on at least three sides on a folding device which forms part of the automatic sewing machine the folding device has a swingable outer frame which has a plurality of inwardly and outwardly moveable bend over devices with z shaped angles which fold the protruding edge regions around a so called 34 sword 34 thereupon the folded second material is placed on a first workpiece which is present in a receiving station then the folded edge regions are continuously fixed over their entire length by a holding element which is embedded in an insert plate provided within the receiving station the holding element permits the bend over devices to move back away from the workpieces into their starting position without carrying the folded edge regions along with them and thereby unfolding the folded edge regions application_number US 83909292 A description the automatic sewing machine shown in fig1 and 2 has a frame 1 on which there is fastened a support plate 2 and on the latter a sewing head 3 to the left of the sewing head 3 is a folding device 4 shown in greatly simplified form as can be noted from fig3 to 5 the folding device 4 comprises a sword carrier 5 a sword 6 fastened to it and an outer frame.