Abstract: In a sewing station, an alignment device is provided in the delivery area from a first conveyance device to a second conveyance device and, seen from the direction of movement of the piece of material, before a processing station. The alignment device has alignment strips which may be raised and lowered and which are also horizontally adjustable. The strips are controlled by sensing elements sensing the arrangement of the front edges of the pieces of material and placed on the piece of material. In accordance with the oblique position of the forward moving edge of the piece of material, the alignment strips are moved together with the piece of material in the direction of conveyance or counter to the direction of conveyance, and this continues until the oblique position of the forward moving edge is corrected or lies within the allowable tolerance. After such alignment, the second conveyance device conveys the piece of material to the processing station.