Abstract: A pickup device for use with a fabric piece handling system for picking up and placing fabric pieces. The device includes a frame and a pair of opposed jaws moveably attached at one end to the frame. The head portion of each opposed jaw includes a fabric contact surface having an array of fabric engaging teeth for urging a portion of the fabric piece into a bunched condition for pickup and a gripping surface adjacent to the fabric contact surface for engagement with the other opposed jaw for picking up the fabric piece. A fluid operated piston is attached between the frame and the pair of opposed jaws for moving the pair of opposed jaws between a first position wherein the pair of opposed jaws are in an unobstructed open position to allow a piece of cloth to freely pass into a position between the pair of opposed jaws and a second position wherein the pair of opposed jaws are in an operative clamping position with respect to each other to clamp a piece of cloth therebetween.

Abstract: A met6hod for impregnating porous abrasive media with a reactive solution for use in distressing fabric and the product produced thereby. The method includes the steps of placing the porous abrasive media and the reactive solution in a chamber; evacuating teh pressure in said chamber to obtain a pre-selected pressure level; restoring the pressure in said chamber; and repeating the steps of evacuating and restoring the pressure a sufficient number of times to impregnate the porous abrasive media with the reactive solution. The impregnate media is then removed from the chamber.

Abstract: An edge detector for detecting the edge of fabric in a textile folding or guiding device for an industrial sewing machine. The detector includes a light source mounted adjacent to one surface of the fabric as the fabric enters the folder. The light source is positioned for directing light onto the surface of the fabric. A photodetector is located adjacent to the light source for receiving light reflected from the surface of the fabric. The photodetector provides an output signal in response to the light reflected from the surface of the fabric which is indicative of the position of the fabric in the folder.