Semi-automatic panel serger

Apparatus for providing a stitch along the edges of a material panel, comprising:

• a sewing machine having a movable material feed dog and reciprocable needle;
• structure defining a support surface surrounding at least a portion of the sewing machine;
• an edge member secured to said support surface in front of said sewing machine;
• a guide member located in spaced relationship over said support surface adjacent to said edge member for engaging and guiding edges of the material panel into the sewing machine;
• said guide member including an underside with inner and outer edges;
• the underside of said guide member including a guide surface defined by an arcuate notch of substantially constant height located in the outer edge of the proximal underside, a substantially straight outwardly inclined surface located in the outer edge of the distal underside, and a substantially flat surface extending along the inner edge;
• and
• means for sensing a material panel located in predetermined positions on said support surface relative to said sewing machine.

Apparatus for sewing the edges of material panels, comprising:

• a sewing machine including a movable material feed dog for advancing material along a feed path past a reciprocable needle;
• structure defining a support surface surrounding at least a portion of the sewing machine;
• an edge member secured to the support surface along the feed path in front of said sewing machine;
• a guide member positioned over the support surface adjacent to said edge member for engaging and guiding the edges of each material panel into the sewing machine;
• said guide member including an underside with inner and outer edges defined by an arcuate notch located along the outer edge in the proximal underside thereof, and a substantially straight inwardly declined surface located along the outer edge in the terminal underside thereof;
• means mounted in the support surface for sensing a material panel located in predetermined proximity ahead of said sewing machine;
• means mounted in said guide member for sensing a material panel in edgewise engagement therewith;
• means responsive to at least one of said sensing means for selectively immobilizing each material panel;
• and
• means located behind said sewing machine and responsive to at least one of said sensing means for selectively receiving and stacking each material panel after sewing.