Abstract: Terry cloth towel (18) moves from a supply along its length through an aligning and cutting system (14), to a transfer station (15). As the untufted bands (20) of the toweling material approach the transfer station, a plurality of fingers (28) of a gate (25) engage the untufted portion of the toweling, an as the toweling continues to move, the oncoming edge (22) of the plush surface (19) of the toweling engages and is retarded by the fingers. In the meantime, a plurality of presser feet (92) each of which is aligned with the fingers of the gate urge the toweling into engagement with a feed roller (85) that pulls the toweling through the processing path, and tension in the toweling tends to lift one or more of the presser feet (92) to relieve the pull applied to the toweling. This function is to straighten the band of the toweling.

Abstract: Terry cloth toweling (18) moves from a supply along its length through an aligning and cutting system (14), to a transfer station (15). As the untufted bands (20) of the toweling material approach the transfer station, a plurality of fingers (28) of a gate (25) engage the untufted portion of the toweling, and as the toweling continues to move, the oncoming edge (22) of the plush surface (19) of the toweling engages and is retarded by the fingers. In the meantime, a plurality of presser feet (92) each of which is aligned with the fingers of the gate urge the toweling into engagement with a feed roller (85) that pulls the toweling through the processing path, and tension in the toweling tends to lift one or more of the presser feet (92) to relieve the pull applied to the toweling. This functions to straighten the band of the toweling.

Abstract: Labels 36 are arranged in a stack and supported in a tray 11, and the open end 49 of a suction tube 46 is reciprocated toward and away from the label at the end of the stack, to draw the end label away from the stack. A fork member 12 straddles the suction tube and reciprocates about the suction tube so as to engage the label on opposite sides of the tube and push the label off the tube, thereby dropping the label into an inclined chute 72. A conveyor belt 85 positioned in the inclined chute moves the label downwardly toward engagement with the moving work product 14, and the lower conveyor roller 81 presses the label into position on the work piece and a band 90 extends about the lower conveyor roller and extends toward the sewing machine 20 to hold the label in place as it advances to the sewing machine.

Abstract: Sheet material is taken from a supply, moved along its length to a cutting station, the sheet material is cut into segments, and the cut segments are moved parallel to their cut edges, the cut edges are hemmed, and the segments are folded. At the cutting station the leading portion of the sheet material is gripped and pulled from the entrance to the cutting station to the other side thereof, a slack bar is moved downwardly into the segment of sheet material in the cutting station to form slack in the segment, and the segment in the cutting station is clamped against parallel conveyor tapes. A cutting disc is drawn across the sheet material at the entrance to the cutting station, and the parallel conveyor tapes move the sheet parallel to its cut edges to a hemming station where the edges are folded and hemmed. The hems of the side edges are expanded after being mechanically formed and prior to being sewn.

Abstract: Sheet material 14, such as a continuous supply of terry cloth towel 16, is moved along its length through a path and toward a cutting station 15 where it is cut into lengths 139. The sheet material is formed with bands 166 extending across its length, such as bands of reduced thickness, and the sheet material is cut in these bands. The bands are detected by rollers 144, 145 at opposite edges of the sheet material as the bands approach the cutting station 15, and each edge portion of the sheet material is fed by feed rollers 51, 52 independently of the other edge portion into the cutting station so as to cause one side of the sheet material which may lag the other side to be properly located at the cutting station prior to cutting the sheet material.

Abstract: The pointed tip of a sewing machine needle is immersed in a liquid lubricant as it reaches the lower end of its downward stroke through the material being sewn, so as to coat the tip of the needle with a lubricant and reduce the friction and therefore the heat generated by the friction between the needle and the material being sewn.

Abstract: Sheet material is taken from a supply, moved along its length to a cutting station, the sheet material is cut into segments, and the cut segments are moved parallel to their cut edges, the cut edges are hemmed, and the segments are folded. At the cutting station the leading portion of the sheet material is gripped and pulled from the entrance to the cutting station to the other side thereof, a slack bar is moved downwardly into the segment of sheet material in the cutting station to form slack in the segment, and the segment in the cutting station is clamped against parallel conveyor tapes. A cutting disc is drawn across the sheet material at the entrance to the cutting station, and the parallel conveyor tapes move the sheet parallel to its cut edges to a hemming station where the edges are folded and hemmed. The hems of the side edges are expanded after being mechanically formed and prior to being sewn.

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: Sheet material is taken from a supply, moved along its length to a cutting station, an edge thereof is hemmed as it moves toward the cutting station, the sheet material is cut into segments, and the cut segments are moved parallel to their cut edges, the cut edges are hemmed, and the segments are folded. At the cutting station the leading portion of the sheet material is gripped and pulled from the entrance to the cutting station to the other side thereof, a slack bar is moved downwardly into the segment of sheet material in the cutting station to form slack in the segment, the sheet material is clamped adjacent the entrance to the cutting station and the segment in the cutting station is clamped against parallel conveyor tapes. A cutting disc is drawn across the sheet material at the entrance to the cutting station, and the parallel conveyor tapes move the sheet parallel to its cut edges to a hemming station where the edges are folded and hemmed.

Abstract: Sheet material is taken from a supply, moved along its length to a cutting station, an edge thereof is hemmed as it moves toward the cutting station, the sheet material is cut into segments, and the cut segments are moved parallel to their cut edges, the cut edges are hemmed, and the segments are folded. At the cutting station the leading portion of the sheet material is gripped and pulled from the entrance to the cutting station to the other side thereof, a slack bar is moved downwardly into the segment of sheet material in the cutting station to form slack in the segment, the sheet material is clamped adjacent the entrance to the cutting station and the segment in the cutting station is clamped against parallel conveyor tapes. A cutting disc is drawn across the sheet material at the entrance to the cutting station, and the parallel conveyor tapes move the sheet parallel to its cut edges to a hemming station where the edges are folded and hemmed.

Abstract: A display support or header for a textile product. The header comprises a piece of thin cardboard or the like folded at its midpoint. Tabs die cut out of the sides of the header support the product, which passes through the slob formed by the die cuts. Edge flaps on the sides fold inwardly of the sides, under the product, to cooperate with the tabs in locking the product in the header.

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 double oven mitt which is fabricated of flexible heat-resistant material and comprises a band elongated on an axis which connects a pair of mitts for receiving the left and right hands of a wearer. Each of the mitts includes a thumb portion extending substantially parallel to the connecting band axis and a finger portion inclined downwardly at an angle to the axis of the thumb portion and connecting band. The finger portion folds about a line inwardly under a dish being grasped by the wearer to support the dish flat on its bottom without bunching up or otherwise distorting to prevent the wearer's grip from being uncomfortable and jeopardizing safe-handling of the dish.