Method for sleeve alignment prior to sewing

A device including a continuous conveyor for transporting a sleeve blank having a straight edge therealong, in a line of feed at a predetermined feed rate to a hemming machine, then to a mechanism for folding the hemmed sleeve blank and turning it insideout wherein the device comprises:

• said continuous conveyor including a support table having a smooth upper surface over which a plurality of spaced apart conveyor belts extend;
• a sensor for recognizing the leading edge of the sleeve blank as it is conveyed toward said hemming machine;
• a blower that directs a jet of air on said sleeve blank in the direction that it is being transported;
• an edge sensor for recognizing said straight edge of the sleeve blank as it is conveyed toward said hemming machine, said edge sensor generates signals indicating the position of said straight edge;
• an edge guide device positioned to engage said sleeve blank, said edge guide device exerts a feeding force to said sleeve blank in the line of feed at a rate that is synchronized with said predetermined feed rate and also exerts feeding forces to the sleeve blank normal to said line of feed in response to signals sent by said edge sensor.

A method of automatically aligning a cut shirt blank, having a straight edge, that is to be fed to a hemming machine such that its straight edge is aligned with the direction of feed of the hemming machine, comprising the steps of:

• sensing the leading edge of said sleeve blank as it is conveyed toward said hemming machine;
• sending a signal to a central processing unit that the leading edge of the sleeve blank has been recognized;
• sending signals from said central processing unit to activate an edge guide device;
• sensing the straight edge of said cut sleeve blank as it is being conveyed to said hemming machine;
• sending signals to said central processing unit indicating the position of said straight edge relative to said line of feed of the hemming machine;
• sending signals to said edge guide device that will cause said edge guide device to align said straight edge of the sleeve blank with the line of feed of the hemming machine;
• sending signals from said central processing unit to activate a blower;
• and
• directing an air jet from said blower that impinges on said cut sleeve blank in the direction of feed of said hemming machine.