Abstract: A method for measuring a thread includes moving a contactless distance sensor parallel to an axial direction of the thread, recording a measurement signal corresponding to a distance of the contactless distance sensor to a top of the thread, comparing the measurement signal with a reference value lying between a maximum value and a minimum value of the measurement signal, and determining intersection points of the measurement signal with the reference value. Further steps include combining pairs of intersection points, directly following one another, into measurement value tuples, calculating mean values of the measurement value tuples, and calculating a time-angle resolution from the mean values. In an example embodiment, the thread is for a spindle of a ball screw drive.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing one or more images of a textile to determine a presence or absence of defects. In one example, an image of at least a portion of a textile may be obtained and compared to a reference image of a reference textile. Based on the comparison, one or more areas indicative of a height variation between the textile and the reference textile may be determined. An action may be performed based on the one or more areas indicative of the height variation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for analyzing one or more images of a textile to determine a presence or absence of defects. In one example, an image of at least a portion of a textile may be obtained and compared to a reference image of a reference textile. Based on the comparison, one or more areas indicative of a height variation between the textile and the reference textile may be determined. An action may be performed based on the one or more areas indicative of the height variation.

Abstract: A system allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview these designs before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. As the user designs the garment, the system provides the user insight in their design process.

Abstract: A system allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview these designs before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. The system swaps garments in a digital asset to garments that are designed using the system.

Abstract: A system allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview these designs before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. Users may collaborate while designing the apparel and designate what items should belong in specific collections.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes providing a textile and applying heat and/or pressure to the textile using a texturing device to form a textured area of the textile. The textured area is spaced apart from a substantially smooth area of the textile. The method further includes forming at least part of an upper from the textile after applying the heat and/or pressure to the textile. The upper includes a cavity configured to receive a foot. The substantially smooth area is configured to define a reference boundary of the upper. The substantially smooth area and the textured area are each configured to be disposed at predetermined regions of the upper. Furthermore, forming the textured area includes forming a plurality of projection structures that project outward from the reference boundary at varying distances.

Abstract: Provided is a method capable of producing a retardation film being excellent in axial accuracy, showing small changes in retardation and dimensions at the time of its heating, and having a slow axis in an oblique direction with high production efficiency. The production method for a retardation film of the present invention includes: holding left and right end portions of a film with left and right variable pitch-type clips configured to have clip pitches changing in a longitudinal direction, respectively; preheating the film; causing the clip pitches of the left and right clips to each independently change to obliquely stretch the film; reducing the clip pitches of the left and right clips to shrink the film in the longitudinal direction; and releasing the film from being held with the clips.

Abstract: A machine and a method for treating fabrics, comprise in combination a step of inducing substantially vertical vibrations in a quantity of fabric in the form of a substantially compact mass and a simultaneous step of drying the rest of the fabric in opened-out form.

Abstract: For the production of spatial textile articles (12) a base material with two or more layers is used, the two layers (16, 17) of said material exhibiting at least locally different shrinkage potentials. Then, during a suitable process, the shrinkage potential is released fully or in part due to thermal action, other physical action or chemical action, thus causing a spatial arching of the starting material and, in doing so, resulting in the manufacture of the desired textile article (12).

Abstract: A two-stage process and apparatus for compacting tubular knitted fabrics, wherein at each stage the fabric, is acted upon by cooperating feeding and retarding rollers spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the fabric. Opposite fabric sides thus cannot be in simultaneous contact with the feeding and retarding rollers at the same point along the fabric. Fabric is transferred from a feed roller to a retarding roller while opposite sides of the fabric are closely confined in a compacting zone, free of contact with either roller. Fabric is longitudinally compacted during its traverse of that zone. In the second stage, the rollers are reversely oriented with respect the fabric. Unlike known two-stage procedures, not more than 60% of the compacting effort is imparted in either one of the stages. Preferably each stage imparts about 50% of the compacting effort. Higher production speeds and superior product quality are achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for densifying a fibrous mat, such as scrim, to achieve a uniform mat density, comprising a set of parallel bars each having a row of pins extending downward therefrom which can engage the mat fibers, a plurality of shafts along which the bars slide so as to maintain the bars parallel, a plurality of extendable accordion linkages connecting the set of bars, and a linear positioning assembly having a reciprocating drive mechanism coupled to one of the bars which can move the bars in response to an actuation signal. As the drive mechanism retracts the bar to which it is coupled the spacing between the rows of bars is decreased uniformly and the rows of pins draw the fibers together and compress them uniformly across the width of the mat.

Abstract: A method of producing an entangled sheet of microfine long fibers using long fibers for forming microfine fibers. The method includes a step of forming a long-fiber web made of long fibers for forming microfine fibers, at least one component of the long fibers being a water-soluble, thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol resin; a step of entangling the long-fiber web to form a long-fiber entangled sheet; a step of shrinking the long-fiber entangled sheet to form a long-fiber shrunk sheet; and a step of converting the long fibers for forming microfine fibers in the long-fiber shrunk sheet to microfine long fibers, thereby producing the entangled sheet of microfine long fibers. The step of entangling is conducted so as to allow the long-fiber entangled sheet to have an interlaminar peel strength of 2 kg/2.5 cm or more. The step of shrinking is conducted so as to shrink in an areal shrinkage of 35% or more.

Abstract: A fabric article, and method of making same, useful as a wet-wipe includes an absorbent fabric sheet moistened with a preselected wiping liquid, characterized in that the absorbent fabric sheet is in a compressed, flattened condition. Also described is a fabric article, and method of making same, which includes a sheet of a non-woven fabric, preferably a spunbond fabric which has undergone a needlepoint treatment to increase its absorbency and to improve feel (i.e., making it smoother to touch), and a compression treatment to decrease its volume.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for compressive shrinking a textile web of material (9) with the aid of a rubber blanket shrinking system, wherein the rubber blanket (3) is cooled after the main cylinder is discharged.

Abstract: There is described a process for producing a cover for a side airbag, which comprises first producing a polyester web, preconsolidating this web by needling and end-consolidating and fully shrinking the thus preconsolidated web by means of an embossing calender, making the thus consolidated and fully shrunk web up into a cover and providing the cover with a predetermined breaking site to tear open the cover in the event of a collision. The process is simple to carry out and leads to inexpensive covers having improved properties.

Abstract: A three-dimensionally structured fibrous web made up of continuous-filament layers which alternate perpendicular to the surface plane, and denser short-fiber layers that are permanently thermally bonded in a continuous or spot-like manner to the filament layers, the wide-mesh continuous-filament layers representing a scrim, lattice, or netting, has on the short-fiber layers repeating, fold- or wave-shaped elevations. In the manufacturing process, all of the layers of the laminate are subjected together to a shrinkage process at a temperature which lies between the softening and melting points of the scrim material.

Abstract: A method for forming convexities and/or concavities on cloths for a garment at almost entire portions of the garment or any desired portion of the garment without any substantial limitation from a design point of view. The method for forming a garment having convexities and/or concavities which can expand and contract in both the weft and wrap directions like a knitted fabric. Cloths including thermoplastic fiber are cut into parts of the garment, the parts are sewn in a shape of the garment. The garment is overlaid on a thermo-shrinkable cloth. They are sewn together with stitches of water-soluble threads. The sewn cloths are heated under dry heat and without applying any pressure to the cloths so as to permit the thermo-shrinkable cloth to shrink and form convexities and/or concavities on the cloths of the garment. The water-soluble threads are solved and removed, and the cloths of the garment are separated from the thermo-shrinkable cloth.

Abstract: A process for treatment of a web by means of impingement by high velocity gaseous fluid is provided. The process constitutes the provision of a web to a treatment zone at a tension of between about 1 and about 5 pounds force per linear inch of web width. In the treatment zone the web is subjected to the imposition of high velocity gaseous fluid substantially tangential to the web and in the direction of travel by the web through the treatment zone, such that a series of saw-tooth waves are formed in and move along the web in the direction of travel by the web. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and a related method control within acceptable limits, of less than two percent (2%), residual shrinkage in garments to be made from a knitted fabric web or other fabrics subject to high shrinkage. The knitted fabric web is passed continuously in a moist condition through a first shrinkage compactor. Then the web is carried on an endless belt through a special dryer in a relaxed condition to allow loops of knits to shorten. The web is caused to wave in the dryer. The web is then conveyed through a second shrinkage range for final shrinking to a desired weight per surface area with less than two percent (2%) residual shrinkage. Thus the garments are safe from further shrinking in home tumble dryers.