Abstract: A folder and stacker for towels, or other articles, wherein the stacker includes an upwardly concave cradle for receiving a folded article and for providing the folded article with an upwardly concave, cross-sectional configuration, the cradle subsequently opening downwardly to permit the upwardly concave, folded article to drop by gravity onto a receiver therebeneath. Providing the folded article with an upwardly concave, cross-sectional configuration balances the air flows past the article on opposite sides thereof as it descends and thus insures that it will drop straight down under the influence of gravity, whereby a series of upwardly concave, folded articles dropped downwardly onto a receiver will be formed into a neat stack. The receiver may be a conveyor which is advanced one step as each stack is completed.

Abstract: A packaged man's brief, or similar article, comprising a brief folded and rolled into a substantially cylindrical configuration, and a bag enclosing the folded and rolled brief. A method and apparatus for packaging a brief, comprising making transverse and spaced, parallel longitudinal folds in the brief around a card, then rolling the brief into a substantially cylindrical configuration with the waistband of the brief at one end, and finally inserting the folded and rolled brief into a bag with the waistband end first.

Abstract: An apparatus for quarter or French folding towels, or the like. When quarter folding, a single, central longitudinal fold is made by conveying one side of the towel into engagement with one of two oppositely oriented, diagonal folding blades. When French folding, opposite sides of the towel are conveyed into engagement with the respective folding blades. The longitudinal folds are made around laterally spaced forms one of which is movable laterally toward or away from the other, the spacing of the forms depending on the width of the towel and also depending on whether the towel is being French or quarter folded. (If the towel is being quarter folded, the spacing of the outer edges of the forms is one-half the towel width, and, if the towel is being French folded, this spacing is one-third the towel width.

Abstract: A packaged man's brief, or similar article, comprising a brief folded and rolled into a substantially cylindrical configuration, and a bag enclosing the folded and rolled brief. A method and apparatus for packaging a brief, comprising making transverse and spaced, parallel longitudinal folds in the brief around a card, then rolling the brief into a substantially cylindrical configuration with the waistband of the brief at one end, and finally inserting the folded and rolled brief into a bag with the waistband end first. A folding unit for a brief comprising pivotable and swingable folding blades for folding opposite longitudinal edges of the brief laterally inwardly toward each other in sequence along longitudinal fold lines, one longitudinal edge portion being folded inwardly, and the other then being folded inwardly under the first.