Method and apparatus for producing a hemmed folded and seamed finished workpiece

A method of producing finished workpieces, for example sleeves and pant legs, on a hemming and seaming machine, the machine having an operator's station from which the machine is operated, each workpiece having a leading edge and a spaced trailing edge, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) placing the workpiece on a conveyor moving along a first path of travel toward a hemming station;
• b) forming a hem in the workpiece along a first side edge of the workpiece extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge thereof;
• c) conveying the hemmed workpiece, leading edge first, along said conveyor toward a downstream folding station;
• d) detecting a leading edge of the workpiece as it is moved along said conveyor toward said folding station;
• e) forming a vacuum between a folding plate and a clamping plate spaced from the folding plate in response to the detection of the leading edge of the workpiece;
• f) drawing the leading edge of the workpiece upwardly and away from the conveyor and holding the workpiece between the folding plate and said clamping plate with said vacuum;
• g) folding the workpiece over onto itself as the remainder of the workpiece continues to move beneath the folding plate and along the first path of travel;
• h) transferring the workpiece to a downstream seamer station;
• i) sewing a seam in a second side edge of the workpiece;
• j) moving the workpiece toward a downstream workpiece stacking station and onto a flip panel positioned at said workpiece stacking station;
• and
• k) transferring the workpiece from the flip panel into a bundle tray positioned with respect to the machine operator's station for permitting visual inspection of the completed workpieces by the machine operator.

A hemming and sewing machine for producing a finished hemmed, folded, and seamed workpiece, each workpiece having a leading edge, a spaced trailing edge, and a continuous hem sewn at the hemming station along a first side edge of the workpiece extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge thereof, the workpiece being conveyed leading edge first along a first path of travel on a first conveyor, said machine comprising:

• a folding station positioned downstream of the hemming station adjacent the first path of travel;
• a detector for detecting the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of the workpiece as it is moved along the conveyor toward said folding station;
• a folding plate positioned at the folding station, said folding plate being supported above and generally parallel to the conveyor and having a first, upstream end and a spaced second, downstream end;
• a clamping plate supported above said folding plate, said clamping plate being generally parallel to said folding plate and having a first upstream end and a spaced second downstream end;
• and
• means for creating a vacuum between said folding plate and said clamping plate to draw the leading edge of the workpiece between said folding plate and said clamping plate as the workpiece passes beneath the folding plate on the conveyor;
• said clamping plate being constructed and arranged to be reciprocably moved into engagement with said folding plate for clamping the leading edge of the workpiece therebetween as the remainder of the workpiece continues to move beneath the folding plate and along the path of travel;
• wherein the workpiece is at least partially folded over onto itself as it progresses along the first path of travel beyond said folding station.

A hemming and sewing machine for producing a finished hemmed, folded, and seamed workpiece, the machine having an operator's station from which the machine is operated, each workpiece having a leading edge, a spaced trailing edge, the workpiece being conveyed leading edge first along a first path of travel on a first conveyor, said machine comprising:

• a hemming station constructed and arranged to form a hem in a first side edge of the workpiece extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge thereof;
• a folding station positioned downstream of the hemming station and along the path of travel, said folding station including:
• i) a folding station detector constructed and arranged to detect the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of the workpiece as it is moves along the conveyor toward said folding station;
• ii) a folding plate supported above and being generally parallel to the conveyor, said folding plate having a first upstream end and a spaced second downstream end;
• iii) a clamping plate supported above said folding plate and being generally parallel thereto, said clamping plate having a first upstream end and a spaced second downstream end and being constructed and arranged to be reciprocably moved into engagement with said folding plate for clamping the leading edge of the workpiece therebetween;
• and
• iv) means for creating a vacuum between said clamping and folding plates for drawing the leading edge of the workpiece away from said conveyor and between said folding plate and said clamping plate as the remainder of the workpiece continues to move beneath the folding plate on the conveyor and along the path of travel;
• wherein the workpiece is at least partially folded over onto itself at said folding station.