Abstract: Towels or other segments of sheet material are moved along an upper pair of downwardly inclined guide plates 31, 32, and the side edge portions 16 of the segments are folded inwardly and under the central portion 20 of the segment and under the upper guide plates. The leading end portion of the segment is moved off the lower ends of the upper guide plates and onto a lower pair of guide plates 34, 35 that are coextensive with the upper guide plates, the two pairs of guide plates are then separated, and a fold blade 101 moves upwardly between the separated guide plates to form a cross fold 106 intermediate the ends of the segment. The movement of the intermediate folded portion of the segment is continued in an upwardly-inclined direction, which pulls the leading and trailing end portions together.

Abstract: Bed sheets are moved in an unfolded condition along their lengths on a horizontal conveyor, grasped at the opposite sides of their leading edge, stretched at their leading edge and fed into a nip roll of a folder. The nip roll progressively moves the sheet down an inclined guide plate toward a first clamp assembly. The first clamp assembly holds the leading edge of the sheet, and the sheet is spread away from the first clamp assembly into a second, facing clamp assembly. The second clamp assembly grasps the sheet and the first clamp assembly releases the sheet, and the sheet is spread away from the second clamp assembly toward the first clamp assembly, the first clamp assembly regrasps the sheet as the second clamp assembly releases the sheet, and the progressive, alternative spreading and clamping functions continue to draw the sheet into the clamp assemblies and fold the sheet in an accordion fold.

Abstract: Cloth moves from a reel along its length, a first "right-handed" edge treatment system positioned at one edge of the path of movement of the cloth treats one edge of the cloth, the cloth is turned over and a second "right-handed" edge treatment system positioned at the edge of the path of movement treats the opposite edge of the cloth. The cloth then moves into a cutting station where the cloth is cut into smaller sections. The cut sections are moved along an L-shaped path by a conveyor system with the cut edges extending along the path, and a third "right-handed" edge treatment system positioned adjacent the first leg of the L-shaped path treats one cut edge of the sections, the sections are turned over as they move into the second leg of the L-shaped path, and a fourth "right-handed" edge treatment system treats the opposite cut edge of the sections. The sections are then stacked.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting and marking flawed sheet material is disclosed. Sheet material is moved from a supply along its length through a path to a cutter. The sheet material is visually inspected as it moves along its path, and a temporary electrically conductive mark is applied to the moving material at a predetermined distance away from any flaw that appears in the sheet material. The temporary mark is electrically detected at a position along the path the same predetermined distance away from the cutter as the flaw moves into the cutter, and as the last portion of the segment to be cut from the sheet material moves to the cutter, the sheet material is marked with a permanent mark. The sheet material is then cut and folded, and the permanent mark is located at a predetermined position in the folded segment of sheet material, no matter at what location in the segment of the sheet material the flaw appears.

Abstract: The rate of speed of thread being fed to a sewing machine needle is monitored so that when the thread speed decreases, indicating one or more malfunctions in the sewing operation, the operation of the sewing machine is automatically terminated.

Abstract: The label dispensing system includes an upright label housing which is open at its lower end, a stationary shelf at one side of the opening of the housing for supporting the edge portion of the bottom label in a stack of labels in the housing, a movable platform at the opposite side of the opening of the housing, and pointed instruments movable through slots in the shelf to impale and push the bottom label off the shelf. The platform moves to a level above the shelf to bow the bottom label downwardly as the pointed instruments impale and push the bottom label off the shelf. A suction head is movable from a position immediately beneath the bottom label in the housing through a downward arc to a position above a moving work piece, to grasp and pull the bottom label from the platform and move the bottom label from the stack in the housing to the work piece.