A fabric comprising micro-magnets, micro-coils of conductive material within an electric-insulating coating and an array of switches for selectively switching micro-coils on and off, such that relative movement of the micro-coils with respect to a local magnet field generates signals that are transmittable to a receiver, and signals received can switch coils on to detect relative movement of the coil with respect to nearby magnets to create tension and compression within the fabric.

Provided is a cloth spreading apparatus in which a pair of feeder chucks are engaged with adjacent corners of a piece of cloth at a lowered position, and raise the cloth to a traversing position of spreading chucks; the pair of spreading chucks traverse to positions closer to each other to receive the adjacent corners of the cloth from the feeder chucks, and then traverse to positions farther away from each other to pull the adjacent corners so as to spread the cloth; an intermediate movable body receives, at an advanced position, an upper end portion of the spread cloth from the spreading chucks and retains the upper end portion, and then releases the upper end portion while moving to a retracted position so as to transfer the cloth onto a belt conveyor; and the belt conveyor carries out the cloth in a spread state, wherein the intermediate movable body has: a rear-facing surface that is a part of an upper surface between a front part and a sunken part located at a lower level than the front part, and that extends downward; a clamp that is placed opposite to the rear-facing surface; and a clamp driving device that advances and retracts the clamp to and from the rear-facing surface so as to hold an upper portion of the cloth between the clamp and the rear-facing surface and release the upper portion from therebetween.

Provided is a cloth spreading apparatus in which a pair of feeder chucks are engaged with adjacent corners of a piece of cloth at a lowered position, and raise the cloth to a traversing position of spreading chucks; the pair of spreading chucks traverse to positions closer to each other to receive the adjacent corners of the cloth from the feeder chucks, and then traverse to positions farther away from each other to pull the adjacent corners so as to spread the cloth; an intermediate movable body receives, at an advanced position, an upper end portion of the spread cloth from the spreading chucks and retains the upper end portion, and then releases the upper end portion while moving to a retracted position so as to transfer the cloth onto a belt conveyor; and the belt conveyor carries out the cloth in a spread state, wherein the intermediate movable body has: a rear-facing surface that is a part of an upper surface between a front part and a sunken part located at a lower level than the front part, and that extends downward; a clamp that is placed opposite to the rear-facing surface; and a clamp driving device that advances and retracts the clamp to and from the rear-facing surface so as to hold an upper portion of the cloth between the clamp and the rear-facing surface and release the upper portion from therebetween.

Multiple garment construction techniques are provided. The first garment construction technique is a method of creating ruching in a mesh material. The second garment construction technique is a method to gather a mesh material to reduce the edge length or to provide a stretch mesh fabric. The third garment construction technique is a method of creating an adjustable strap suitable using a G-clasp element for use with garments of mesh material or other fashion fabrics.

An automatic cloth spreading machine, that keeps the number of pieces processed even in the event of failure in handling, includes a separating device for separating pieces of cloth one by one from a mass of cloth made of a plurality of pieces of cloth by cloth handling devices, an edge locating device for locating an edge of each of the pieces of cloth having been separated one by one, a spreading device for spreading the piece of cloth, the edge of which has been located, and a discharging device for discharging the piece of cloth having been spread to a subsequent step. The separating device includes multiple units of cloth handling devices that perform the same process, and the multiple units of cloth handling devices simultaneously perform at least one of single- or multiple-step processes of separating pieces of cloth one by one from the mass of cloth.

An automatic cloth spreading machine, that keeps the number of pieces processed even in the event of failure in handling, includes a separating device for separating pieces of cloth one by one from a mass of cloth made of a plurality of pieces of cloth by cloth handling devices, an edge locating device for locating an edge of each of the pieces of cloth having been separated one by one, a spreading device for spreading the piece of cloth, the edge of which has been located, and a discharging device for discharging the piece of cloth having been spread to a subsequent step. The separating device includes multiple units of cloth handling devices that perform the same process, and the multiple units of cloth handling devices simultaneously perform at least one of single- or multiple-step processes of separating pieces of cloth one by one from the mass of cloth.

A method for improving the translation efficiency of fiber strength into composite strength is provided. A single unidirectional tape, single unidirectional fiber web or a stack of unidirectional web/unidirectional tape plies formed from partially oriented fibers/tapes is primed under mild conditions followed by subjecting the primed plies to an axial extension stress in the axial fiber direction of each fiber ply by passage through a compression apparatus. The axial extension stress extends the fibers, strengthening them, while also compacting the plies together and thereby forming a composite having improved strength. Production yield is improved by avoiding maximal fiber stretching and thereby avoiding typical manufacturing loss, and low weight composite armor having increased strength is achieved.

A method for improving the translation efficiency of fiber strength into composite strength is provided. A single unidirectional tape, single unidirectional fiber web or a stack of unidirectional web/unidirectional tape plies formed from partially oriented fibers/tapes is primed under mild conditions followed by subjecting the primed plies to an axial extension stress in the axial fiber direction of each fiber ply by passage through a compression apparatus. The axial extension stress extends the fibers, strengthening them, while also compacting the plies together and thereby forming a composite having improved strength. Production yield is improved by avoiding maximal fiber stretching and thereby avoiding typical manufacturing loss, and low weight composite armor having increased strength is achieved.

The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for receiving and spreading out/extending cloth (3), such as pieces of laundry, comprising a set of spreader clamps (120) for releasably receiving a pair of corners of said cloth (3) and for spreading out of said cloth (3), a suction box system (S) including: a suction chute (170) connected with a front portion of a suction chamber (200) and having a mouth for receiving said cloth (3), and a suction fan (119) communicating with a rear portion of said suction chamber (200) via a number of air flow passages (185), the suction fan (119) establishing suction in said suction chamber (200) and said suction chute (170), whereby said suction box system (S) additionally includes a discharge conveyor (C) for the discharge of cloth (3) collected in said suction chamber (200), a discharge gate (320) selectively openable for said discharge, and an air access gate (430) operable for temporarily reducing suction applied by said fan (119) through said air flow passages (185).

The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for receiving and spreading out/extending cloth (3), such as pieces of laundry, comprising a set of spreader clamps (120) for releasably receiving a pair of corners of said cloth (3) and for spreading out of said cloth (3), a suction box system (S) including: a suction chute (170) connected with a front portion of a suction chamber (200) and having a mouth for receiving said cloth (3), and a suction fan (119) communicating with a rear portion of said suction chamber (200) via a number of air flow passages (185), the suction fan (119) establishing suction in said suction chamber (200) and said suction chute (170), whereby said suction box system (S) additionally includes a discharge conveyor (C) for the discharge of cloth (3) collected in said suction chamber (200), a discharge gate (320) selectively openable for said discharge, and an air access gate (430) operable for temporarily reducing suction applied by said fan (119) through said air flow passages (185).