Abstract: Various buttress loaders are provided for cleaning and affixing one or more buttresses to an end effector of a surgical stapler. In an exemplary embodiment, a buttress loader can be configured to clean at least one tissue-engaging surface of an end effector on a surgical stapler, and the buttress loader can be configured to attach a buttress to the at least one tissue-engaging surface of the end effector. For example, a buttress loader can have two slots configured to receive the end effector therein. One slot can be configured to clean the end effector, and the other slot can be configured to attach the buttress to the end effector.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a feed mechanism which feeds a workpiece by a feed dog partially protruding out upward from an upper surface of a throat plate and moving along a predetermined feeding direction; a presser foot which presses the workpiece on the upper surface of the throat plate from above; a feed guide which has an abutting surface along the feeding direction and guides feeding of the workpiece; and a control device. The feed mechanism includes a lateral feed mechanism which adds a moving component in a direction along the upper surface of the throat plate and orthogonal to the predetermined feeding direction, to the feed dog. The control device controls the feed mechanism to feed the workpiece by adding a moving component to a side of the abutting surface of the feed guide by the lateral feed mechanism, in addition to the feeding along the regulated feeding direction.

Abstract: Provided is a sewing machine including: a fabric folding device that includes a guide member that is movable relative to the fabric and a stationary member that is located adjacent to the guide member; and a retraction detection member that is located on a front side of the guide member and includes a pair of electric contacts that enable electric conduction by contacting with each other, the retraction detection member being configured to switch the operational state of the pair of electric contacts by abutment of a start point of a hemming seam with the retraction detection member in association with movement of the fabric in sewing the fabric. The guide member is moved by switching the operational state of the pair of electric contacts so as to retract from a path of the start point moved along with movement of the fabric.

Abstract: A cloth edge curl correction device includes: a support plate extending along the direction of feed of a cloth at a front position of a turn-back guide device folding up and down over a given width the edge part of the cloth to be fed into a needle location position on a cylindrical bed; a cloth support provided near the support plate and supporting the cloth from the under; and an air ejection nozzle ejecting air toward a base part of the cloth support. Ejected air from the air ejection nozzle is applied to the edge of the cloth on the cloth support so that a curl generated in the edge is smoothed and corrected and then the cloth is fed in a manner that the edge goes along the support plate.

Abstract: A shade for covering a window, a door, or a wall opening is provided comprising a shade material forming a shade portion and an integral hem bar assembly constructed by folding a bottom portion of the shade material. The hem bar assembly comprises an outer laterally extending pocket that envelopes an inner laterally extending pocket. Upon meeting a horizontal surface, the outer pocket of the hem bar assembly deflects and conforms to the horizontal surface to eliminate any light gap between the hem bar assembly and the horizontal surface without causing the shade portion of the shade material to buckle or ripple. The hem bar assembly is constructed such that no excess material, edges, or ends appear on the front surface of the shade material.

Abstract: A method including: providing a portion of double cloth including a first layer joined to a second layer, the layers being joined by a two-dimensional distribution of joining threads obtained by weaving; detaching the first layer from the second layer along an edge zone of the double cloth, to define on the first layer a band in which the first layer is separated from the second layer; cutting the band of the first layer, so that the second layer exhibits a projecting strip which projects with respect to a free edge of the first layer; arranging a further portion of fabric in contact with the second layer; joining the further portion of fabric to the second layer by a joining line arranged along the projecting strip; after the step of joining, turning the further portion of fabric, to move the further portion of fabric away from the second layer.

Abstract: A device for temporary hemming/cuffing children's pants legs is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention is a device having an outer body portion and an inner tongue portion connected by a hinge. The hinge creates an offset distance between the outer body and the inner tongue, and is biased to angle the inner tongue through the outer body. The inner tongue may be deflected from its neutral position to form a recess to accommodate material, such as a cuff made by turning the bottom edge of a pants leg over the pants leg. Another embodiment of the present invention is a clip having a pair of arms extending from a tongue portion. The arms are adapted to engage the bottom of a turned up edge of the pants leg thereby preventing the clip from sliding down the cuff.

Abstract: A device for temporary hemming/cuffing children's pants legs is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention is a device having an outer body portion and an inner tongue portion connected by a hinge. The hinge creates an offset distance between the outer body and the inner tongue, and is biased to angle the inner tongue through the outer body. The inner tongue may be deflected from its neutral position to form a recess to accommodate material, such as a cuff made by turning the bottom edge of a pants leg over the pants leg. Another embodiment of the present invention is a clip having a pair of arms extending from a tongue portion. The arms are adapted to engage the bottom of a turned up edge of the pants leg thereby preventing the clip from sliding down the cuff.

Abstract: A method for forming a textile article includes forming a hem. An end flap at the edge of the article is folded toward the main body of the textile article. An inner end of the flap is held to the main body of the textile article. The method for holding the article may be by thermal bonding of the flap to the main body or application of an adhesive therebetween. Embellished stitching secures the hem to the main body of the textile article.

Abstract: A method for straightening the edges of a work piece. The method includes the steps of determining the average edge position of each edge of the work piece, calculating an average edge line for each edge of the work piece, determining an actual corner point for each corner of the work piece, calculating a determined edge line through each of the actual corner points of the work piece, determining a number of actual edge points, determining if actual edge points are within the determined edge lines, and adjusting the determined edge lines inward until the actual edge points are within the determined edge lines.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (40) and a method of aligning an edge (7) of a textile material web (43). Said material web (43) is delivered so as to lie at least in sections flat on top of a work surface (10) and, while lying on the work surface (10), is conveyed in a conveying direction (9) by means of a conveying device (11, 12a, 12b). An adjusting member (46, 47) is applied from above at least in sections against the material web (43) in the course of conveying in conveying direction (9) in the region of at least one edge (7) extending parallel to the conveying direction (9), wherein the material web (43) is at least slightly pressed between adjusting member (46, 47) and work surface (10). The adjusting member (46, 47) is, on the one hand, displaceable synchronously with the conveying motion of the material web (43) parallel to the conveying direction (9).

Abstract: A device (1) for the transportation of a length of cloth (10) is disclosed. The device has a slide face (7) on which the length of cloth (10), laid out flat, can be moved, and at least two conveying belts (140-14d, 17), each disposed so that they run in the direction of conveyance (13, 16). The first conveying belt (17) is disposed in front of the second conveying belt (140-14d) in the direction of conveyance (13, 16). For the purpose of io the transmission of a conveying motion, at least the second conveying belt (140-14d) can be brought into contact with the length of cloth (10) from above. In the transition region between a first conveying belt (17) and a second conveying belt (140-14d), there is provided at least one pressure element (20, 21) which, pressing the length of cloth (10) against the slide face (7), can be brought into contact with the length of cloth (10) from above, at least in regions.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a method of making a lined fabric product having an open hem construction. An open hem construction refers to a lined fabric product in which a liner fabric is hemmed separately from a cover fabric. In this configuration, the liner fabric is allowed to drape independently from the cover fabric. In the past, fabric articles, such as curtains and draperies, having an open hem construction were primarily made exclusively by hand. The process of the present invention, on the other hand, allows some automation, improving the speed and cost at which the products are made.

Abstract: A hem monitoring system for a textile finishing device having one or more sewing heads positioned along a predetermined path for finishing the hem on a textile product in a high speed manner. The monitoring system includes a camera, a monitor, and means for controlling the camera such that an image of the hem is captured and displayed on the monitor so as to inspect the quality of the hem.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming and joining large and small hems particularly on denim jeans and other types of trousers. An internally folded large hem is formed mechanically and in a highly accurate manner by engaging the end portion of a trouser leg under circumferential tension and folding a projected hem margin into the trouser leg while supporting opposite sides of the trouser leg in a region immediately adjacent to the desired hem fold line. A full depth small hem may be formed by compressing a limited portion of the large hem into a fold, with the raw edge of the fabric positioned substantially at the fold line of the large hem. The configuration of the compressed limited portion is retained until the sewing machine is in position to grip it and commence sewing. A continuous fold former is brought into position before sewing is commenced to complete the small hem folding initiated by the initial compression.

Abstract: An air assisted hem former for folding a margin of a foldable material which uses at least one stream of air to urge margin material through a folded cavity. The folded cavity and airflow moves the margin toward a sewing needle, directs the margin material to a proper stitching position and maintain the stitching position until the needle has stitched the hem. Two similarly formed hem formers can be mounted on opposing sides of a sewing needle to urge, direct and maintain the margin material prior to stitching of a hem.

Abstract: A device for mechanically turning over at least one longitudinal edge of a continuous fabric web is provided with a conveyor for conveying the fabric web in the direction of the longitudinal edge and at least one edge turning device (1). The edge turning device (1) has two guide elements (2, 3), which can each be applied to one side of the fabric web in the region of a longitudinal edge section. An inner guide element (2) includes a convex guide surface (14) and the outer guide element (3) includes a matching concave guide surface (15). The opposing guide surfaces (14, 15) of the two guide elements (2, 3) are arranged in the edge turning device (1) so as to form a gap (10), whose width is at least slightly larger than the thickness of the fabric web in the region of the longitudinal edges. As the fabric web is drawn through the gap (10), the longitudinal edge of the fabric web is turned over in the desired manner.

Abstract: A hem former (16) for folding the margin of a sheet of material in preparation for sewing is mounted to the sewing bed (11) of a sewing machine (10). The hem former has a mounting plate (17), a guide plate (18) having a guide edge (23), a support plate (22) having a front edge (28) reciprocally mounted upon the guide plate and channels (24), and a guide cap (36). The guide cap has air nozzles (38) coupled to a supply of compressed air so as to generate an airstream directed beneath the front edge of the support plate and into the channels of the support plate. The airstream urges the margin of material over the front edge of the support plate and into abutment with the guide edge.

Abstract: A sewing machine for automatically hemming garments includes an arm shaft for driving a sewing needle up and down, upper and lower feed rollers disposed by the sewing needle for moving a hem of a garment under pressure, and first and second drive motors for driving the upper and lower feed rollers, respectively, independently of the arm shaft.

Abstract: An air assisted hem former for folding a margin of a foldable material which uses at least one stream of air to urge margin material through a folded cavity. The folded cavity and airflow moves the margin toward a sewing needle, directs the margin material to a proper stitching position and maintain the stitching position until the needle has stitched the hem. Two similarly formed hem formers can be mounted on opposing sides of a sewing needle to urge, direct and maintain the margin material prior to stitching of a hem.

Abstract: A rolled hem forming process and a rolled hem provider incorporating the process are disclosed. The process eliminates use of a conventional truncated pipe which is capable of properly forming a rolled portion on only certain types of fabric materials. The process of the invention is capable of securely and smoothly forming a rolled portion on virtually any type of fabric material, thick or thin, or undulated or not undulated.

Abstract: A textile fold control system (40) includes a hem engager (46) mounted to a downstream side of a sewing machine (42), and a roller (76) for engaging and moving a hem formed in a textile work piece slightly downward so as to bend the hem about a trailing edge (79) of a work surface (54) of the sewing machine, thereby applying increased frictional contact between an edge portion (88) of the work piece and the work surface, and additional surface-to-surface contact between the edge portion and an adjacent body portion (90) of the hem in order to avoid the curling or unfolding of the hem during a pre-feed portion of the sewing cycle of the sewing machine.

Abstract: A hemming and seaming machine (5) having a hemming conveyor (16) on which a workpiece is moved along a path of travel toward and through a hemming station which sews a hem in the workpiece is disclosed. The hemmed workpiece is then moved downstream to a folding station (25) where a spaced series of first air jets (61) selectively emit streams of air between a folding plate (26) and clamping plate (55) to create a vacuum therebetween to draw the leading edge of the workpiece off of the hemming conveyor and between the folding plate and the clamping plate. The leading edge of the workpiece is held between the clamping and folding plates while the workpiece continues to move along the path of travel. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the detection of the leading edge of the workpiece, or in response to the detection of the trailing edge of the workpiece, the leading edge of the workpiece is released from between the folding and clamping plates.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising two horizontal and parallel guides in which the lateral borders of the cloth to be quilted are inserted. The guides have grippers and can move transversely to the cloth advancement direction. Downstream of the guides there are provided two counterrotating rollers between which the cloth that exits from the guides is to be inserted. Downstream of the counterrotating rollers there is provided a cloth finishing device which forms two parallel lines of stitches. The device is also provided with a rotating blade which cuts the cloth along a line which lies between the two lines of stitches.

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: The present invention relates to a sewing machine attachment for sewing a length of hem material onto an edge of a workpiece comprising a hem folder, the hem folder configured for folding a strip of hem material and aligning the folded hem material with a needle of a sewing machine to facilitate the sewing thereof onto an edge of a fabric workpiece and a linkage mechanism connected to the hem folder for interconnecting the hem folder to a workpiece feeder of a sewing machine whereby movement of the workpiece feeder causes reciprocation of the hem folder and synchronous advancement of the hem material with the fabric workpiece. The present invention also relates to an automatic sewing machine provided with the sewing machine attachment.

Abstract: Corner controller (62) (FIG. 5) includes a conically shaped corner control wheel (90) that is rotated so as to apply a sweeping motion against the facing surface of the textile segment (12). This results in removing any folds or wrinkles from the textile segment as it moves to the sewing station (64). The corner control wheel is up the sewing path, ahead of the turning axis (111) of the textile segment. Therefore, when the textile segment is turned by the turning plate (45) through 90.degree. to form a curved corner about the textile segment (FIG. 6), the corner control wheel (90) urges the corner to move through its turning motion, so as to avoid nonuniform turning of the corner and any wrinkling of the corner material, and therefore avoiding the doubling up or bunching of the stitches formed about the rounded corner of the final textile segment.

Abstract: A machine for automatically producing apparel sleeves that includes a station at which the sleeve blank is trimmed, folded and hemmed. Another station 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: The present invention relates to a sewing machine attachment for sewing a length of hem material onto an edge of a workpiece comprising a device for folding a strip of hem material and aligning the folded hem material with a needle of a sewing machine to enable the sewing of folded hem material onto the edge of a fabric workpiece and a device for operably connecting the folding and aligning device with a workpiece feeder of a sewing machine, the connecting device is adapted to provide simultaneous reciprocation of the folding and aligning device with the workpiece feeder whereby movement of the workpiece by the feeder during a sewing operation will cause the strip of hem material to synchronously advance therewith and enable the hem material to be evenly sewn onto the fabric workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for forming a double hem in a textile web includes a first scroll which folds the margin inwardly and then outwardly positioning the margin between the first hem and the web. The apparatus relaxes the first hem and a second scroll and a guide wire cooperate to form a second hem which is in alignment with the first hem.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for converting a roll of material into various products such as curtains, draperies, valances, or the like. Specifically, the apparatus includes a roll let off for supporting and feeding a roll of material or cloth. After the let off, the edges of the cloth are cut if desired and are engaged by a pair of edge folding and positioning stations for forming vertically folded edges. The folded edges are then converted into hems and sewn into the material by a pair of corresponding hem sewing heads and cloth advancers. Once vertical hems are formed in the cloth, the cloth is cut to predetermined lengths and if desired, folded in a predetermined pattern. The folded pattern can then be transported to a sewing station for further sewing the material into a desired product.

Abstract: An attachment for a sewing machine which automatically conveys and folds cloth into an imitation cuff prior to sewing. The attachment comprises a conveyor which is modified to accept a tuck fold blade, an imitation cuff folder and an edge trimmer. After the material is conveyed through the edge trimmer, the imitation cuff folder forms an edge fold and a tuck fold in the material, as it is conveyed to the sewing area. The imitation cuff folder has two slots which guide the cloth into the two folds. The material is positioned in the folder by an edge fold tongue, which is attached to the imitation cuff folder and by the tuck fold blade which guides a portion from the center of the cloth into the tuck fold slot. The attachment converts to a plain hem configuration by retracting the tuck fold blade and adjusting the position of the edge trimmer.

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: The edge portion (18) of sheet material moves about a turning plate (65), moving through first and second right angle turns (44) and (45). A turning belt (50) moves in unison with the edge portion (18) through the first two turns, and then moves through third and fourth right angle turns to advance along its return flight. An open ended slot (73) is formed between the first and second right angle turns to allow the turning belt and edge portion to move from beneath the turning plate to above the turning plate, so as to permit the edge portion of the sheet material to always turn in a downward direction as it is being turned over and placed in a folded position. Folding plate (77) guides the sheet material to help form the fold (20) in the sheet material, and separator plate (76) separates the edge portion (18) of the sheet material from the turning belt (50).

Abstract: An automatic hemming machine, including a multi-belt conveyor, for folding the top edge of a pocket to be subsequently sewn on a shirt and hemming it with a back binding tape, severing the binding tape sewn on the pockets with a fast acting scissors type trimming assembly, and thereafter stacking a predetermined number of pockets after being fed off of the conveyor and returning one or more stacks in a bundle to an operator who does not have to leave the work station to unload the bundle from the machine.

Abstract: A hem former (75) for folding the margin of a sheet of material in preparation for sewing is mounted to the sewing bed (71) of a sewing machine (70). The hem former has a mounting block (76), a guide plate (83) having a guide edge (93) and channels (94) extending therethrough, a top folder plate (80) pivotally mounted to the mounting block, and a lower folder assembly (85). The lower folder assembly has a lower folder plate (97) mounted for reciprocal movement over the guide plate and a hem edge detector (100). The mounting block has air nozzles (95) coupled to a supply of compressed air so as to generate an airstream directed beneath the lower folder plate and into the channels of the guide plate. The movement of the top folder plate over the lower folder plate creates an inward fold IF and an outward fold OF in the material.

Abstract: A hem former (16) for folding the margin of a sheet of material in preparation for sewing is mounted to the sewing bed (11) of a sewing machine (10). The hem former has a mounting plate (17), a guide plate (18) having a guide edge (23) and channels (24) extending therethrough, a support plate (22) having a front edge (28) reciprocally mounted upon the guide plate, and a guide cap (36). The guide cap has air nozzles (38) coupled to a supply of compressed air so as to generate an airstream directed beneath the front edge of the support plate and into the channels of the guide plate. The airstream urges the margin of material over the front edge of the support plate and into abutment with the guide edge.

Abstract: A feeding device of a wide sewing material comprises a first belt conveyer unit provided on a supporting member vertically driven by a first elevating unit, a first base plate vertically driven by a second elevating unit provided on the supporting member, a horizontally driving unit for horizontally driving a second base plate and a second belt conveyer unit which is supported by the second base plate and is arranged on the side of the edge portion to be sewn of the wide sewing material in parallel therewith and which is driven to rotate by a rotary device. Since the feeding device can secure a large space from the edge portion by retracting the second belt conveyer units, next operation can be performed with ease. As a result, it is possible to perform the feeding and sewing of a wide sewing material, which is difficult to work at the edge portion thereof automatically, with accuracy and efficiency.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes two machine halves spaced from one another and each provided with respective tongues capable of displacing pieces of the material web previously cut into pieces on a conveyor, the conveyor being provided with guide rails, one of the rails being formed with a starting portion inclined along and transverse to a travel direction of the conveyor, so that each of the pieces of the web received by the conveyor is delivered to a sewing machine with respective longitudinal edges bent upwardly with respect to a main portion of the web, preventing thereby unraveling the weft upon cutting the web by inherent gravity forces.

Abstract: An automatic sewing apparatus is disclosed for sewing together a pair of first edges of two overlapped bodies by a cross seam, each of the bodies being formed by sewing together a pair of second edges of two pieces of overlapped cloth, wherein the two bodies are layered with the margins to the seam of the second edges facing away from each other, and the apparatus comprising a sewing device for sewing the overlapped bodies together, a table for supporting the bodies to be sewn, and a sewn edge fold-down device for folding down the margin of one of the bodies in the direction to feed the cloth, and the margin of the other body in the opposite direction before sewing the first edges.

Abstract: A towel cloth positioning device comprises a plurality of projectors provided above a work table for projecting indication marks on the hemming portion of a sheet of towel cloth which is cut piece by piece and is placed on the work table so as to indicate given positions on the hemming portion thereof and pressing units for pressing the towel cloth at the hemming portion thereof on the work table by way of pressing members capable of individually pressing the hemming portion of the towel cloth. Inasmuch as the edge of the hemming portion of the towel cloth can be accurately cut at the edge thereof, it is possible to effectively produce a high quality towel. Moreover, inasmuch as the positioning according to the positioning patterns is performed a plurality of times, it is possible to place various kinds of towel cloths along a line indicated by the positioning patterns with ease and accuracy.

Abstract: An automatic sewing apparatus for hemming and closing a sleeve is used for hemming a sleeve blank and sewing it into tubular form for making, for example, a short-sleeved T-shirt. The steps subsequent to putting the sleeve blank on a conveyor are done fully automatically and continuously to make the tubular sleeve. The apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention comprises first and second sewing machines disposed at inner corner sides of an L-shaped sewing table, a feed device having a conveying surface disposed on a table part of the first sewing machine side of the sewing table, a folding member for folding the blank edge along the feed direction, a deflecting device having a member for stopping the running of the front end of the hemmed piece above the conveying surface, and a transfer device for feeding the deflected piece of a hemmed sleeve blank to the second sewing machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for low cost, high production setting of pockets on tubular shirt bodies. An indexable turret apparatus is provided forming a plurality of radially extending work platforms arranged successively to receive and support loosely draped tubular shirt bodies and to support and position pocket plies thereover. At successive index positions, the pocket plies are folded and clamped on the front of the shirt bodies, then sewn to the shirts in the desired manner, and then removed and draped over a stacking bar, for eventual further processing. A single operator, working at the load station, places the shirt bodies and pocket parts in position, after which successive indexings of the equipment cause the necessary production operations to take place.

Abstract: A device for producing a rolled hemming of a cloth including a rolling tool for rolling an edge of said cloth therein. The tool has an outer shell member and an inner shell member. A spiral shaped gap is formed between the shells for feeding the cloth edge therethrough. The gap has an entry opening for receiving the cloth edge and a discharge opening from which the cloth edge is discharged. The width of said gap decreases from the entry opening to the discharge opening. The tool is fixedly mounted upstream of a presser foot of a sewing machine with respect to a feeding direction of the cloth and downstream of the presser foot with respect to a cloth edge rolling direction. A cloth feeding mechanism for coercively tucking the cloth into the rolling tool in the rolling direction includes an endless sliding member for clamping the cloth edge at a portion of the shells whereby a portion of the cloth is exposed out of both shell members; and a rotary driving mechanism for driving the endless sliding member.

Abstract: A process for edging a fabric which includes the steps of rolling the edge of the fabric loosely and then sewing the rolled edge with a tight zig-zag stitch which overlaps the outer fold of the rolled edge. In one arrangement, the zig-zag stitch is wider than the rolled portion and completely crosses over the rolled edge. A stiffener is added in one arrangement.

Abstract: An automatic sewing apparatus for hemming and closing a sleeve is used for making a tubular sleeve a short-sleeved T-shirt. After placing the sleeve blanks on a conveyor only, subsequent operations are done fully automatically and continuously to make tubular sleeves, resulting in labor savings, productivity enhancement, and a reduction in savings production cost. In particular two types of shapes cut for sleeves can be sewn by using the apparatus by turning them in the appropriate direction. The apparatus comprises a first sewing machine for hemming and a second sewing machine for edge sewing disposed at both inner corner sides of an L-shaped sewing table, a blank feed device installed at a table part of the first sewing machine side, a folding member for the blank edge, a hemmed piece deflecting device, and direction turning members for turning the deflected piece.

Abstract: An apparatus for sewing elastic hems on fabric pieces is designed as a tandem machine. In a first sewing machine (26a), an elastic band (6) is prefixed at the edge of a fabric piece (8). During further conveyance thereof, the thus created double-ply structure is folded by 180.degree. by a baffle plate (34). A pair of conveying rollers (36, 38) withdraws the double-ply structure from the baffle plate. Between the first sewing machine (26a) and a second sewing machine (26b), provided for finishing the elastic hem, there is provided a deflection roller (40) deflecting the triple-ply structure, formed by said folding and consisting of fabric edge portion, an elastic band, and a fabric folding portion, from the horizontal. The deflection roller (40) is driven in a direction opposite to the conveying direction and thus takes care that the triple-ply structure, also in case of curved seams, remains closed and is sewn correctly.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for continuously, sequentially, fabricating garment components from fabric blanks by orienting the blanks and sequentially advancing them to a first station where they are aligned with a continuous extending fusible interfacing tape. A heated plate folds a marginal edge of the blank at the first station into engagement with the interfacing tape and selectively applies heat and pressure to adhesively bond the fabric folded portion to the interfacing tape. The fabric blank and tape are advanced to a sewing machine where the blank is hemmed to define the garment component. A cutter removes the tape intermediate adjacent components and the components are subsequently collected.

Abstract: Tee shirts are manufactured from tubular blanks while retained in a fastened stack and transported from station to station for completion of finishing operations. The blanks have bottom ends and two opposite shoulders, the process including stacking a group of tubular blanks in registry with corresponding bottom ends and shoulder locations of successive tubular blanks disposed over one another in a stack. The bottom edges can be preliminarily hemmed. The stack is attached via a fastener which detachably engages an overhead conveyor. The fastener is attached at the hemmed bottom end such that the tee shirt blanks in the stack remain in registry as they are processed and recover their registry when hung from the conveyor in a stack after a finishing step.

Abstract: Sheet material 30 is taken from a supply 32 and is cut by cutter 36 into segments 35. The segments are moved rapidly parallel to their cut edges into a slower operating first sewing station 40 where elastic bands are sewn to the side edges of the segments. The rapidly moving trailing portion of the segment 35 of sheet material is temporarily accumulated at the accumulation station 39 and progressively fed at a slower rate through the first sewing station 40. The side edges are folded into overlying relationship with respect to the main body portion at folding station 42. Sewing machines 64 and 165 are moved inwardly of the sewing path to simultaneously cut and sew diagonal corners at the trailing and leading edges of the segments, with the sewing machines pivoting so as to face the relative movement of the sheet material, and the removed corners 25 and elastic banding 21 are pulled away from the work product by a vacuum system 186.