Sara Lee Corporation

Robert E Butler

Edward R LaVelle

An apparatus for converting a length of large diameter knitted tubular fabric into a plurality of fabric bands for use in the manufacture of apparel collars, cuffs and bands. The apparatus includes a slitter adapted to cut the large diameter knitted tubular fabric into longitudinal fabric strips with opposed edges. The slitter includes a plurality of spaced fabric cutters to cut the fabric into a plurality of longitudinal fabric strips and a fabric conveyor adapted to longitudinally convey the fabric into contact with the cutters. The apparatus also includes a seamer adapted to longitudinally fold the fabric strips and seam the edges together to form a plurality of smaller diameter tubes having the same diameter as the finished collar or cuff. Finally, the apparatus includes a cutter adapted to transversely cut each of the tubes into bands having a predetermined width for use as collars or cuffs.

Growing community of inventors

Fairmont, NC, United States of America

Robert E Butler