Systems and methods for automated manufacturing of flexible goods and related technologies are disclosed. A workpiece can be processed to temporarily change its physical properties for facilitating handling and assembly operations. The system can include one or more automated handling apparatuses for transporting workpieces between workstations. Each workstation can perform a different stage of the manufacturing process. After the goods have been manufactured, the goods can be processed such that is returns to its original physical properties.

Disclosed herein is a reversible neckline shapewear garment that can be worn forwards or backwards, depending on the wearer's preference. The reversible shapewear garment described herein includes two necklines, wherein the first neckline may extend under the wearer's breasts and the second neckline may extend across or above the wearer's breasts. Advantageously, this reversible garment may be worn backwards or forwards by the wearer while contouring to the natural body without creating visible lines or bulges of fabric or losing shape. Also disclosed herein are methods of assembling and wearing the reversible neckline shapewear garment.

Disclosed herein is a reversible neckline shapewear garment that can be worn forwards or backwards, depending on the wearer's preference. The reversible shapewear garment described herein includes two necklines, wherein the first neckline may extend under the wearer's breasts and the second neckline may extend across or above the wearer's breasts. Advantageously, this reversible garment may be worn backwards or forwards by the wearer while contouring to the natural body without creating visible lines or bulges of fabric or losing shape. Also disclosed herein are methods of assembling and wearing the reversible neckline shapewear garment.

The invention relates to a method for continuously manufacturing elastic pants (28), wherein a flat web material (1, 16, 19) is continuously conveyed in a longitudinal direction (8) of the web material (1, 16, 19), is shaped into a closed tube (4), and is closed in the longitudinal direction (8). The closed tube (4) forms a first outer layer (9). Elastic threads (10) in the form of a tubular reinforcement are then wound around the first outer layer (9) in the conveying direction (8) in such a way that the elastic threads (10) are taut when the outer layer (9) has a convex shape. A second outer layer (15) is then continuously applied to the elastic threads (10) in the conveying direction (8) and is joined to the elastic threads (10) and/or the first outer layer (9). The first outer layer (9), the elastic threads (10) and the second outer layer (15) form an elastic pants web material (21). Further down in the conveying direction (8), the pants web material (21) is closed along a joining section (29) in regular intervals such that the joining section (29) forms two approximately equally large opening sections that lie opposite each other in the transverse direction. Further down in the conveying direction (8), the pants web material (21) is cut at a distance from the joining section (29) such that a pair of elastic pants (28) is formed.

In manufacturing a pleated stretchable composite member, a first sheet-like nonwoven fabric and a stretched cord-like elastic member (rubber thread, etc.) are positioned on the protruding surface side of a pattern roll, and a hot melt adhesive is intermittently applied to the stretched cord-like elastic member and the first sheet-like nonwoven fabric at locations where the protruding surface of the pattern roll is present, and then the stretched cord-like elastic member and the first sheet-like nonwoven fabric intermittently coated with the adhesive and a second sheet-like nonwoven fabric are integrally adhesively fixed at positions corresponding to locations where the protruding surface of the pattern roll is present. In the stretchable composite member, the valleys of the upward-facing breathers of the top-layer nonwoven sheet and the valleys of the downward-facing breathers of the bottom-layer nonwoven sheet are adhesively fixed via a stretchable elastic members (rubber threads) between the two nonwoven fabric sheets.

A method and an apparatus for recovering down from products padded with it, which comprise the steps of: cutting (2) adapted to shred the padded product; subsequent mechanical agitation of the shredded material inside at least one first separation chamber (3, 4), in order to separate at least some of the down from the shredded material; suction of the down, performed at the first separation chamber (3, 4) and also upstream and/or downstream of the first separation chamber (3, 4); collection of the aspirated down in at least one container (71-73).

Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands about a garment opening. In one example, among others, a sleeve band can be attached to a garment by loading the sleeve band on a band guide, aligning an opening of a garment over the sleeve band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening. Alignment of the edges of the opening and the sleeve band can be maintained by ply aligners during attachment. In another example, a garment holding system includes a garment holder that can receive a garment and a band positioning system includes a band guide that can receive a band. Edges of the opening of the garment and the band can be controlled and maintained with ply aligners of the band positioning system.

Various examples are provided related to attachment of bands about a garment opening. In one example, among others, a sleeve band can be attached to a garment by loading the sleeve band on a band guide, aligning an opening of a garment over the sleeve band, and attaching the band to the garment along the edge of the opening. Alignment of the edges of the opening and the sleeve band can be maintained by ply aligners during attachment. In another example, a garment holding system includes a garment holder that can receive a garment and a band positioning system includes a band guide that can receive a band. Edges of the opening of the garment and the band can be controlled and maintained with ply aligners of the band positioning system.

Systems and methods are described that provide for automated manufacturing of garments using cutting, folding tools and adhesive dispensers operating on continuous webs of fabric webs to manufacture garments in an efficient manner while improving quality and overcoming material handling issues resulting from the properties of fabrics.

An assembly line (1) comprising a conveyance line (5), a plurality of processing stations (S1-S3; N1-N13) and a plurality of multilevel sorting units (6) conveyed by the conveyance line (5). Each sorting unit is adapted to support the parts (P1-P3) of a manufactured article to be assembled progressively at the processing stations and comprises a plurality of superimposed trays which can be extracted selectively, wherein each tray is adapted to contain the parts of the manufactured article that are to be assembled at a respective processing station thereof.

The assembly line also comprises means for identifying the tray to be extracted at at least one respective processing station.