Abstract: The present invention is a combination flexible planar item and character. The item comprises a flexible planar item, that when manipulated, takes on the appearance of a character. The character is formed by a character body that becomes defined from the manipulation of the planar item. The planar item has an exterior surface and at least one character feature that is present on the exterior surface of the item. When correctly manipulated, the combination of at least one character feature and the character body provide the appearance of a character.

Abstract: A first belt conveyor (5) and a second belt conveyor (8) form a first transverse folding station (4) having a folding channel (16) formed between folding sides (14; 15) of the belt conveyors (5; 8). If a fault occurs in said folding channel by virtue of the fact that a piece of linen (39) bunches together into a coil and cannot be transported further, this is detected by means of a delivery sensor (38), the belt conveyors (5, 8) are stopped and the second belt conveyor (8) is pivoted outwards about a pivot axle (12) so that the width of the folding channel (16) at its upper end can be increased to at least 80 mm and the piece of linen can be readily removed. Arranged below the folding channel (16) is a third belt conveyor (23) having a folding section (29) which slopes sharply downwards for receiving a piece of linen and belongs to an upper support side (28) which can be pivoted upwards before a second fold carried out with reversal of the direction of movement of the third belt conveyor (23).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for folding a textile fabric length (11) is provided with at least two transport belts (2, 3) which can be driven in opposite directions, wherein a gap (27) is disposed between the transport belts (2, 3), through which gap the fabric length (11) can be drawn while forming a fold when the transport belts (2, 3) are driven in opposite directions. In order to achieve greater folding accuracy, a gripping member (4) is disposed above the two transport belts (2, 3), which member can move substantially parallel to the upper side of the transport belts (2, 3) and can be brought to lie between the front and the back end (12, 23) of the unfolded fabric length (11) with a fixing action.

Abstract: A method of making a pleat in a sheet-like material comprising the steps of feeding a flexible and thin sheet-like material having a flat surface in a direction of an extended line of an imaginary straight line which is perpendicular to its one end and along the surface, left and right parts of the sheet-like material being conveyed at a substantially same speed at both sides of the straight line, the one end of the sheet-like material being of a flat form at a start of the feeding, the left and right parts of the sheet-like material being gradually reduced in distance therebetween and drawn near toward the straight line at the middle portion of the extended line so as to face with each other and diagonally cross the surface, and coming in contact with each other perpendicularly to the surface at the forward portion of the extended line, thereby to form the pleat, conveying the sheet-like material through the middle portion to the forward portion with the left and right parts gradually twisted in a direction

Abstract: An apparatus for folding a continuous length of fabric extracted from a dyeing range. The apparatus includes a fabric receptacle for receiving the fabric from the dyeing range and a two-directional plaiting system for folding the fabric. In the preferred embodiment, a control system controls the speed and tension of the fabric to prevent tearing or sagging of the fabric during unloading. Also, a pulley and squeegee system receives the continuous fabric and extracting liquid from the fabric prior to folding. The pulley and squeegee system includes a first nip drive and a second nip drive, each of the drives including a pair of rollers spaced apart to allow the continuous fabric to feed through the nip drives to extract excess water from the fabric.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is applied to a case of folding, for example, the sleeve cloth of short-sleeved T-shirt in half while conveying. A holding device grips the leading end of the cloth conveyed on a conveying surface of narrow conveyor belts, lifts the gripped leading end of the cloth from the conveying surface, and holds it above the conveying surface temporarily. A cloth stopping device stops conveying of the front side portion of the conveyed cloth on the conveying surface at a position of an upstream side in the conveying direction from the holding device. When cloths are put on the conveying surface by overlaying mutually in part, a space is formed between the preceding cloth and succeeding cloth by the cloth stopping device, so that the leading end of the cloth is gripped and lifted by the holding device.

Abstract: Folding device for folding flat pieces of laundry like sheets in longitudinal direction, with a basis conveyor, a folding runner and a side conveyor lying higher alongside the folding runner wherein under the side conveyor an air chamber is situated to blow air both upwards and sidewards in order to lift a side portion of a piece of laundry and then transversely fold it over the folding runner.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner bag is treated with a dual component, antimicrobial composition which reduces harmful bacteria and fungi safely and effectively. The vacuum cleaner bag is used on an upright vacuum cleaner and includes a porous cloth body which is treated with the dual component, antimicrobial composition.

Abstract: A web of fibers (4) is conveyed by conveyor belts (2, 5) which pass around rollers (32 to 43, 60 to 69). Some of these rollers are carried by main carriages (10, 14) which are capable of displacement in reciprocating motion above an apron (8) which moves in a direction parallel to the axes of the rollers and collects the web (4) in the form of a lap. Auxiliary carriages (16, 18) are provided for maintaining the length of the paths of the conveyor-belts (2, 5) at a constant value in spite of the reciprocating movements of the main carriages (10, 14). Each main carriage (10, 14) is connected to an auxiliary carriage by coupling means (92, 96) which are less extensible than the conveyor-belts (2, 5) and are so arranged as to be put under tension under the action of the means (84, 88) for driving the carriages.The invention is applicable to the manufacture of nonwoven fabrics.

Abstract: A method of stacking a multiplicity of fabric strips attached with a slide fastener chain one upon another is disclosed, which comprises folding each of the strips in halves along the longitudinal axis of the fastener chain, clamping the fabric strip from both sides closely at its folded edge, cutting the trailing end of the fabric strip and depositing the thus cut fabric strip upon and in registry with a stack of previously accumulated fabric strips. An apparatus is also disclosed for carrying this method into practice, which essentially comprises a gate means having a guide slit through which a slide fastener chain is passed, a gripper means releasably gripping a leading end of the fastener chain, and a clamping means releasably clamping the fabric strip from both sides closely adjacent at the fastener chain.

Abstract: Textile material is transferred by an upstream conveyor to a downstream belt conveyor such that a front end of the material rests on the downstream conveyor and a rear end thereof rests on the upstream conveyor. The upstream conveyor is displaced relative to the downstream conveyor such that the upstream conveyor passes over the downstream conveyor in a manner causing the material to be folded about a transverse fold line and deposited onto the downstream conveyor. The downstream conveyor is actuated to transfer the folded textile material to a folding mechanism.

Abstract: In order for a laying machine for laying out a fabric web comprising a fabric web guide mechanism for drawing the fabric web off a fabric reel and laying it out as a fabric layer, including a fabric feed device for feeding the fabric web in accordance with the speed of the laying machine, and also comprising a tension relief control means, to be designed as simply as possible from a structural point of view, it is proposed that the fabric web loop be arranged between the fabric feed device and the laid-out fabric layer, that the fabric web loop be formed by a bend of free-falling fabric web piece in a direction extending transversely to the direction of fall, and that the sensing barrier detect a change in the length of the arc of the bend through displacement of the freely hanging bend.

Abstract: In order to achieve exact positioning of a leading edge of a fabric web in a fabric web guide of a fabric spreading machine, it is suggested for a method and apparatus that the fabric web is moved forward with its leading edge in the direction of spreading up to the starting line, the leading edge is then detected and the fabric web slowed down and stopped, that after stopping it is determined whether or not the leading edge coincides with the starting line, and that when the leading edge does not coincide with the starting line the fabric web is withdrawn contrary to the direction of spreading for a predetermined distance and then moved forward again in the direction of spreading up to the starting line.

Abstract: A card webber is disclosed including two rotating conveyor belts carried by deflection rollers and two folding carriages movable between a first position and a second position. Variable velocity actuators are provided, a first velocity actuator associated with the belts and a second velocity actuator associated with the reversibly movable carriages. The velocity actuators are settable such that the velocity of the belts and the velocity of the folding carriages may be adjusted at different velocities with the velocity of the belts being different from the velocity of the carriages.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus comprises a substantially planar surface for receiving and supporting a substantially rectangular extended sheet. The apparatus includes a first folder for folding the substantially rectangular extended sheet along a first diagonal axis thereof to form a once folded sheet defining a long base, a second folder for folding the two halves of the base of the once folded sheet towards each other and into parallel disposition with an axis transverse to the axis of the base to form a twice folded sheet, and a third folder for folding the two halves of the twice folded sheet along a second diagonal axis thereof to form a thrice folded sheet while simultaneously removing the sheet from the substantially planar surface.

Abstract: A method of making a combination knockdown handbag and mat from a blank of readily foldable sheet material by reversely folding a portion of the sheet onto a portion of the blank and securing the reversely folded portion onto the adjacent portion of the blank to define one or more open end pockets. In the unfolded position thus formed, the blank defines a mat with one or more pockets formed at one end. To convert the mat into a handbag, the extended portion of the blank is folded in an accordian fashion one or more times to the size and shape of the reversely folded portion. The blank thus folded is reversely folded about a central portion thereof, and the pocket formed is turned inside out so that the accordian folded extended portions are disposed within the pocket turned inside out to define the handbag. A handle may be secured to the pocket to facilitate the carrying of the handbag in the folded position of the blank.

Abstract: A machine for continuously and automatically cutting, folding and packing sheet material into rolled up webs. The machine is provided with two variable speed drive devices which continuously pulls the sheet material into the machine where it can be cut and folded. The second variable speed drive device comprises a variable speed transmission that operates the folding devices which comprises pivotable plates, folding rollers and the cylinder. The pivotable plates directs the material between the roller and the cylinder by links and levers so that multiple folds may be made in the material. The links and levers are operationally connected to the variable transmission.

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: In a cross-folder for flexible pads such as diapers a wide first conveyor belt runs over a segment of the periphery of a rotationally driven drum. A narrow second conveyor belt runs in parallelism with the first belt for transporting unfolded pads toward the drum and a third conveyor belt runs in parallelism with the first belt for transporting folded pads away from the drum. The drum carries diametrically opposite pairs of slidable members that are reciprocated radially inwardly and outwardly as the drum rotates under the influence of cam rollers on the members which run in stationary cam grooves. Pivotable levers are carried on the slidable members, respectively. The levers have fingers for gripping the pads at their mid-line. The levers have cam follower rollers which are forced to follow cam grooves carried by the drum and, under the influence of the slidable members, the levers are actuated to grip and release the pads to effect folding.

Abstract: An air operated electrically controlled machine using constant speed motors and known per se is provided with electronic counter and clock pulse generator control which eliminates uneven folding and over and under folding characteristics of the known machine and wherein separate photocell circuits control the folding operation while enabling much longer lengths of materials to be folded and eliminating jamming characteristics of the known machine.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a panel folding machine and method, particularly for large panels. The panel is gripped at opposite leading corners and wound up by spaced rotating drums engaging opposite side edges of the panel. The drums are axially withdrawn, dropping the once-wound panel onto a lateral conveyor, where the panel, initially wound in a somewhat cylindrical form, assumes a flat folded condition. The once-wound panel is conveyed laterally until the leading lateral edge is engaged and gripped by a second stage winding drum, rotatable at right angles to the first drum. The panel is then wound in a second stage, in a generally cylindrical configuration. The second stage winding drum is retractable, and is withdrawn after the second stage winding operation, permitting the twice folded panel to drop onto a support conveyor. While on the support conveyor, the panel is flattened, to form a neat, rectangular product of uniform dimensions, which is then taken away for packaging.

Abstract: A laundry folding machine for imparting initial folds to an article is disclosed. The article is fed from a first conveyor to a second conveyor across a fold gap which is bridged at this time. The second conveyor pauses and then reverses, a suspended loop being thus formed in the article beneath the fold gap. Finally, the hanging article is tucked into a fold mechanism at the quarter and three-quarter position, thereby folding the article into quarters.