Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming a double-folded wide hem in cut textile articles, such as would be used for the open entrance end of a pillowcase, the top of a bed sheet and the like. Rectangular cut articles are successively fed in a longitudinal path of travel and are stopped for hem folding during such travel. A predetermined width of one edge portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the path of travel of each article is elevated and stopped in the folding position. The elevated portion is folded over the remainder of the article and over a stationary folding shoe having a transverse dimension corresponding to the desired width of the wide hem being formed in the article, while forming a first fold in the edge portion of the article around an outer longitudinally-extending edge of the stationary folding shoe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for successively fabricating pillowcases from a continuous open width textile fabric and in which the leading end portion of the textile fabric is folded over onto an adjacent trailing portion before the fabric is transversely cut. The folding of the leading end portion of the textile fabric over and above the adjacent trailing portion provides positive and accurate control and positioning of the corresponding edges of the upper and lower layers of the pillowcase blank. This accurate alignment of the edges of the upper and lower layers of the pillowcase blank is maintained while respective side and bottom seams are formed along the corresponding edges of the pillowcase blank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for successively fabricating pillowcases and the like from a continuous open width textile fabric with each of the successively produced pillowcases including correctly aligned and stitched together hemmed open ends, and side and bottom edges. The fabric is withdrawn from a supply source and successively cut to form individual blanks of predetermined length. The blanks are moved along a substantially rectangular path of travel with the completed pillowcases being deposited in a position adjacent the supply source of the open width fabric. A folding station is provided for successively folding the hemmed blanks along a fold line extending longitudinally along the medial portion with the opposite side edges and the hem end in substantial overlying alignment with one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically fabricating cut and edge stitched articles, such as washcloths and the like from a continuous length of textile material includes the following mechanisms. Mechanisms successively withdraw predetermined lengths of textile fabric from a supply source along a path of travel in a longitudinal direction of the fabric. Cutting mechanisms are positioned in the path of travel of the fabric for successively transversely cutting the fabric into individual articles of predetermined dimensions. Mechanisms successively feed the cut articles from the cutting mechanisms in a generally straight-line path of travel and to mechanisms for squaring the cut articles in the path of travel. A robot successively picks up the cut articles from the squaring mechanisms and transports the cut articles to edge stitching mechanisms which complete fabrication of the article.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for automatically cutting apart successive articles, such as terry towels, from a continuous length of material, in which such articles are separated therein by portions extending transversely across the material and of less thickness than the articles, so that each cut article has an equal amount of thinner portion remaining on each cut edge for subsequent hemming or the like. The apparatus includes devices for automatically aligning and positioning the thinner separating portion of the material relative to a cutting device so that the cutting device will cut the articles apart generally through the center of the thinner separating portion of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for automatically guiding, trimming, splitting and side hemming continuous textile material having thickened individual portions, such as terry towels, woven therein in side-by-side relationship transversely of the material and in series longitudinally of the material. This material is fed through the apparatus and thinned selvage edge portions are trimmed to a predetermined width, hems are formed in each of the trimmed selvage edges and stitched with mechanisms in a first work station of the apparatus. The trimming, folding and stitching mechanisms on each side of the traveling material are individually moved and aligned in proper transverse positions relative to each of the selvage edges regardless of transverse deviation in the longitudinal paths of travel of the selvage edges as the material travels through the first work station.

Abstract: Variegated composite designs (11) are printed on a surface of a length of fabric (12) by a two-stage printing process in which first, sharp, unmodulated color background portions (14) of the design are first applied by a conventional contact printer (13) such as a rotary screen printer in one example. Next, the partially printed fabric is advanced to an airbrush printing station located downstream from the final stage of the contact printer, where a plurality of airbrushes (21) are selectively operated to apply variable color tone portions or features (22) to the fabric adjacent to the background portions previously printed, in either the same or contrasting color or colors so as to produce a variegated composite design including the airbrushed portions superimposed on and embellishing the background sharp color portions previously printed. Operation of the airbrushes and contact printer is synchronized (FIGS. 1, 2-24, 27; FIGS.