Method and apparatus for producing a hemmed folded and seamed finished

Abstract

A hemming and seaming machine is disclosed, the machine having a hemming conveyor on which a workpiece is moved along a first leg of a U-shaped path of travel toward and through a hemming station which sews a hem in the workpiece. Thereafter, the hemmed workpiece is then moved downstream toward a folding station where a spaced series of first air jets selectively emit a stream of air in a direction opposite the direction of the path of travel between a folding plate and a clamping plate to create a vacuum therebetween to draw the leading edge of the workpiece upward and between the folding plate and the clamping plate. Thereafter, the leading edge of the workpiece is held between the clamping and folding plates while a second series of air jets positioned upstream of the folding plate selectively blows a stream of air underneath the folding plate and against at least a portion the workpiece as it moves along the path of travel. Thereafter, after a pre-determined period of time has elapsed from the detection of the leading edge of the workpiece, or in response to the detection of the trailing edge of the workpiece, the leading edge of the workpiece is selectively released from between the folding and clamping plates. The hems of the folded workpiece are aligned, and the workpiece is then moved to a downstream seamer station along a second leg of the path of travel which sews a seam in the workpiece, whereupon the workpiece is passed on to a workpiece stacking station along a third leg of the path of travel for placement of the finished hemmed, folded, and seamed workpiece into a bundle tray positioned with respect to a machine operator's station.