Abstract: Apparatus for lacing a flexible line through sheet material, such as shade cloth, of an indefinite length in a continuous operation. The apparatus has a set of pleating rollers, each with a series of teeth spaced apart about the periphery. The pleating rollers are mounted for rotation so that the teeth intermesh in a mesh zone, sheet material feeding through the mesh zone during apparatus use being caused to fold by the teeth into successive pleats. A lacing needle projects toward the pleating rollers and has a leading end positioned in the mesh zone. Sheet material pleats successively formed in the mesh zone are pierced by the leading end and received onto the lacing needle. The lacing needle is collectable to a flexible line for lacing through the material. A set of feed rollers are positioned downstream of the pleating rollers, each with a circumferential groove and being mounted for rotation so that the circumferential grooves are in register one with another.

Abstract: A pleating machine having a frame supporting two pairs of rollers formed with intermeshing teeth. Each pair is comprised of upper and lower intermeshing rollers, with a roller of the first pair intermeshing with a roller of the second pair to form a continuous train of gears. Each roller is provided with registering circumferential grooves along the length thereof. A needle having a pointed tip end and an eye end is disposed in "floating" relation in the machine with its pointed end positioned between the first pair of rollers (entrance rollers) and with its eye end extending just beyond the second pair of rollers. The needle is provided with a predetermined length which extends from the pointed tip to the eye end of the needle which is disposed proximate an arc prescribed by rotation of a point on the outer periphery of the lower of the second set (exit) of rollers.

Abstract: A pleating machine having a frame supporting two pairs of rollers formed with intermeshing teeth. Each pair is comprised of upper and lower intermeshing rollers, with a roller of the first pair intermeshing with a roller of the second pair to form a continuous train of gears. Each roller is provided with registering circumferential grooves along the length thereof. A needle having a pointed tip end and an eye end is disposed in "floating" relation in the machine with its pointed end positioned between the first pair of rollers (entrance rollers) and with its eye end extending just beyond the second pair of rollers. The needle is provided with a predetermined length which extends from the pointed tip to the eye end of the needle which is disposed proximate an arc prescribed by rotation of a point on the outer periphery of the lower of the second set (exit) of rollers.

Abstract: The disclosure relates broadly to sewing machines and provides a machine for pleating a fabric or other sheet material by passing it between intermeshed toothed rollers which produce pleats and deliver the material onto needles which are supported by the rollers.