slightly ahead of left folding plate 124 in the product stream as the leading plate right folding plate 122 will preferably be located slightly above left folding plate 124 as can be seen in fig8 a gown 10 first engages guide rods 118 and 120 as it is received on dead plate 114 from the output of sleeve tucking section 82 the slope of guide rods 118 and 120 thus begins the desired longitudinal folds about dead plate 114 next as shown in fig8 b the depending flaps formed in this manner engage the angled leading faces of folding plates 122 and 124 as a result the flaps are folded behind dead plate 114 in the desired manner as illustrated in fig8 c referring now to fig9 the garment then proceeds to transverse folding section 86 in this case transverse folding section 86 includes respective folding mechanisms 126 and 128 for sequentially producing a pair of transverse folds as shown folding mechanisms 126 and 128 are opposed by a relatively lengthy overhead conveyor 130 a delivery conveyor 132 is also provided to move the garment to a support element 134 at the output end of the overall apparatus as can be seen folding mechanism 126 includes a plurality of endless belts 136 extending about three rollers 138 140 and 142 in a triangular arrangement a fluid actuated engaging mechanism 144 is located inside of the triangular structure to engage the garment along a first transverse fold line as will be explained below referring now also to fig9 a engaging mechanism 144 comprises a base bar 146 having a plurality of finger members 148 attached thereto finger members 148 are located to extend between adjacent belts 136 when.