Abstract: A control system is provided for maintaining a constant predetermined transverse width in a continuous elastic or extensible web while the web is traveling longitudinally and while simultaneously transversely aligning the longitudinally moving web in register with a transversely extending work station which transversely extends across the web path at a preset location. The invention further provides contoured electrifier apparatus which is adapted for use in the polishing of three dimensional deep pile surface contoured fabrics and the like. In addition, the invention provides ways of adapting the control system for use with a plurality of transversely extending processing units, each one of which can have transversely varying process conditions such as required in a contour shearing device or contoured electrifier.

Abstract: Process technology is provided for making a synthetic fur piece from a sliver knit, high pile, differentially transversely knitted, longitudinally patterned, unstabilized starting fabric having a pile containing heat shrinkable fibers. The process involves stabilizing the starting fabric, contour shearing same, and then further processing the resulting sheared fabric under conditions which result in heat shrinking of the heat shrinkable pile fibers therein. The preferred product is a synthetic fur piece comprised of seemingly seamed together animal pelts. Various finishing operations typically and preferably are performable upon such a product to enhance fur-like properties and to simulate the appearance and qualities of specific desired animal furs, such as, for example, mink.

Abstract: An improved latch guard having a forwardly extending deflector arm integrally associated therewith. When the improved latch guard is incorporated into a deep pile fabric circular knitting machine, the deflector arm eliminates the problem of stray fiber build-up on the front edge of prior art latch guards during operation of such knitting machine.

Abstract: A film transport system for transporting a closed loop of film continuously about a defined pathway incorporating a sub-pathway whereabout multiple film strip segments of the closed loop are transitorily stored in a slidable adjacent face-to-face contact. The system includes a deck, film guide means, film drive means, and a film oscillator subassembly which jogs laterally the film strip segments in the sub-pathway. The oscillator subassembly functions to prevent film seizures in the sub-pathway which tend to occur more frequently as the total film loop perimeter is increased for a substantially constant sub-pathway perimeter.

Abstract: A differentially transversely knit pile fabric is provided which is adapted to experience non-linear stretching in a transverse direction, and, when so stretched, longitudinally extending patterns therein which have been differentially knitted in a compensating manner become distorted so as to be of standardized or predetermined widths relative to one another. Preferably, such fabric after typically being knitted on a circular knitting machine is slit into a sheet form and then is stabilized by application to the backing thereof of a coating composition. After being stabilized with the aid of such a stabilizing composition coated thereon, the product fabric is capable of retaining its dimensional integrity.