SLEEVE FLIP OVER DEVICE

摘要

A method and apparatus for flipping and folding a pliable workpiece, such as a pre-hemmed sleeve blank, along a desired fold axis. A workpiece is conveyed past a flipping roller and down against a clamp bar wherein it is clamped at a predetermined time by a lower hem guide. The flipping roller is sped to impart linear momentum to the unclamped, trailing portion of the workpiece. The flipping action serves to re-orient the workpiece from a right side-up orientation to an inside-out orientation so as to properly present the workpiece for subsequent seaming or stitching operations. A sensor is provided to determine the length of the workpiece so as to enable the device to clamp the workpiece about any desired fold axis.