Method and apparatus for folding a long sleeve shirt

Method of folding a long-sleeve garment having a torso and two long sleeves, the torso being defined by a central segment and two side segments, the central segment being defined by imaginary lateral boundaries defined as two, imaginary, parallel planes spaced apart a distance corresponding to a predetermined, final fold width for the garment, the torso being further defined by a top portion and a bottom portion spanning all of the central and side portions, and the sleeves including a shoulder end connected to the top portion of the side segments and a free end opposite the shoulder end, said method comprising the steps of:

• laying out a long-sleeve garment with at least a portion of the garment torso in a flat condition;
• folding diagonally across the garment torso, aligning the free end of the sleeves within the lateral boundaries of the torso central segment;
• folding the garment along two fold lines, each fold line lying within one of the lateral boundary planes, wherein each side segment is folded relative to the central segment, and wherein the folded sleeves are interposed between the central segment and at least one of the two side segments;
• folding the garment again by bringing the bottom portion and top portion of the torso into overlying relationship.

Method of folding a long-sleeve garment having a torso and two long sleeves, the torso being defined by a central segment and two side segments, the torso being further defined by a top portion and a bottom portion spanning all of the central and side portions and by a waist edge, and the sleeves including a shoulder end connected to the top portion of the side segments and a free end opposite the shoulder end, said method comprising the steps of:

• supporting a first platform raised above a ground surface;
• supporting a second platform vertically displaced above the first platform;
• supporting a long sleeve garment on the second platform, at least one of the sleeves of the garment hanging down below the first platform;
• tucking the hanging-down sleeve between the first platform and the second platform;
• and
• moving the garment off the platforms and along a defined path while retaining the sleeve tucked beneath the garment torso, the defined path being perpendicular to the waist edge of the garment;
• folding one side segment of the torso relative to the central segment of the torso along a first fold line parallel to the defined path of movement to orient the one side segment in position underlying the central segment, wherein at least a portion of the folded sleeve is interposed between the one side segment and the central segment;
• folding the other side segment of the torso relative to the central segment of the torso along a second fold line parallel to the defined path of movement and displaced from the first fold line to orient the other side segment in position underlying the central segment, wherein the any portions of the folded sleeve not interposed between the one side segment and the central segment is interposed between the other side segment and at least one of the one side segment and the central segment.

Apparatus for pre-folding the long sleeves of a long-sleeve garment for eventual further folding and packaging, said apparatus comprising:

• a first platform raised above a ground surface;
• a second platform for supporting a long sleeve garment thereon with at least one of the sleeves of the garment hanging down below said first platform, said second platform being vertically displaced above said first platform defining a space between said first and second platforms;
• means for tucking a hanging-down sleeve between said first platform and said second platform;
• and
• means for sliding a garment off said platforms while retaining the sleeve tucked beneath the garment torso.