AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CUTTING, SHOULDERING AND SEALING STRIP WEBBING

Abstract: Apparatus (1) and method for cutting a desired length of strip webbing (61), and for shouldering and sealing the severed edges of the cut webbing (61) with a non-raveling finished edge (77). The cutting is effected by the cutting blade (63) on one (47) of two dies (39), (47) constrained to relative translatory movement. Heat and pressure applied by the flat surfaces (65), (67) of the dies (47), (39) shoulders the edges of the cut webbing (61). A heated lateral groove (73) on a die (39) seals the flashing (71) of the severed edge and results in a non-raveling finished edge (77).

Description: Description An Apparatus and Method for Cutting, Shouldering and Sealing Strip Webbing Technical Field This invention relates to the cutting, shouldering and sealing of strip webbing. Background Art The prior art, U.S. Patent No. 2, 638, 963, discloses an appa¬ ratus for dielectric fabrication; U.S. Patent No. 3, 033,257 dis¬ closes a bag forming tube and method of forming and accumulating the same; U.S. Patent No. 3, 083, 757 discloses a knife sealer for thermoplastic film or sheet; U.S. Patent No. 3,257,256 discloses a device for welding and cutting thermoplastic webs; U.S. Patent No. 3,367,810 discloses a method and apparatus for preventing raveling of fabric ribbons along their cut side edges; U.S. Patent No. 3,413, 176 discloses an edge sealing device for pile fabrics; U.S. Patent No. 3,486,957 discloses a method and apparatus for cutting and edge-sealing thermoplastic woven fabrics ; U.S. Patent No. 3,681, 176 discloses an ultrasonic welding and cutting apparatus; U.S. Patent No. 3 , 687, 789 discloses a heat- sealing apparatus ; U. S. Patent No. 3, 940, 305 discloses a tool for interconnecting sheet webs by welding; and Japanese Patent No.. 47-46633 discloses carpet hem- ing by fusing pile between rollers and slitting. Disclosure of Invention - ■ The problems in the art to "which this invention apertains are the needs for an apparatus and method by "which a strip webbing (strap) of nylon, polypropylene or other suitable webbing material can be fed longitudinally from a dispenser to the apparatus at which the webbing is cut into its desired length, its severed edges shoul¬ dered and sealed with a non- raveling finished edge which is also neat and uniform in appearance. The need for such a finished edge arises from the fact that the webbing is utilized in a host of securing func- tions, such as with backpacks, seat belts, etc. , and its edge is in¬ troduced through a buckle, clamp or other securing device, tight- ened and s ecured thereby. Since the edge of conventionally cut web¬ bing is uneven, frayed and subject to unraveling , it is difficult to non- interfering ly introduce such an edge through a buckle, clamp or other s ecuring devic e. Accordingly, the object of the invention is to contribute to the solution of the dis cus sed problems of the prior art by means of the apparatus and methpd of this invention by which the webbing can be longitudinally fed for cutting into a desired length, its edges shoul¬ dered and s ealed with a smoothe and rounded shape constituting a non- aveling finished edge that is neat and uniform in appearance. In accordance with the invention, there are provided heated dies whos e relative movements are translatory and which cut and shoulder the edges of the "webbing fed therebetween. Flashing on the cut and s evered edge of the webbing is smoothed- out by applying thereto the heated lateral groove formed in one of the heated dies . Brief Des cription of Drawings The obj ect of the invention and other objects of the invention should be dis cerned and appreciated by reference to the drawings , wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the s everal views, in which: Fig . 1 is an isometric view of the appa¬ ratus; Fig . 2 is an isometric view showing webbing fed to the appa¬ ratus ; Fig. 3 is a front elevation view showing the shape of the dies; Fig . 4 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 4 - 4 in Fig. 3 ; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the lower cutting die showing a particular webbing thicknes s that can be spatially accommodated ; Fig . 6 is a front elevation of another lower cutting die showing the webbing thicknes s it can spatially accommodate; Fig. 7 is a view showing webbing cut and formed in the prior art and depicts the edges as being uneven, frayed and subject to unraveling ; Fig . 8 is a view show'ing webbing cut, shouldered and formed by this inven¬ tion with even and bonded edges as a result of heat- s ealing of the areas of such webbing in contact with the heated surfaces of the dies ; Fig . 9 is a partial front elevation, in s ection, showing the dies and webbing preparatory to the first step of the cutting opera- " tion; Fig. 10 shows the webbing cut, shouldered and s ealed (as in¬ dicated by the dotted areas ); Fig . 1 1 is a view of the webbing that has been cut, shouldered and s ealed ; Fig. 12 is an isometric view of the upper die preparatory to introducing and contacting the severed edge of the webbing with the lateral groove to smoothe- out the flashing on the s evered edge of the webbing ; and Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the webbing after the "grooving " operation of Fig . 12. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention In Fig . 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally refers to the apparatus of this invention. Apparatus 1 compris es a mounting bas e 3 in fixed mounting relationship with the work table 5 by means of carriage bolts 7. Mounting base 3 carries in fixed relationship a U- shaped bracket 9. U- shaped bracket 9 has up- standing ears 11 whos e aligned holes (not shown) carry a cros s pin 13 which pivotally mounts a rocker arm 15. Rocker arm 15 has a small upper arm 17 and a long lower arm 19- The restoring gra- vity weight component of the long lower arm 19 constrains ro cker arm 15 to its inoperative position shown in Fig. 1. Integral with and trasvers ely projecting from the end of small upper arm 17 is a drive tongue 2 1 -which operatively engages a slot 23 in connecting rod 25 constrained to free up and down movement in a complemental cylindrical body 2 7 fixed to U- shaped bracket 9. Connecting rod 25 ca * rries a cros s pin 29 which rides upon an arcu- ate portion 3 1 formed in drive tongue 2 1 such that, upon rocking movement of rocker arm 15, reciprocating drive movement will be transmitted to connecting rod 25 with cros s pin 29 and arcuate portion 3 1 functioning cooperatively to prevent wedging lock-up of connecting rod 25 within cylindrical body 27. Suitable depres sing foot engagement with the pedal 33 carried on the end of lower arm 19 effects rocking movement of rocker arm 15 with the suitable clearance slot 35 in work table 5 providing clearance for such movement of lower arm 19. Adjustably mounted on connecting rod 25 by means of a s et screw 37 is a heated upper die 39. The U- shaped bracket 9 bas in¬ tegral therewith a cylindrical body 41 which carries a rod 43. Ad¬ justably mounted on rod 43 by means of a set screw 45 is a heated lower cutting die 47. Upper die 39 and lower die 47 have respec- tive cylindrical cavities 49 and 51 which suitably mount and carry electrical resistance heating elements 53 and 55, respectively, that are wired to a control box 57 to control and maintain the tempera¬ ture range of the heated dies 39 a.nd 47 within the preferred range of 450 to 575 degrees Fahrenheit. The upper and lower dies 39 a.nd 47 are in aligned and parallel relationship with each other. Drive actuation of rocker arm 15 by depressing pedal 33 transmits translatory motion to the upper die 39 and, accordingly, the relative motion of the upper and lower dies 39 a-nd 47 is maintained in such aligned and parallel relationship. A webbing dispenser 59 suitably mounted on the work table 5 dispenses a roll of webbing . 6 1 in a longitudinal direction and in nor¬ mal relationship to and between the upper and lower dies 39 a-nd 47, as shown in Figs . 2 and 9. The desired length of webbing 6 1 is cut by the human operator by simply applying his foot to engage and de- press pedal 33 to cause the dies 39 and 47 to close upon the webbing 6 1, as shown in Fig. 10. The lower die 47 has a cutting blade 63 whose vertical height above the upper flat surface 65 of lower die 47 is less than the thickness of the webbing 6 1. Accordingly, when the cutting blade 63 engages the lower flat surface 67 of upper die 39, cutting blade 63 functions as a limit stop to prevent further rela¬ tive closing movement of upper and lower dies 39 and 47. Upon such closing movement of upper and lower dies 39 and 47, cutting blade 63 cuts through and severs the webbing 6 1 , as shown in Fig. 10 and 11. And since the vertical height of the cutting blade 63 is les s than the thicknes s of the webbing 6 1, the heated flat surfac es 65 and 67 of the respective lower and upper dies 47 and 39 will cause shoulders 69 to form in the severed webbing, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10- 13. However, flashing 71 remains on the s evered edges of the webbing 6 1, as shown in Figs . 10- 12. In the next step, the severed edge of the webbing 61 is appro¬ priately disposed and engaged with the heated lateral groove 73 formed in the lateral side 75 of the heated upper die 39 such that groove 73 will seal the flashing 71 and constrain the severed edge of the cut webbing 61 to the resulting s oothe and rounded shape 77, as shown in Fig. 13. It should be obvious that the smoothed- out and rounded edge 77 of the cut and severed webbing 61 together with the shoulders 69 formed and sealed thereon is far easier to non- interf eringly intro- duce through a buckle, clamp or other securing device than the un¬ even and frayed edge of the prior- art webbing shown in Fig. 7 and which is subject to unraveling. Figs. 5 and 6 show lower cutting dies 47 having cutting blades of different vertical heights to spatially accommodate webbing 6l of different thickness. When the webbing dispenser 59 is disposed at an angle relative to work table 5, the webbing 61 dispensed will be fed at an angle relative to dies 39 and 47; and, hence, the resulting edges cut, shouldered and sealed will be on the bias at the same angle cor- responding to the diagonal feed angle of the dispenser 59 relative to work table 5. Similarly, if longitudinal feed of the webbing 6l from its dispenser 59 is maintained, the mounting base 3 can be disposed and mounted at an angle relative to such longitudinal feed with the result that the edges cut, shouldered and sealed by the dies 39 and 47 will be on the bias at a corresponding angle.

Claims: Claims 1. An apparatus for cutting cro s s- cut or on the bias fed woven single- strip webbing into whatever length that may b e desired, and for shouldering the upper and lower surfaces of the webbing on both sides of the severed edges of said webbing and s ealing said s evered edges of the cut webbing with non- aveling finished edges , said apparatus comprising a heated upper die and a heated lower die, said dies being in aligned and parallel rela¬ tionship with each other, said apparatus having means opera¬ tive to effect relative translatory movement of said dies, said dies having flat surfac es for shouldering simultaneously said upper and lower surfaces of said webbing on both sides of the s evered edges of said webbing, one of said dies having a cutting blade normal to said flat surfac e of said dies and whos e height above said flat surface is les s than the thickness of said web- bing ; and in operation of said apparatus: said cutting blade cut¬ ting through the material of said webbing to form two s evered edges and said flat surfaces of said dies simultaneously engag¬ ing and shouldering both said upper and lower surfaces of said webbing on both of said sides of said s evered edges of said web- bing. 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of said dies has a lateral groove that effects said sealing of said severed edges of said cutting webbing with non- raveling finished edges. 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said dies have a temperature range of 450 to 575 degrees Fahrenheit. 4. The method of cutting cro ss- cut or on the bias fed woven single- strip webbing to a desired length, and for shouldering the upper and lower surfaces of said webbing on both sides of the severed edges of said webbing and sealing the severed edges of the cut webbing with non- raveling finished edges comprising the steps of feeding or paying out said webbing sufficiently to cut said web¬ bing to the length desired, of simultaneously shouldering said upper and lower surfaces on both sides of the severed edges of said ebbing by subjecting said upper and lower surfac es on both sides of the s evered edges of said webbing to heat and pres sure application in relative trans latory relationship and of sealing the s evered edges of the cut webbing with non- aveling finished edges by subjecting said s evered edges to heat and pres¬ sure application. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said webbing is fed or payed out relative to the desired cros s- cut or on the bias cutting step thereafter performed. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein said webbing is fed or payed out at the angle corresponding to the desired cut on the bias cutting step thereafter performed. 7. The method of claim 4, wherein said cutting step is performed cros s- cut relative to said webbing to effect cross- cutting of said webbing. 8. The method of claim 4, wherein said cutting step is performed on the bias relative to said webbing to effect cutting of said web¬ bing on the bias. 9. The method of claim 4, wherein the heat applied has a tempera- ture range of 450 to 575 degrees Fahrenheit.

Inventors: KLEIST WILLIAM E, KLEIST, WILLIAM, E.
Applicants: KLEIST WILLIAM E, KLEIST, WILLIAM, E.
Application year: 1983
Main classification: D03D47
IPC codes: B29C37, B29C65, B29C67