Handling apparatus for use in conjunction with a sewing machine and a stitching template for sewing the longitudinal seam in a prepared tie blank. The apparatus comprises a table (1) designed to accomodate a base plate (2) of the sewing machine in a rear central region of the table. The table defines a template loading station (47a) at a front part of the table and to a first side of the table center, a template presentation station (47b) at a rear part of the table and to the first side of the table center, a template delivery station (47c) at a rear part of the table and to a second side of the table center and a template return station (47d) at a front part of the table and to the second side of the table center. Positioning means (69, 71) are provided at the loading station to assist in positioning the tie blank on the template. First drive means (33, 35) are provided for moving a loaded template from the sewing machine to the delivery station; second drive means (41) are provided for moving the template from the delivery station to the return station; and third drive means (46) are provided for moving the template from the return station towards the loading station.
A device for feeding a tie stiffening or other article to the supporting table 2 of a sewing machine includes a container 19 for said articles provided above the supporting table 2. The container 19 has a window 21 which extends along its bottom and under which there is disposed a withdrawal device 6 with needles 27, 28 which sink in opposite directions into the currently lowest layer 22 of the stack, substantially transversely of the window, which layer, after the needles have sunk in, is withdrawn from the stack, turned through 180.degree. and deposited on the supporting table when the needles are pulled out. The withdrawal device is turned by means of a pair of pinions 10 which encounter a pair of stationary racks 11 during lowering.
