Method and apparatus for forming a permanent crease in a cloth

A method for providing permanent creases in a cloth, said method including the steps of:

• arranging a select cloth along a course traversing a plurality of spaced apart and elongated gaps between support members;
• moving a first elongated crease blade along a path of travel from an inoperative position remote to said elongated gap along an operative course of travel displacing a first portion of cloth from said supports to a site between a first of said spaced apart and elongated gaps to form a first reversely extending cloth portion;
• pinching the cloth in the gap between presser bars and said first elongated crease blade under a sufficient force to allow withdrawing of said first crease blade from between the press bars without carrying the first reversely extending cloth portion with the crease blade;
• gripping the reversely extended cloth portions residing in said elongated gap between said presser members;
• moving a second elongated crease blade along a path of travel from an inoperative position remote to said elongated gap along an operative course of travel displacing a second portion of cloth from said supports to a site between a second of said spaced apart and elongated gaps to form second reversely extending cloth portion,
• pinching the cloth in the gap between presser bars and said second elongated crease blade under a sufficient force to allow withdrawing of the said second crease blade from between the press bars without carrying the second reversely bent portion of cloth with the crease blade;
• creasing said first and second reversely extending cloth portions residing in said plurality of elongated gaps between each of said first and second presser members to form elongated first and second crease lines;
• separating said first and second reversely extending cloth portions by moving elongated crease support bars vertically between each of the first and second presser members to support, expose and align said elongated first and second crease lines;
• and
• adhering a filler along at least a part of each of said first and second elongated crease lines to the select cloth to establish permanent creases in the cloth of long continued integrity.

An apparatus to form a military crease in cloth, said apparatus including the combination of:

• an elongated cloth support having at least one gap for passage of a folded portion of cloth;
• elongated press bars movable to a spaced apart relation to receive a select portion of cloth passed from the gap in said cloth supports;
• a press bar actuator connected to said press bars for creasing a portion of cloth between said press bars;
• an elongated crease blade reciprocal along a generally path of travel between an inoperative position remote to said elongated cloth support and an operative course of travel to displace a portion of cloth from said support to a site between said press bars;
• an elongated crease support bar for unfolding the reversely extending cloth portion while supporting the cloth along a crease line;
• a crease support bar actuator for moving said elongated crease support bar between a cloth receiving position between said press bars and a filler applicator position;
• and
• an applicator for discharging a filler along said crease line while supported by said elongated crease support bar.