Abstract: A bundle of chicken loops (10) have their cut ends presented to a heat gun (14) so that “featherings” of textile material which have unraveled from the rubber core are melted away.

Abstract: A product such as a joint of meat is encapsulated in a cut length of a continuous sleeve of elasticated netting. A seam has been sewn along the sleeve offset from its centre so that the cut length has a lateral projection which will not become embedded in the product during cooking and can be used in handling the hot product. Preferably the seam is sewn using stitches which will unravel when one end of the yarn is pulled to facilitate stripping the sleeve from the product.

Abstract: A machine for automatically loading tubes with elasticated netting in a folded condition comprises an array of fingers which, by reciprocative movement of the tube relatively through the array, will draw off a continuous sleeve of the netting from a spreader device and store it on the tube. Thereafter the fingers and spreader device are raised and the fingers splayed from the tube, enabling the sleeve of netting to be cut above the tube, after which the loaded tube can be removed and replaced by an unloaded one.

Abstract: In a high speed circular warp thread knitting machine latch needles are reciprocated in respective, vertical tricks in a stationary cylinder by a cam rotating around the cylinder thereby to engage warp threads drawn down from above. A presser plate rotating with the cam deflects each warp thread in turn across a needle while the latch of the latter is open. According to the invention each warp thread descends uninterruptedly to a respective needle trick from an eyeleted disc at an acute angle to the vertical and the presser plate has a leading surface which extends forwardly and toward the cylinder at an acute angle to a radius of the cylinder. In a preferred embodiment a wire latch guard extends forwardly from and moves with the presser plate so that its free end is positioned to obstruct closing movement of the latch of a rising needle just as the latch is released by casting off the previously formed loop of thread onto the shank of the needle.