Abstract: A garment inspecting and grading apparatus and methods of inspecting a garment are provided that preferably have a mounting member arranged to mount a garment thereon. A light emitter is positionally aligned closely adjacent the mounting member to emit light through a predetermined portion of a garment mounted thereon. A light detector is also positionally aligned with the light emitter to detect either the presence or absence of light traveling from the light emitter. A controller is positioned in electrical communication with the light detector and arranged to determine the presence and absence of defects in a predetermined portion of a garment responsive to electrical signals representative of the presence or absence of light received from the light detector. A grader and sorter are positioned downstream from the light emitter and the light detector for sorting an inspected garment into one of a plurality of predetermined quality groups.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering elongate flexible objects, such as hosiery blanks or pantyhose, in proper orientation for further processing including removing one or more flexible objects from a bundle and presenting a selected end thereof, to ensure proper orientation, to an entry end of a suction tube, transporting the flexible object through the suction tube to an exit and thereof, preparing the leading end thereof for transfer and transferring the leading end of the flexible object onto an object receiving member of a further processing machine.