Automatic sewing machine

Automatic sewing machine for joining workpiece components comprising sewing instrumentalities comprising a reciprocating needle, a work clamp supported by a support and allowing a workpiece having several components to be clamped such that the components are positioned in overlapping relationship, and a control means for ensuring the relative displacement of the support for the work clamp and the sewing instrumentalities in such a manner that a joining operation may be effected progressively along a desired path on a workpiece clamped by the work clamp, said work clamp comprising three elements, one element being fixed on the support and the others being movable relative to the fixed element, the arrangement being such that, when the elements of the work clamp are closed, the workpiece components placed therebetween as aforesaid are clamped near the region of overlap between the workpiece components, at opposite sides of the path along which the joining operation is to be effected, the passage of the reciprocating needle being however allowed in this region, the first and second of the three elements having respectively first and second abutments enabling the first and second components of a workpiece respectively to be positioned in overlapping relationship and in that the second and third elements clamp the first workpiece component while it is positioned by the first abutments, and the first and third elements clamp the second workpiece component while it is positioned by the second abutments by closing the movable elements against the fixed element of the work clamp.