Reinforced hem forming device

Abstract

A sewing machine installation with a reinforced hem forming device for automatically forming a hem, reinforced by an integrated reinforcing strip, along an edge of a material blank as the blank is conveyed forwardly through the forming device to a stitching station.

We claim: 
     
       1. A reinforced hem forming device for use in a sewing machine installation for automatically forming a reinforced hem, along a lateral edge of a material blank as the blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device, having a front hem face, an elongated reinforcing ribbon underlying the front face, and an outer lateral inwardly folded edge section having a back hem face underlying the reinforcing ribbon and a tucked edge portion intermediate the front and back hem faces, the reinforced hem forming device comprising a longitudinally extending inner face member having an upper inner face for receiving a front hem face portion of a material blank as the material blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device and an outer longitudinally extending fold edge for folding an outer lateral edge section of the material blank inwardly therearound to underlie the front hem face portion of the material blank to form a back hem face portion, a longitudinally extending ribbon guide underlying the inner face member providing a longitudinally extending ribbon channel therebelow for conveying a reinforcing ribbon longitudinally forwardly beneath the front hem face portion of the material blank, and a folder extending longitudinally forwardly generally below the inner face member and ribbon guide and defining a material receiving guide trough for receiving the outer lateral edge section of the material blank, the folder having a double longitudinally extending twist with a first longitudinally extending twist section twisting forwardly in a clockwise direction to define a first longitudinally extending guide trough section for folding the outer lateral edge section of the material blank inwardly around said fold edge of the inner face member and a second longitudinally extending twist section twisting in the clockwise direction to define a second longitudinally extending guide trough section for folding a tucked edge portion of the outer lateral edge section of the material blank to overly the back hem face portion of the material blank, the folder having a forward exit end adjacent the inner face member to provide that a hem formed on a material blank by the hem forming device exits from the forming device in a fully preformed condition with the reinforcing ribbon between the front and back hem faces thereof. 
     
     
       2. A reinforced hem forming device according to claim 1 further comprising a support base below the inner face member and folder and mounting means for independently mounting the inner face member and folder on the support base and for lateral adjustment of the inner face member relative to the support base. 
     
     
       3. A reinforced hem forming device according to claim 2 wherein the mounting means also provides for vertically adjusting the inner face member relative to the support base. 
     
     
       4. A reinforced hem forming device according to claim 1 further comprising a longitudinally extending outer member laterally outwardly of the inner face member and having an inner longitudinally extending edge spaced laterally outwardly of the fold edge of the inner face member to define a material receiving slot therebetween. 
     
     
       5. A reinforced hem forming device according to claim 4 wherein the folder is constructed of sheet metal and has an upper outwardly extending mounting flange and further comprising means for securing the folder mounting flange to the underside of the outer member to extend longitudinally forwardly generally below the inner face member and ribbon guide. 
     
     
       6. A reinforced hem forming device according to claim 1 wherein the inner face member has a laterally extending ribbon exit slot at the forward longitudinal end thereof for feeding the reinforcing ribbon upwardly from the ribbon channel into underlying engagement with the front hem face portion of the material blank. 
     
     
       7. A reinforced hem forming device for use in a sewing machine installation for automatically forming a reinforced hem, along a lateral edge of a material blank as the blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device, having a front hem face, an elongated reinforcing ribbon underlying the front hem face, an outer lateral inwardly folded edge section having a back hem face underlying the reinforcing ribbon and a tucked edge portion intermediate the ribbon and back hem face, the reinforced hem forming device comprising a longitudinally extending inner face plate having an upper face for receiving a front hem face portion of a material blank as the material blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device and an outer longitudinally extending edge with a longitudinally extending straight fold edge section for folding an outer lateral edge section of the material blank inwardly therearound to underlie the front hem face portion of the material blank to form a back hem face portion, a longitudinally extending ribbon guide plate underlying and spaced below the inner face plate to define a longitudinally extending ribbon channel therebetween for conveying a reinforcing ribbon longitudinally forwardly beneath the front hem face portion of the material blank, .[.approximately 45° to the longitudinal path of the material blank for feeding the ribbon from transversely thereof under the ribbon guide plate, over the inclined leading edge and then longitudinally forwardly along the ribbon channel,.]. and a sheet metal folder extending longitudinally forwardly generally below the inner face plate and ribbon guide plate having a pair of spaced side walls defining a material receiving guide trough therebetween, the folder having a depending generally U-shaped rear entry generally aligned with the straight edge section of the inner face plate and with the spaced sidewalls respectively flaring laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly for assisting in guiding the outer lateral edge section of the material blank into the guide trough as the material blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device, the spaced folder sidewalls having a double longitudinally extending twist with a first longitudinally extending twist section twisting in the clockwise direction to define a first longitudinally extending guide trough section for folding the outer lateral edge section of the material blank inwardly around the straight edge section of the inner face plate and a second longitudinally extending twist section twisting in the clockwise direction to define a second longitudinally extending guide trough section for folding a tucked edge portion of the outer lateral edge section of the material blank upwardly and outwardly to overly the back hem face, the ribbon guide plate having a forward end rearwardly of the forward end of the inner face plate and the folder having a forward exit end adjacent the inner face plate to provide that a reinforced hem formed on a material blank by the hem forming device exits from the forming device in a fully preformed condition with the reinforcing ribbon between the front and back hem faces thereof. 
     
     
       8. A reinforced hem forming device according to claim 7 wherein the ribbon guide plate has a longitudinally rear entry edge inclined approximately 45° to the longitudinal path of the material blank for feeding the ribbon from transversely thereof under the ribbon guide plate, over the inclined leading edge and then longitudinally forwardly along the ribbon channel. .Iadd. 9. A reinforced hem forming device for use in a sewing machine installation for automatically forming a reinforced hem along a lateral edge of a material blank as the blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device, the reinforced hem comprising a front hem face, an elongated reinforcing ribbon underlying the front face, and an outer laterally inwardly folded edge section having a back hem face underlying the reinforcing ribbon, the reinforced hem forming device comprising a longitudinally extending inner face member having an upper inner face for receiving a front hem face portion of a material blank as the material blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device and an outer longitudinally extending fold edge for folding an outer lateral edge section of the material blank downwardly and inwardly therearound to underlie the front hem face portion of the material blank to form a back hem face portion, a longitudinally extending ribbon guide underlying the inner face member providing a longitudinally extending ribbon channel therebelow for conveying a reinforcing ribbon longitudinally forwardly beneath the front hem face portion of the material blank, and fold means extending longitudinally forwardly generally below the inner face member and ribbon guide for folding the outer lateral edge section of the material blank inwardly around said fold edge of the inner face member as the material blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device, the fold means having a forward exit end adjacent the inner face member for feeding a reinforced hem formed on a material blank by the hem forming device forwardly therefrom in a fully preformed condition with the reinforcing ribbon between the front and back hem faces thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 10. A reinforced hem forming device for use in a sewing machine installation for automatically forming a reinforced hem along a lateral edge of a material blank as the blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly along a generally horizontal path with a lateral edge portion of the blank conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device; the reinforced hem comprising a front hem face, an elongated reinforcing ribbon underlying the front face, a back hem face underlying the reinforcing ribbon and a tucked edge portion intermediate the reinforcing ribbon and back hem face; the reinforced hem forming device comprising a longitudinally extending inner face member having an upper generally horizontal planar face for receiving a front hem face portion of a material blank as the material blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device and an outer longitudinally extending fold edge for folding an outer lateral edge section of the material blank downwardly and inwardly therearound to underlie the front hem face portion of the material blank, a longitudinally extending ribbon guide underlying the inner face member providing a longitudinally extending ribbon channel therebelow for conveying a reinforcing ribbon longitudinally forwardly beneath the front hem face portion of the material blank, and fold means extending longitudinally forwardly generally below the inner face member and ribbon guide for folding the outer lateral edge section of the material blank inwardly around said fold edge of the inner face member to form a back hem face portion thereof underlying said reinforcing ribbon and for folding a tucked edge portion of the outer lateral edge section upwardly and outwardly between the back hem face portion and the reinforcing ribbon, the fold means having a forward exit end adjacent the inner face member for longitudinally feeding a reinforced hem formed by the hem forming device forwardly therefrom in a fully preformed condition with the reinforcing ribbon between the front hem face and tucked edge portions thereof. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 11. A reinforced hem forming device for use in a sewing machine installation for automatically forming a reinforced hem along a lateral edge of a material blank as the blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly along a generally horizontal path with a lateral edge portion of the blank conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device; the reinforced hem comprising a front hem face, an elongated reinforcing ribbon underlying the front hem face, and an outer lateral inwardly folded edge section having a back hem face underlying the reinforcing ribbon; the reinforced hem forming device comprising a longitudinally extending inner face member having an upper generally horizontal planar face for receiving a front hem face portion of a material blank as the material blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device and an outer longitudinally extending fold edge for folding an outer lateral edge section of the material blank downwardly and inwardly therearound to underlie the front hem face portion of the material blank, a longitudinally extending ribbon guide underlying the inner face member providing a longitudinally extending ribbon channel therebelow for conveying a reinforcing ribbon longitudinally forwardly beneath the front hem face portion of the material blank, and fold means extending longitudinally forwardly generally below the inner face member and ribbon guide for folding the outer lateral edge section of the material blank inwardly around said fold edge of the inner face member to form a back hem face portion thereof underlying said reinforcing ribbon as the lateral edge portion of the material blank is conveyed longitudinally forwardly through the forming device. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. A reinforced hem forming device according to claim 11 wherein the fold means defines a material receiving guide trough for receiving the outer lateral edge section of the material blank, the fold means having a longitudinally extending twist section twisting forwardly in a clockwise direction to define a longitudinally extending guide trough section for folding the outer lateral edge section of the material blank inwardly around said fold edge of the inner face member. .Iaddend.