Abstract: A forming device for gathering the width of a traveling web is disclosed. The forming device includes opposing arrays of flute-forming bars that can be interlaced to define therebetween a longitudinal flute-forming labyrinth effective to reduce the width of a web traveling therethrough by a preselected take-up ratio. The flute-forming bars are curved beginning at an entry end of the forming device such that they converge in a lateral direction as they proceed in the machine direction. In this manner, individual elements of the web traveling between the respective arrays in the machine direction follow contour lines along the curved bars or between adjacent ones of the curved bars so that no such element crosses any flute-forming bar in the cross-machine direction as the web travels and is fluted. A corrugating die for introducing a near-net shape to the intermediate-fluted web is also disclosed, as are a corrugating line incorporating these operations and methods for its operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a pleat making device used to create pleats of fabric while the pleat making device is mounted to clothing. The pleat making device can have a frame for supporting the fabric, a fabric securing member for securing the fabric to the frame, and a segment frame hinge that allows for the rotation of a plurality of segment frames around an axis.

Abstract: A method for forming stable pleats on a fabric composed of a polylactic acid yarn of 100 mass % without causing decrease in physical properties of the polylactic acid yarn includes preparing a fabric composed of a polylactic acid yarn of 100 mass %. The fabric may be a raw fabric such as a woven raw fabric or a sewed product into which a raw fabric is sewed. The sewed product may be one in which part of clothing is sewed, or a final product. The fabric is folded up, and imparted a pressure in the folded state. Specifically, the folded fabric is passed under a suitable line pressure between a pair of rolls whose surfaces are heated in atmospheric ambience. The surface temperature of the rolls is about 100 to 130° C. As described above, a pleated fabric such as pleated clothing whose folded-up portion becomes stable pleats can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pleated product capable of partially pleating a fabric so that boundaries between pleat portions and non-pleat portions can be conspicuous and a fabric for the pleated product used for the method. In this method, a part of the fabric for the pleated product in which one of warp and weft is formed of easy-to-pleat yarn and the other formed of hard-to-pleat yarn is folded along a folding line tilted relative to the warp and the weft, the fabric is pleated up to the folding line in the passing direction of the warp or the weft, and the fabric is unfolded and washed. Effective pleats are formed only in the passing direction of the easy-to-pleat yarn on a plane on one side of the folded portion and not formed in the passing direction of the hard-to-pleat yarn on a plane on the other side of the folded portion.

Abstract: A method for forming stable pleats on a fabric composed of a polylactic acid yarn of 100 mass% without causing decrease in physical properties of the polylactic acid yarn, is provided. A fabric composed of a polylactic acid yarn of 100 mass% is prepared. The fabric ,ay be raw such as a woven raw fabric or sewed product may be on in which part of clothing is sewed, or a final product. The fabric is folded up, and imparted a pressure in the folded state. Specifically, the folded fabricis passed under a suitable line pressure between a pair of rolls whose surfaces are heated in atmospheric ambience. The surface temperature of the rolls is about 100 to 130+ C. As described above, a pleated fabric such as pleated clothing whose folded-up portion becomes stable pleats can be obtained.

Abstract: A gathering gauge for assisting in the fabrication of a gather in a sewn article of manufacture. The gathering gauge is used to evenly distribute a given length of a fabric over a selected gather length, thereby eliminating guess work normally associated with such task. The gathering gauge is an elongated member defining a first slit for receiving and holding one end of a thread used to gather the fabric. A plurality of second slits is provided for receiving and holding a further portion of the thread. The second slits are disposed along the length of the gathering gauge at pre-selected distances from the first slit. A measuring guide is provided for determining the distance between the first slit and each individual second slit. Thus, depending upon the length of the fabric to be gathered, and either the length of the gather or the amount of gather desired, a particular second slit is selected.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing a certain garments in a twisted manner when drying or not being worn to produce a desired appearance when worn. The apparatus consists of a helical structural frame having a top and bottom and a longitudinal axis therebetween with a pitch large enough to permit portions of a garment to be manually forced and twisted between aligned and spaced-apart segments of the frame.

Abstract: An improved pleating machine and method for creating a variety of pleated patterns that are not limited to repeating variation. Pairs of pleating blades move forward and rearward in a pleating motion. During the forward pleating motion, the pleating blades advance the material and create folds therein. The pleating blades then force the folds against heated cylinders resulting in pressed pleats in the material. Displacement of the pleating blades prior to the forward pleating motion causes a reverse pleat in the material; lack of such displacement causes a forward pleat. A cross-member moves to an engagement position and back to a resting position prior to each forward pleating motion. Switching devices, such as sliding blocks, slotted cams, or switch pins, attached to the cross-member selectively engage push-up rods which, in turn, selectively displace the coinciding pleating blades. The switching devices are electronically controlled to alternate positions.

Abstract: A binding tool for assisting in the task of folding and pressing bindings and ruffles and to a method of use thereof. The binding tool has a tool body having a top side and a bottom side and a slot disposed through the body for receiving a strip of cloth to be folded. The binding tool is used by placing the body member onto the top of an ironing board whereby the slot extends from the top of the ironing board upwardly through the body member. One end of a strip cloth is folded and then threaded through the slot from the top of the body down so that it extends between the body and the top of the ironing board. A heated iron is placed on a portion of the folded strip of cloth and then the strip of cloth is pulled through the slot whereby it is folded and simultaneously pulled under the iron and between the iron and the ironing board whereby it is pressed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a pleated effect to a tablecloth. A hoop having a plurality of undulating portions is positioned below the table top and above the floor such that the tablecloth is supported by the hoop with folds of the tablecloth falling between the undulating portions. In order to provide an effect of fullness, the hoop diameter is selected to be greater than the table top diameter.

Abstract: A method of pleating a garment, wherein an unfinished garment, prepared by sewing cloth parts together, is folded, rolled and twisted, and then attached to a holder. The holder holding the garment is placed in a heat-treatment apparatus, and the unfinished garment is heat-treated and pleated at the same time in the heat-treatment apparatus filled with saturated steam.

Abstract: A method of pleating an unfinished garment, wherein an unfinished garment prepared by sewing cloth parts together is folded around a core plate, the unfinished garment, thus folded, is placed in a case. The case containing the folded garment is inserted into a heat-treating apparatus, and the folded garment is simultaneously heat-treating and pleated.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing material having knife-pleats on either side, for use in manufacturing reversible knife-pleated garments such as skirts or dresses. Patterned material is woven with alternating narrow and wide sections, wherein each narrow section is identical in width to the next narrow section and each wide section is identical in width to the next wide section. A template is provided for use in stitching the layers of material together to form pleats. The template is also used in creating pleats from solid-colored material.

Abstract: The device includes a toothed wheel on which pleats of a sheet 10 are preformed, in some cases with the aid of a second toothed wheel 31, and a device for holding by a vacuum; then the preformed pleats are transferred to a pleat gathering wheel 13 either directly or through the medium of a pleat pressing wheel, where they are laid down then fixed to form a pleated sheet 23. The toothed wheels 5 and 31 and the pleat pressing wheel and/or the pleat gathering wheel 13 can be arranged to produce areas with no pleats at regular intervals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming parallel and non-parallel pleats in a fabric structure such as a curtain or drape includes a generally planar baseplate and a segmented forming member hingedly attached thereto and overlying the baseplate. The segmented forming member includes a first template and at least one second template which are hingedly connected together, each of the first and second templates having a leading edge and a trailing edge wherein the first template trailing edge is hingedly connected to the baseplate and wherein the second template trailing edge is hingedly connected to the first template such that a portion of the second template overlies a portion of the first template and such that the first template leading edge and such that a pocket a fabric-forming pocket is defines between the first template leading edge and the second template trailing edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming pleats in fabric includes a vertically movable head which can accommodate one centrally located rod, or alternatively, two spaced apart rods. One rod is used to form two pleats and the rod is movable towards a work surface to a position where the rod traps fabric between a work surface and the rod. Two gripping arms are laterally movable and grip the fabric and move towards the central rod. If three pleats are desired, the two spaced apart rods are used, and a vertically movable blade positioned below the work surface can be actuated, which moves the blade upwardly intermediate the two spaced apart rods, carrying the fabric with it, forming a first pleat. The same laterally movable arms can be actuated which grip the fabric and move it inwardly towards the central rod, to form the other two pleats.

Abstract: A textile web corrugating machine comprises a support table along which a textile web is transported, a folding plate disposed above the support table for folding in a generally zig-zag fashion the textile web then as it passed below the folding plate, a retainer member positioned above the support table in face-to-face relationship with the folding means for urging folds successively formed on the textile web into a web transport passage positioned downstream of the support table with respect to the direction of transport of the textile web, and a compressing unit disposed along the web transport passage for applying a compressive force to the successively formed folds from above and also from a lateral direction.

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 process for the production of a pleated textile fabric, which comprises first forming a spiral tube from a plane fabric by joining together the two selvedges of said fabric; then in known manner pleating this spiral tube and fixing the pleats thus formed; and finally undoing the join connecting the two selvedges of the fabric.The invention relates also to a weft and warp woven pleated fabric wherein the pleats are disposed on the bias and the weft threads are inclined.

Abstract: A method for producing a permanently pleated garment is disclosed, whereby pleat formation is achieved during subassembly before the garment is finished by positioning a subassembly with a pre-pressed pleat on a vacuum device having a conforming pleat groove, exerting a vacuum on the subassembly and on a pleat formed within the subassembly, maintaining a vacuum on the garment subassembly and the pleat, dispensing a sufficient amount of polymeric dispersion along the pleat while maintaining the vacuum, and folding and removing the subassembly from the vacuum device, followed by curing of the polymeric dispersion and incorporation of the subassembly in a finished garment.

Abstract: An apparatus for corrugating a flexible web containing heat softenable fibers comprising two pairs of endless drive chains with paddles mounted to each pair of chains to extend radially outward therefrom. The web is introduced onto the paddles at a point where the paddles are fanned out by passage of the paddles about the arcuate end of the endless chains. The web is folded between the paddles as the separation between the paddles is closed when the paddles move from the arcuate to the straight portion of the endless chains. Heating means soften and bond fibers of adjacent folds of the web together prior to removal of the corrugated web from the paddles.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing permanently set crumple pleat crease patterns in fabric webs, having a heatable crumple tube with an oscillatingly driveable stuffing element with which a fabric web in rope form is batchwise successively inserted into the crumple tube, compressed and finally forced out. Upstream of the entry end of the crumple tube there is a rope feed tube of smaller diameter than the crumple tube. The rope feed tube has a through-hole connected on the outside to a vacuum source, while part of the crumple tube is concentrically surrounded by a jacket tube. Annular gaps between the crumple and jacket tubes are tightly sealed by annular walls, thereby forming a heating chamber with an inlet and an outlet for a fluid heating medium.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for simultaneously folding and pleating a child's training pant or the like. The apparatus generally includes a plunger that is reciprocative through a tube member. The tube member has an interior surface defining an interior space and a pleating surface disposed on the interior surface. Upon the plunger member forcibly urging the training pant through the interior space, it is simultaneously folded by the interior surface and pleated by the pleating surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for giving relief in several directions to a textile cloth, characterized in that it consists:in known manner, in winding this cloth on a support tube,then in withdrawing said tube,thereafter in compressing the roll longitudinally along the axis of said support,finally, in fixing the roll thus compressed.The invention is more particularly applicable to fabric for home furnishings or clothes.

Abstract: In a pleat forming machine, apertures are defined in a pleat simultaneously with the formation of the pleat. A pusher bar carries a cutting member which projects into a recess defined in a pleating bar when the two bars are brought together to form the pleat. By so projecting, the cutting member pierces the folded material between the bars to form the required apertures. Clean and accurate cutting is assured by providing a continuous cutting edge, at the distal end of the cutting member, biased at an angle relative to the mating surfaces of the bars in order to concentrate the cutting force at a small portion of the edge at the time of puncture.

Abstract: The portion to be creased of polyester fiber goods is subjected to pressing and high-frequency treatment by means of a press bar attached to an upper electrode of a high-frequency welding machine, whereby a solid crease can be imparted to the polyester fiber goods.

Abstract: An apparatus for making multiple, longitudinal folds in a web of flexible material includes a pair of flat plates extending substantially parallel but spaced from each other with an array of posts extending between the plates with the distance between the posts decreasing along the length of the plates to form a narrow channel through which the flexible material is pulled; a plurality of staggered forming members are disposed along the path of transport to deflect the body of the flexible material to assist in the folding thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of heat-treating laminar materials, in particular fabrics including materials such as synthetic leather (laminated polyurethane) are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pair of cooperating rollers defining a nip through which the material is passed. Heating means is arranged to heat the material as it is compressed at the roller nip. A feeding arrangement is provided for feeding the material to said nip, the feeding arrangement including a pair of cooperating formers between which the material is passed. Each of the formers comprises a series of ribs spaced apart from one another, the average gap between adjacent ribs being less at the leading edge of the former than at the trailing edge thereof. The ribs of one former are positioned so that they are able to lie within the gaps between the ribs of the other former. Advantageously, the apparatus also includes means for effecting lateral movement of at least one of the formers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously and efficiently producing bouffant caps, the arrangement comprising a section for supporting and supplying a thin band-like material wound in roll form, a laying section for laying stretchable linear elements in stretched condition on opposite sides of the band-like material being continuously payed out from the supply section, a welding section for integrally attaching the laid stretchable linear elements to the band-like material, a zigzag folding section for widthwise zigzag folding the band-like material having said stretchable linear elements welded thereto, a fixed length seal section for welding at regular intervals the stretchable linear elements laid on the opposite sides of the zigzag folded material, and a cutter section for cutting the material at the middle of each weld region.

Abstract: A stuffing attachment for a continuously operating crinkling unit for continuous material, has a stuffing ring which can be moved forwards and backwards in a straight line with an aperture through which a strip of the continuous material passes. The stuffing ring is pushed through a clamping device into the starting zone of a compression tube of the crinkling unit and thereafter withdrawn. As the stuffing ring is withdrawn, the clamping device closes, so that it grips the strip, holds it fast, and pulls it through the aperture of the stuffing ring as the latter travels further back.

Abstract: This relates to a drive mechanism of the rack and pinion type wherein the length of the rack is less than the required travel and there are plural drive pinions which singly and then sequentially engage the rack. The drive pinions may be driven in any manner, but when a variation in speed is desired in addition to reciprocation, it has been found that a cam type drive will provide the desired mechanical movement. The rack may be beneficially used to effect the controlled movement of a shirred casing strand along a mandrel.

Abstract: A web is placed on a grooved cylinder, folded by pressing it into the cylinder grooves, and attached to a backing sheet to form a pile fabric. Folding is performed by rollers with blades which enter and move along the length of the grooves. The rollers are guided precisely by guide members on their opposite axial sides. To prevent the rollers from pushing the textile material across the grooved cylinder surface, the rollers are rotated independently of their contact with the web.

Abstract: A smock gathering apparatus includes a base board having two spaced apart bearing blocks mounted thereon. A shaft adapted to support a roll of cloth material to be gathered is mounted for rotation in bearing apertures in the bearing blocks. The blocks are adjustably secured on the base board and means are provided for removably securing a smock gathering machine on the base board between the two bearing blocks and in operative relation to the shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making textured patterns on originally smooth web of fabric which was subjected to a mechanical pleating treatment, i.e., which was provided with upright or flat permanently fixed pleats in regular or irregular distribution.For this purpose, the mechanically pleated web of material is continuously heated and the pleated pleats are deformed simultaneously or subsequently to the heating either by tensioning the web of fabric or by at least partial compression of the pleats. The deformation is then fixed by cooling the web of fabric. In addition, the textured fabric may be partially printed in the transfer-printing method in a color and/or pattern deviating from the base material within the areas of the textured web of fabric, in that a web of thermal printing paper is pressed against the web of fabric in the desired color or the desired pattern during the heating step.

Abstract: There is provided a method of printing and pleating a fabric which comprises folding the fabric into a pleat pattern and then simultaneously forming the pleat and printing the fabric by passing the fabric together with a print paper in contact with at least a portion thereof through a zone heated to a temperature sufficient to cause the print color and/or pattern to be transferred to the fabric while the folds in the fabric are simultaneously made into permanent pleats.

Abstract: A method of producing edge-printed, flare-pleated fabric garment pieces in which a fabric garment piece is placed in a corresponding pleating form and is held folded together with the form, thermal printing paper is so laid on the front edges of pleat creases visible in the form that its color-yielding face lies on the edges of the pleat creases, and in which pressure is applied to the back of the thermal printing paper with the simultaneous application of heat.

Abstract: A durable crease is formed in a textile article by applying a flexible casting compound in a preformed crease using a non-rotary applicator in conjunction with a structure for guiding the applicator along the crease.

Abstract: A bag for forming into a quilted article is produced by pleating two sections of material and by feeding pairs of the folded edges thus formed through respective work stations, each pair comprising one edge from each section and the two edges from each pair being fed side by side and simultaneously through the respective station. At each station, the longitudinal edges of a respective strip of flexible material are simultaneously secured to the respective pair of folded edges so as to produce elongate quilting pockets. Apparatus for producing the bag has a plurality of the work stations, means for folding the sections of material, guides which receive the material from the folding means and feed means which co-operate with the guides to feed the folded edges of each pair side by side and simultaneously to the respective work station. The feed means also serve to draw the strips of flexible material from supports for these strips and through the respective work stations.

Abstract: A method for the continuous manufacture of an undulating or corrugated longitudinal material in which a strip is projected longitudinally in the form of transverse folds between two longitudinal walls defining a passage or corridor having a height exceeding the thickness of the strip, a longitudinal displacement of said walls being caused in the direction of projection of the strip at a speed lower than the linear projection speed and decreasing in the direction of movement, in such a manner as to cause the packing or bunching of the folds inside the passage or corridor along the length of the material.

Abstract: A device that steams and sets the pleats formed in draperies supports the drapes in vertical position and moves steam and vacuum pipes vertically relative thereto. Pleating fingers may be incorporated with the steam and vacuum pipe apparatus to simultaneously form the pleats and steam and set the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in manually marking the locations on the upper section of a drapery panel where fold-type drapery supports should be mounted. A computing device is utilized to determine the correct distance between adjacent fold-type drapery supports to obtain a desired number of folds for a given hemmed width size of drapery panel. A plurality of indicator members for indicating where marks should be manually made on the upper section of a drapery panel are provided on a lazy tong-like member which is adapted to allow the distance between each adjacent indicator member to be uniformly varied in accordance with the computations of the computing device.

Abstract: A fabric creasing machine is disclosed for applying one or more creases in fabric. Only that portion of fabric to be creased is sucked by vacuum into the space between a pair of heated creasing bars by vacuum, and is subjected to steam while being pressed by the pressing bars.

Abstract: A cloth stuffing chamber or container, preferably a tube with entrance and exit portions, is provided with means for preventing backward movement of the cloth. This means is preferably in the form of a fixed ring at the beginning of the exit portion having around its inner surface at least several segments of wire which are slanted toward the exit portion of the tube. There is provided between the entrance and fixed ring a movable ring with wires or pins also slanting in the same exit direction, which ring is reciprocated by a drive, such as a cam and follower. Cloth is introduced into the entrance portion of the chamber and passes through the two rings, and as the movable ring reciprocates, its slanted wires move the cloth forward on the forward stroke and on the reverse stroke the slanted pins of the fixed ring prevent the cloth from moving backwards.

Abstract: Apparatus for compressing an accumulated mass of fabric to impart a change in its physical appearance wherein the fabric is continuously gravitationally fed in accumulated form to compression means. The apparatus is specifically directed to imparting a crushed appearance to pile fabrics such as lightweight velvet-type fabrics used in upholstery, draperies, and the like.