the load of the piled sheet material (24). The underlay sheet (25) is pressed by the foot presser (27) and the running carriage (33) starts running, whereby the piled sheet material (24) is delivered.

Abstract: A clamping device for use in a sewing machine. The clamping device includes a clamping plate having a downwardly facing clamping surface for clamping a first workpiece to a sewing surface of a sewing machine wherein the clamping plate is supported for vertical movement beneath a sewing head for the sewing machine. The clamping plate is provided with a vacuum aperture which is in fluid connection with a vacuum source wherein the vacuum source draws a second workpiece into engagement with the clamping plate. A support plate is provided for supporting the second workpiece beneath the clamping plate and a feed mechanism is provided for feeding the second workpiece onto the support plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for a chain stitch sewing machine, for automatically shifting a thread chain from the stitching area to its opposite side and holding it there, and for stitching the thread chain neatly onto the initial seam on a fabric supplied successively to the sewing machine. A nozzle for blowing the thread chain forwardly is provided behind a presser foot of the sewing machine. In front of the needle hole of the presser foot, an opening vertically penetrates the presser foot located backwardly of a double chain stitch needle relative to the direction of movement of the material for guiding the thread chain, and a groove is formed on the lower surface of the presser foot from the hole toward the opening. A thread chain suction tube is provided above the opening. The thread chain is precisely aligned on the sewing line by the groove.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing peripheral selvedges of fabric. The apparatus includes a sewing machine unit for sewing up fabrics; an air table mechanism incorporating a number of jet apertures through which air is jetted onto an upper surface of the table in an obliquely upward direction towards a product guide member; a supplementary roller unit which vertically ascends and descends to shift a processable fabric synchronously with feeding of the sewing machine unit; a rotating unit having a fabric holding unit which descends only when sewing of a fabric corner is executed in order to hold and rotate the objective fabric by a predetermined angle and then ascends after rotating the fabric by a predetermined angle; a flange strip supply unit for supplying a flange strip to the sewing machine unit; and a controller unit for integrally controlling operation of the above component units.

Abstract: The waist band (16) is placed in straddling relationship about spindles (12-15). The waist edge (23) of the shirt body (17) is telescoped about the waist band, also in straddling relationship about the spindles (12-15). The garment parts are advanced by the rotation of the spindles and the sewing needle (9) forms a line of stitching at the aligned edges of the shirt body and waist band. In the meantime, the end spindles (14 and 15) move laterally of the sewing path to adjust the position of the waist band in response to the position of the folded edge (21) of the waist band as detected by photocell (30/138), and the star wheels (32) (FIGS. 5-7) reach across the waist band and urge the shirt body toward or away from the sewing path as controlled by the photocell (31/208).

Abstract: A sewing machine having a blowing device which comprises an angularly constructed step, into which opens an opening from which a gas stream blows towards a curled edge of a workpiece for the purpose of uncurling the edge of the workpiece.

Abstract: A continuous loop waist band (10) is placed in edge alignment with a garment body (11), and the garment parts are stretched about spindles (19, 20, 21 and 23). The spindles are moved away from one another so as to stretch the aligned edges of the garment parts. The edges of the garment parts tend to curl when stretched, and an edge decurler (84) removes the curl from the stretched garment parts as the edges approach the sewing machine needle (26). Edge guide (102) maintains the plies of material in overlying contact so as to make sure the curls do not reappear in the garment parts as the parts approach the sewing machine.

Abstract: An automatic sewing device for the sewing of workpieces of different size, such as collars, cuffs or the like, the workpieces having a seam section extending in a straight line where they differ in size, has a workpiece holding plate to press the workpiece on a bearing plate and to displace it on the bearing plate. The workpiece holding plate has two seam forming sections of maximum possible size and is made in one piece. Further devices are provided for shifting the workpiece holding plate after a 1st seam contour section has been sewn to move said workpiece holding plate with respect to said 1st seam contour section to a position of the workpiece holding plate where a second seam forming section corresponds to a second seam contour section.

Abstract: A sewing apparatus and method for receiving tubular knit fabric from a pre-knitted roll and making the fabric into foot covers. The fabric is first passed through an unique spreader which is mounted at the end of a pivotal boom adjacent a sewing machine. A gripping head advances to the spreader and grips the portion of the fabric held by the spreader. The gripping head than withdraws a predetermined length of fabric from the pre-knitted roll through the spreader. An air jet blows the free end of the length of tubular knit fabric into a vacuum take-off tube connected to a gathering box. The pivotal boom then swings toward the sewing machine. As the pivotal boom completes it swing, the tubular knit fabric is fed to the sewing machine which simultaneously sews the end immediately adjacent the spreader, cuts the free end from the pre-knitted roll, and gathers the finished product in the take-off tube.

Abstract: A thread processing machine, in particular an embroidering machine, is provided with a thread joining device, which has a whirl chamber and a compressed air nozzle, in which two threads of different color, one used after the other, are joined together by compressed air vortex connection of their filaments, after which they are drawn through the needle.

Abstract: An overlock stitch is formed by sewing machine (11) (FIG. 1) into a work product (34) and the work product is accelerated away from the sewing machine so as to stretch the thread chain (FIG. 5). The stretched thread chain is cut by cutter (40), and the leading thread chain (43) recoils back toward the hollow chaining tongue (21) and is drawn into the chaining tongue by the stream of air (26) created by vacuum canister (52) (FIG. 6). The next work product draws the leading thread chain out of the hollow chaining tongue and the sewing machine captures the leading thread chain in the stitch. Transfer conveyor (15) (FIG. 1) moves the work product (34) into alignment with everter tube assembly (106), grippers (109) and (110) grip and open one end of the work product (FIGS. 9-14), and air drawn through the everter tube assembly everts the work product. The gripper tube assembly opens along its lower portion (FIG. 16) and drops the work product.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus and method for forming a V-top shirt pocket or similar article with a folded region, sewing a stitch to hold the fold, and stacking a plurality of same with distributed hem build-up. An unfolded ply of material is provided to a folding station, which forms a tucked edge fold in the material. The ply is then held at the tucked edge, and the opposite end is folded over a folding rod with an air jet. Holding fingers descend to hold the fold in the ply. A transport carriage arrives at the folding station to retrieve the folded, edge-tucked ply. The transport carriage includes a clamp, which clamps on the folded, edge-tucked ply to hold the fold and edge tuck as the folding station elements retract. The transport carriage carries the folded, edge-tucked held ply through a sewing station in synchronization with a sewing machine, where a V-shaped hem is sewn.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating curls at the cut ends of fabric workpieces provides air tubes directed toward the curls so that air flow flattens the curls. The apparatus includes a device for generating air flow; a first tube connected to the device for generating air flow and having one end fixed to the presser foot of a sewing machine; a second tube connected to the device for generating air flow and having one end situated under the throat plate of a sewing machine; and a valve positioned between the device for generating air flow and the tubes. The first tube includes an opening facing the curls and a contact portion extending horizontally and overlapping the curled edge of the workpiece for contacting the curled edge when the presser foot is moved downwardly. The second tube includes an opening facing the curls. The pattern of air flow is switchable to one or both of the tubes depending on the configuration of the curls; that is, whether the fabric is outwardly curled or inwardly curled.

Abstract: A sewing machine comprising a feed unit 10 to feed a folded tape beneath a presser foot 8, a cutting unit 15 to cut the tape upstream of the presser foot and a hemming group 21 to guide and shape the hem of a workpiece upstream of the presser foot. The feed unit 10, cutting unit 15 and hemming group 21 comprise a feed guide 11, a cutting member 16 and a hem folder 22 respectively, which are individually and selectively movable from a rest position in which they are spaced apart from a workpiece supporting table 3 and the presser foot 8 to a working position in which they are disposed close to the supporting table and presser foot to perform their operating functions.

Abstract: Apparatus for stretching and folding a limp fabric piece (1), having a plurality of opposed elastic bands (12,12',13,13') extending therefrom comprising a platform (2) having a foldable segment, means for folding said foldable segment relative to the platform (2),A limp fabric piece feeding plate (5) for feeding said limp fabric piece (1) to said platform (2) and holding said fabric piece (1) thereon in an extended condition and in a pre-determined position to enable eventual folding of the fabric piece (1) to produce a garment,means for moving said plate (5) horizontally or vertically,suction means located adjacent said platform (2) for applying suction to the elastic bands (12,12',13,13') extending from the fabric piece (1),elastic band gripper means associated with the suction means for gripping and holding the sucked-in elastic bands (12,12',13,13'), relative to said suction means,means for moving said suction means relative to said platform (2) to stretch said fabric piece (1),garment gripper means assoc

Abstract: A sewing machine for forming stitches in a substrate, for example, in forming stitches in tissue during surgery, comprises a needle for passing thread into the substrate from one side thereof at a first location and for withdrawing the thread from the substrate at a second location spaced from the first location. The needle is removably operable solely from the said one side of the substrate. A stapling machine is also disclosed operating on similar principles for similar purposes.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for applying a protective strip by sewing to an end of a slide fastener, a continuous protective strip is fed downwardly toward a tape supply position on the base of a sewing machine with its one surface facing opposite to a direction of feed of a slide fastener until a leading end portion of the protective tape overlays the base by a predetermined length, then the leading end portion is bent in a direction opposite to the fastener feed direction by a stream of pressurized air issued from an air nozzle, thereafter, a slide fastener is advanced along the base until its leading end reaches to a sewing position located downstream of the tape supply position, thereby causing the leading end portion of the protective tape to bend into a U-shape extending from the back to the face of the slide fastener around the leading end thereof, then the U-shaped leading end portion is cut from the continuous protective tape, thereby forming a U-shaped protective strip which in turn is sewn to the lea

Abstract: A method of sewing sheet material passing over a throat plate of a sewing machine by providing a nozzle member having a nozzle adjacent a sewing needle at an upstream side thereof with respect to a moving direction of the sheet material and impregnating the sheet with lubricating fluid by supplying the lubricating fluid from the nozzle such that the fluid contacts a surface of the sheet material facing the throat plate. Thereby, component yarns of the sheet are prevented from being severed when the needle pierces through the sheet material such that the severances are minimized.

Abstract: An automatic sewing system comprising apparatus for receiving a plurality of precisely positioned workpieces of web material, such as cloth, to be sewn, a plurality of work stations, and apparatus for transferring individual ones of the plurality of precisely positioned workpieces sequentially from one of the plurality of work stations to another while maintaining the workpieces in precise predetermined positional orientation at the beginning and end of an operation at each of the plurality of work stations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provided for the automatic production of discrete cuffed sleeve blanks from distinct initial sleeve blanks and a continuous roll of knit cuffing material. The initial sleeve blanks are place end-to-end, a gap is introduced between them, and they are passed in a first direction with a first edge thereof parallel to the first direction. The continuous length of cuffing material is folded over to provide a double thickness having a first edge which is parallel to the sleeve blank first edge, the cuffing material and sleeve blank first edges are overlapped, moved together, and sewn to each other with an "over-edger" automatic sewing machine. The cuffing material is stretched just prior to being fed to the sewing machine, and is stretched again after sewing and severed from the rest of the roll. A driven roller includes non-rotatable washers having projecting portions engaging a blade of the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a material setter for a sewing machine having a hollowed folder through which a tape-like material passes to be folded before it is stitched. The material setter comprises a shoe member frictionally contacting with the material through a slot formed in the folder, a reciprocating device for reciprocatively moving the shoe member along the way of the material in the folder, and a one-way device for causing the shoe member to move the material forward only when the shoe member is moved forward by the reciprocating device.

Abstract: Device for aligning automatically the contours of two plies to be sewed one upon the other, consisting of three superimposed blades (1,2,3) hinged to one another at one end by means of a cross pin (4) so as to generally form a double pliers. From the pin (4) onwards the device comprises :elastic means (7) which can be calibrated and tending to press the blade (2) against the blade (1) and the blade (3) against the blade (2); means (8) to vary the angular opening between the blades (1,2,3), means (9) to adjust the maximum and minimum angular opening between the blades (1,2,3), abuting means (28a,28b,28c) to define the alignment position of the contours of the plies (T,t) to be sewed and means to bring the plies to the alignment on an air pad or by friction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming a double-folded wide hem in cut textile articles, such as would be used for the open entrance end of a pillowcase, the top of a bed sheet and the like. Rectangular cut articles are successively fed in a longitudinal path of travel and are stopped for hem folding during such travel. A predetermined width of one edge portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the path of travel of each article is elevated and stopped in the folding position. The elevated portion is folded over the remainder of the article and over a stationary folding shoe having a transverse dimension corresponding to the desired width of the wide hem being formed in the article, while forming a first fold in the edge portion of the article around an outer longitudinally-extending edge of the stationary folding shoe.

Abstract: A pair of superposed flexible web workpieces lying on a horizontal table are fed in a horizontal transport direction to a treatment location downstream of an edge guide having vertically spaced upper, lower, and middle blades defining upper and lower horizontally open slots by continuously horizontally reciprocating the table with a stroke sufficiently long relative to the surface structure of the lower face of the underlying workpiece and at a frequency sufficiently high relative to the inertia of the workpieces that the workpieces will move horizontally relative to the table without substantial friction. An edge of each of the workpieces is engaged in a respective one of the slots and jets of gas are directed from the plates at an angle against the workpieces to hold up the upper and middle plates while urging the workpiece edges into the respective slots substantially out of contact with the plates.

Abstract: A sewing machine for simultaneously forming a plurality of spaced seams disposed in parallel relation. The machine includes a pair of spaced needle bars and needle clamps for supporting stitching needles. Adjacent each needle bar a presserfoot bar is provided for supporting separate presserfoots on their lower ends. Below each presserfoot there is a cooperating feed dog and below each feed dog a separate looper for controlling the lower threads during the formation of chain stitches. To form the stitches simultaneously, all of the machine's stitching instrumentalities, including the stitching needles, presserfeet, feed dogs and loopers, are operatively interconnected so that their movements occur at the same time.

Abstract: A work table is divided at least into a spreading station and a cutting station, has a flat, substantially smooth upper surface and a plurality of apertures extending through the top of the table for passage of air currents therethrough. A reversible pump generates and delivers the air current to said apertures through a plurality of separate conduits connected to each of the apertures. A spreading device, which spreads, cuts, and stacks individual layers of fabric is provided with a plurality of air jets for selectively applying a thin film of air over the top of the fabric layers as they are spread. While the stack is being formed, the pump draws air through the fabric stack and down through the work table surface to hold the stack in place. When the stack is completed the pump is reversed so that a positive air pressure creates a cushion of air between the stack of fabric and the work table to move the stacked material to the cutting station.

Abstract: Sewing apparatus includes a manipulator for manipulating the workpiece on the sewing table with respect to the sewing head, the manipulator including a first arm rotatably mounted to the main frame about a first vertical axis, a second arm rotatably mounted to the first arm about a second vertical axis, a manipulatable head rotatably mounted to the second arm about a third verticle axis, and a plurality of rotary motors for rotating the first and second arms and the manipulator head about their respective axes. The manipulator head is a suction head, and the table is formed with apertures for selectively applying either positive or negative fluid pressure to its upper face in order to selectively produce either suction for holding the workpiece, or an air cushion for facilitating moving the workpiece by the manipulator. According to a still further feature, the apparatus also includes a workpiece detector continuously monitoring the location of the edge of the workpiece with respect to the sewing head.

Abstract: A sewing machine has a feed for the workpiece which is to be sewn. A workpiece conveyor performs a skipping feed movement below the workpiece. Above the workpiece a turning device enables the workpiece to be turned about an axis which is coincident with the needle. In order to sew in an edge-parallel manner with an automatic guidance, workpieces made from soft materials with curved or angular seam courses, may be turned responsive to air nozzles directed in acutely-angled manner on to the supporting plate. The air nozzles are arranged tangentially, and in spaced manner, with respect to the needle.

Abstract: A combination stitching system including a pneumatic sensing apparatus which operates to assure the presence of a material to be stitched is in a proper location before machine operation is possible is disclosed. The combination system comprises a machine (10) for stitching or sewing a material (30) with thread (26). At least one reciprocating needle (12) receives thread (26) through an aperture (28) for stitching the material (30). A power source (20) is connected by a drive linkage (18) which includes a clutch (21) and which provides reciprocating motion to needle (12). The clutch (21) operates to selectively connect and disconnect the power source from the reciprocating needle (12) by means of an activating means (22). To assure that the reciprocating needle operates only when a work piece (30) is in a position to be stitched, there is also included a pneumatic sensing apparatus (32).

Abstract: A succession of like textile fabric pieces is placed in a series on a conveyor which runs through an automated sewing station. There is some space between individual pieces. Immediately prior to the sewing station, the lateral disposition of a critical site on the piece about to be sewn and then being sewn is automatically sensed and, if necessary, automatically shifted to a uniform disposition. Preferably any error in original placement of the pieces is in placing the edge too far over in one lateral direction, so that if any adjustment is necessary, it takes the form of pushing the respective fabric piece edge margin laterally of the conveyor toward the opposite edge of that fabric piece. Thus, it is generally not necessary to laterally drag the whole fabric piece laterally of the conveyor, but only necessary to move a small marginal portion of the fabric piece.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming loops of strip material, with each loop comprising a length of the material having its ends secured together, comprising a sewing machine for stitching ends of the length of strip material together to form it into a closed loop, and nozzles for directing air under pressure at the material for intermittently feeding a length of the stip material from a supply. A guide is provided for guiding the leading end portion of the strip material as it is fed forward from the supply generally into the form of a U extending down on one side of the sewing machine and up on the other side of the sewing machine. A cutter is provided for cutting the strip material at the trailing end of the U-shaped leading end portion of the strip material to provide a generally U-shaped length of the material with the sides of the U-shaped length of material extending on opposite sides of the sewing machine.

Abstract: Sheet material is taken from a supply, moved along its length to a cutting station, the sheet material is cut into segments, and the cut segments are moved parallel to their cut edges, the cut edges are hemmed, and the segments are folded. At the cutting station the leading portion of the sheet material is gripped and pulled from the entrance to the cutting station to the other side thereof, a slack bar is moved downwardly into the segment of sheet material in the cutting station to form slack in the segment, and the segment in the cutting station is clamped against parallel conveyor tapes. A cutting disc is drawn across the sheet material at the entrance to the cutting station, and the parallel conveyor tapes move the sheet parallel to its cut edges to a hemming station where the edges are folded and hemmed. The hems of the side edges are expanded after being mechanically formed and prior to being sewn.

Abstract: A pair of cam driven finger pieces of a holder unit for a hose such as a seamless hose allow travel of the toe section of the hose across the sewing region on a sewing machine along a prescribed arc locus and timely controlled ejection of air jet in the sewing region enables successful and stable sewing action on the toe section even with use of a fixed sewing machine. High production rate is resulted despite simple and compact construction.

Abstract: A workpiece guide for separately guiding, aligning and removing the curled edges of superposed layers of fabric to be joined by seaming in a sewing machine. The guide includes a plurality of spaced and vertically aligned plate elements forming passages therebetween for the fabric layers. The leading edges of the plate elements have a curved profile and adjacent the sewing axis these profiles are formed to extend in the direction of the sewing zone and define recesses with a configuration of bulbous outline. The edges of the plate elements forming the entrance to the recesses are tapered in the direction of their respective passages and are effective in engaging the pieces of fabric to complete the unrolling and straightening of the fabric edges as they enter their respective passage.

Abstract: Apparatus for guiding work through a sewing machine in which the work, as it is fed through the machine, is biased laterally into engagement with an edge guide by a vacuum-induced flow of air. The apparatus is particularly useful for guiding superposed plies of material as they are fed through the machine and aligning the edges of the plies along which they are stitched by the machine.

Abstract: Stocking toe end closing apparatus of the type having a series of horizontal stocking turning tubes mounted on a rotatable base for indexing to a position for spreading stocking toe ends carried on the supports, and for further indexing to a seaming position where the stocking toe ends are closed. The turning tubes are connected to a suction source at index positions before and after the spreading and closing positions for everting stockings thereat.

Abstract: Automated machine and method for closing the toe ends of an otherwise completed panty hose type garment, by seams which are inside the toes when the finished garment is right side out. The machine consists basically of a garment input section, toe closing section and discharge section. The input section includes means for mounting the garment and then advancing the toe ends of its leg portions to the toe closing section, preparatory to closing the toes. The toe closing section includes a seaming device forming identical seams in the toe ends of the garment by a chain of stitches, an automatic trimmer for cutting the chain of stitches close to the toe fabrics and toe fabric clamping assemblies to deliver the toe ends to the seaming device. The discharge section includes means for receiving the garment, following the toe closing operation, and for the removal of the finished garment, right side out, from the machine in completed condition ready for packaging.