Abstract: A bulk material handling wear mat of elastomeric/polymeric material having good wear and impact resistance is disclosed and is suitable for use as a wear lining in an off road haulage vehicle in which the mat is formed as a substantially planar mat having first and second opposing surfaces one of the opposing surfaces forming an exposed wear surface when in use in which the surface is under compression. There is also disclosed an adjustable rope support with apertures and a fabric reinforcement for the wear mat .

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a flexible article, longer than it is wider, in a predetermined orientation which has an orientation for tumbling the article generally about one direction while retaining the article so that it can rotate about another direction while it is being tumbled. The retention mechanism on the apparatus includes a retention face and is moveable between a first position in which the retention face is disposed to receive the article generally downwardly from the orientation head while it is being tumbled thereby, and a second position displaced from the first. Additionally, when the article is received on the retention face, it can be detected if it is correctly orientated on the retention face. In response to this detection, the retention mechanism moves to the second position and the article is received in a predetermined orientation from the retention face at the second position of the retention mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for sewing the crotch portion of a pair of aligned blanks of limp fabric and stacking the sewn blanks which comprises robots (10 and 20) located one on each side of an operator. Each of the robots (10 and 20) is capable of gripping and removing a limp fabric blank from an associated stack of blanks and transporting the blanks to an operator. The robots (10 and 20) have arms (26) capable of axial movement and movement in a vertical plane and additionally capable of rotating about their axes through an angle of 180.degree.. At least one of the robots (10,20) is capable of rotation about a vertical axis, effecting horizontal movement of the arm (26). The apparatus also comprises a sewing head (30) for sewing the crotch portion of the pair of aligned blanks, and a blank support/transfer carriage (41) adjacent the sewing head mounted for horizontal movement in a direction substantially parallel with the direction of sewing.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for sewing the crotch portion of a pair of aligned blanks of limp fabric and stacking the sewn blanks which comprises robots (10 and 20) located one on each side of an operator. Each of the robots (10 and 20) is capable of gripping and removing a limp fabric blank from an associated stack of blanks and transporting the blanks to an operator. The robots (10 and 20) have arms (26) capable of axial movement and movement in a vertical plane and additionally capable of rotating about their axes through an angle of 180.degree.. At least one of the robots (10, 20) is capable of rotation about a vertical axis, effecting horizontal movement of the arm (26). The apparatus also comprises a sewing head (30) for sewing the crotch portion of the pair of aligned blanks, and a blank support/transfer carriage (41) adjacent the sewing head mounted for horizontal movement in a direction substantially parallel with the direction of sewing.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for folding a sock cuff, which comprises a blade mounted on and projecting from a support, a first carriage mounted for reciprocal movement along and over said blade and having first gripping means adapted to space and grip the open end of a sock such that movement of the carriage along the blade will substantially envelop the blade with the sock, a second carriage mounted for reciprocal movement along said blade and having second gripping means adapted to move transversely to the blade to grip the sock covering said blade, and means for actuating (i) said carriage to reciprocally move said carriage along said blade, (ii) said first gripping means to grip and release the open end of said sock and, (iii) said second gripping means to reciprocally move said means along the blade and transversely thereto. A process of folding a sock cuff, more particularly, a `walk` sock cuff, is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a limp fabric piece (6) wherein the fabric piece (6) is deposited on a low frictional plate (7) supported by a movable carriage (not shown) mounted on wheels (10). The carriage is then moved to a position beneath a frictional gripping device (9) which is then lowered onto the fabric piece (6). The carriage with the low friction plate (7) is then withdrawn from beneath the gripping device (9) and returned to its original position leaving gripping device (9) in frictional engagement with fabric piece (6).

Abstract: Apparatus for stretching and folding a limp fabric piece (1), having a plurality of opposed elastic bands (12,12',13,13') extending therefrom comprising a platform (2) having a foldable segment, means for folding said foldable segment relative to the platform (2),A limp fabric piece feeding plate (5) for feeding said limp fabric piece (1) to said platform (2) and holding said fabric piece (1) thereon in an extended condition and in a pre-determined position to enable eventual folding of the fabric piece (1) to produce a garment,means for moving said plate (5) horizontally or vertically,suction means located adjacent said platform (2) for applying suction to the elastic bands (12,12',13,13') extending from the fabric piece (1),elastic band gripper means associated with the suction means for gripping and holding the sucked-in elastic bands (12,12',13,13'), relative to said suction means,means for moving said suction means relative to said platform (2) to stretch said fabric piece (1),garment gripper means assoc

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stretching and folding a limp fabric piece (40) comprising transporting the fabric piece (40) in a stretched condition to foldable support (41), mechanically, sequentially gripping and stretching marginal portions (46) of the fabric piece (40) on each side of the fold line (51) of the foldable support (41) by means of selectively operable fingers (45), folding one section (50) of the foldable support (41) over the other, clamping overlapping marginal portions (46), unfolding the foldable support (41) while concurrently releasing fingers (45) from engagement with the fabric piece (40).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring a limp fabric piece (6) wherein the fabric piece (6) is deposited on a low frictional plate (7) supported by a movable carriage (not shown) mounted on wheels (10). The carriage is then moved to a position beneath a frictional gripping device (9) which is then lowered onto the fabric piece (6). The carriage with the low friction plate (7) is then withdrawn from beneath the gripping device (9) and returned to its original position leaving gripping device (9) in frictional engagement with fabric piece (6).