Sewing machine attachment for aligning a reinforcement member in a hem

A hem folding attachment for a hem forming machine comprising:

• a frame having a top forming a work surface;
• a guide mounted on said frame for aligning a strip of material on the work surface;
• a hem stop mounted on said frame for engaging the end of the strip of material;
• means mounted on said frame for aligning a reinforcement member on said strip in a spaced relation to the end of said strip;
• a folder bar mounted on said frame beneath the strip of material;
• means for moving said folder bar into engagement with the end of said strip between said member and said hem stop to fold said end around the edge of said member;
• a shuttle mounted for movement into engagement with the folded end of said strip, said shuttle including a wiper plate for folding the end of the strip over said member and a clamp for clamping the folded end of the strip around said member;
• and
• means for moving said shuttle transversely with respect to said strip to feed the folded end of said strip into the hem forming machine to secure the folded end to the strip to form the hem.

A hem forming machine attachment for a sewing machine for forming a hem on the end of a strip of material with a reinforcement member enclosed in the hem, said attachment comprising:

• a table;
• a guide mounted on said table for aligning a strip of material on the table;
• a hem stop mounted on said table to engage the end of the strip of material;
• a magazine mounted on said table for holding a number of reinforcement members;
• a blade for transferring a reinforcement member from said magazine to said strip of material;
• a clamp mounted on said table for holding said blade in engagement with said strip and in a spaced relation to said hem stop;
• a folder bar mounted on said table beneath said strip of material, said folder bar being moveable to a position above said strip to force the end of the strip between said blade and said hem stop around said blade;
• a shuttle mounted on said table for movement into engagement with the folded end of said strip;
• said shuttle including a clamp for engaging the folded end of said strip;
• means for releasing said blade holding clamp from said blade whereby said blade can be removed from said strip;
• means for moving said shuttle, transversely toward the machine for sewing said folded end of said strip to said strip to form the hem.