An object of the present invention is to provide a more compact processing apparatus than previously available. Provided is a processing apparatus for unfurling or folding a processing subject (T), including a pair of retaining devices (310A, 310B) capable of retaining the processing subject (T), a carrying device (402) capable of carrying the processing subject (T) such that a part of the processing subject (T) hangs down therefrom while the processing subject (T) is retained by at least one of the pair of retaining devices (310A, 310B), and a control device that controls movement of the retaining devices (310A, 310B) and the carrying device (402), wherein the control device rotates the carrying device (402) in a condition where the retained processing subject (T) hangs down from the carrying device (402).

To provide a fabric type identifying apparatus and a fabric type identifying method enabling to stably identify a type of fabric with high accuracy. A fabric type identifying apparatus A for identifying a type of a fabric F provided with a color thread T at an edge portion includes a camera 51 for photographing the fabric F, and an image processing apparatus 52 for receiving an image input and photographed by the camera 51. The image processing apparatus 52 acquires a color value of the color thread T from the received image of the fabric F, and identifies the type of the fabric F on a basis of the color value. Since the type of the fabric F is identified on the basis of the color of the color thread T, the type of the fabric F is enabled to be stably identified with high accuracy regardless of stretching and shrinking of the fabric F.

An automated system and method wrap the fastening ties around the body of a continuous stream of facemasks in a facemask production line. The facemasks are oriented such that each facemask has a leading pair of ties and a trailing pair of ties extending from a body in a conveying direction of the production line. The leading pair of ties is drawn below the body as the facemask continues to be conveyed in the conveying and wraps under the body. Subsequently, an impinging force is directed onto the body that is sufficient to cause the body to flip backwards at least once as the facemask continues to be conveyed in the conveying direction, thereby causing the leading and trailing pairs of ties to further wrap around the body.

A glove stacking apparatus forming a stack folded gloves has a supporting surface for supporting the stack as folded gloves are added to the stack along a stacking axis. First and second flaps are pivotable about first and second pivot axes opposite first and second sides of a glove stacking area. The supporting surface is relatively movable as folded gloves are added to the stack. A cyclic flap actuation system is configured to drive a folding action of each flap in which the flaps alternately pivot about the corresponding pivot axis so that each flap folds a first portion of a deposited glove overlapping a flap towards a second portion of the glove at the glove stacking area; the folding action alternating as gloves are added to the stack. Each flap in addition to being pivotable is also laterally movable both towards and away from the stacking area.

An apparatus and method for pre-shrinking a wet fabric prior to drying. The apparatus includes, among other components, a balloon extractor station and a hydro-sizer compression station. The balloon extractor station removes some water from the wet fabric. The hydro-sizer compression station is operatively connected to, and disposed downstream of, the balloon extractor station, and compresses the wet fabric in a lengthwise direction, and in so doing, pre-shrinks the wet fabric prior to drying. The method includes, among other steps, extracting some water from the wet fabric so as to faun a hydro-extracted and wet fabric, compressing lengthwise the hydro-extracted and wet fabric so as to form a compacted and wet fabric that is now pre-shrunk prior to drying, and drying the compacted and wet fabric so as to form a compacted and dry fabric.

An apparatus and method for pre-shrinking a wet fabric prior to drying. The apparatus includes, among other components, a balloon extractor station and a hydro-sizer compression station. The balloon extractor station removes some water from the wet fabric. The hydro-sizer compression station is operatively connected to, and disposed downstream of, the balloon extractor station, and compresses the wet fabric in a lengthwise direction, and in so doing, pre-shrinks the wet fabric prior to drying. The method includes, among other steps, extracting some water from the wet fabric so as to faun a hydro-extracted and wet fabric, compressing lengthwise the hydro-extracted and wet fabric so as to form a compacted and wet fabric that is now pre-shrunk prior to drying, and drying the compacted and wet fabric so as to form a compacted and dry fabric.

A clothing washing, drying, and folding machine that automates the entire laundry process includes a washing and drying unit and a folding unit. The washing and drying unit has a plurality of pressurized nozzles for directing a cleaning solution, derived from a water feed and a detergent feed, onto articles of clothing. A plurality of heating vents is then used to dry the articles of clothing. The folding unit has a folding machine that is then used to fold the articles of clothing. A clothing track system is utilized to hang the articles of clothing and transfer the articles of clothing from the washing and drying unit to the folding unit. The clothing track system includes a plurality of hanger supports dispersed along a guide rail, wherein each of the plurality of hanger supports may receive a clothing hanger.

A clothing washing, drying, and folding machine that automates the entire laundry process includes a washing and drying unit and a folding unit. The washing and drying unit has a plurality of pressurized nozzles for directing a cleaning solution, derived from a water feed and a detergent feed, onto articles of clothing. A plurality of heating vents is then used to dry the articles of clothing. The folding unit has a folding machine that is then used to fold the articles of clothing. A clothing track system is utilized to hang the articles of clothing and transfer the articles of clothing from the washing and drying unit to the folding unit. The clothing track system includes a plurality of hanger supports dispersed along a guide rail, wherein each of the plurality of hanger supports may receive a clothing hanger.

A robot is provided. While repeating the process of jigging and lifting the lowest part of the clothes by the first robot arm and the first gripper and jigging and lifting the lowest part of the clothes by the second robot arm and the second griper, the image sensor senses the shape of the clothes jigged by the first and second grippers to rapidly and exactly provide clothes spread in wrinkles one by one.

A robot is provided. While repeating the process of jigging and lifting the lowest part of the clothes by the first robot arm and the first gripper and jigging and lifting the lowest part of the clothes by the second robot arm and the second griper, the image sensor senses the shape of the clothes jigged by the first and second grippers to rapidly and exactly provide clothes spread in wrinkles one by one.