James A Middleton

US Patent:

D2761009, Oct 30, 1984

Filed:

Jun 24, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/391562

Inventors:

James B. Middleton - Decatur GA

US Classification:

D 6466

US Patent:

43751750, Mar 1, 1983

Filed:

May 26, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/266800

Inventors:

Norman E. Elsas - Atlanta GA
James B. Middleton - Decatur GA

Assignee:

Nemo Industries, Inc. - Atlanta GA

International Classification:

B26D 520
D06H 702

US Classification:

83 18

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for automatically severing individual towels from a length of material comprising a plurality of terry towels. The method includes the steps of measuring slightly less than the supposed length of a towel, then activating a sensor that detects the edge of a cutting space by the change in thickness of the material. The sensor causes feeding of the material to stop with a cut-line at a cutting blade. The first edge of the material is held while a second sensor located the same edge at the opposite side of the material, and the cutting blade is moved with the sensor. The material is stretched to straighten the cut-line, and the cutting blade is caused to cut the material. The apparatus includes feed rolls to move the material, and an encoder measures the length. A roller at one edge of the material detects the change in thickness at one edge, and similar rollers detect the change in thickness at the opposite edge.