GUIDE DEVICE FOR ELONGATE ARTICLE

Abstract: A guide device (l0) for guiding an elongate article such as a surface-type fastener (F) includes a turntable (l3) rotatably supported on a base plate (ll), and a guide assembly (l2) supported on the turntable (l3) and comprising a plurality of guide units (22, 23, 24, 25) spaced circumferentially around the axis of rotation of the turntable (l3) and having different widths (Wl, W2, W3, W4) for guiding the elongate article (F). For guiding the elongate article, one of the guide units (22, 34, 34, 35) is brought up to an uppermost position and locked therein, and the elongate article is transversely positioned between a pair of flanges (2l) axially spaced by the width corresponding to that of the elongate article to be guided.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for guiding an elongate article such as a tape, particularly a surface-type fastener having engagement elements such as loops or hooks projecting from a foundation fabric piece. Japanese patent Publication No. 57-43 discloses a guide device for guiding an elongate article such as a tape, the guide device having a single cylindrical guide roll rotatable for guiding and feeding the elongate article through frictional contact therewith. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 5l-47l02 and 56-52563, another know device for guiding and feeding an elongate article includes two upper and lower cylindrical guide rolls disposed parallel to each other. The elongate article is gripped between and fed by the guide rolls as they rotate. Since these cylindrical guide rolls have smooth circumferential surfaces, the elongate article guided thereby tends to move transversely back and forth on the guide rolls in the axial direction thereof, and hence to be fed in an undulated path across the guide rolls. Where a plurality of parallel elongate articles are guided by a pair of cylindrical guide rolls of the conventional design, adjacent ones of the elongate articles are apt to overlap each other because they fluctuate laterally on the guide rolls. To solve the above problem, there has been proposed a guide device comprising a guide roll having a plurality of guide grooves for receiving and guiding a plurality of elongate articles, respectively, along their corresponding straight paths, while avoiding mutual overlapping interference between adjacent ones of the elongate articles (see Japanese patent Publication No. 50-25495). The guide grooves are defined by disance-adjusting pieces alternating with roll elements projecting radially outwardly beyond the distance-adjusting pieces. For guiding elongate articles of different widths, the width of each of the guide grooves must be changed by replacing the distance-adjusting pieces to meet the width of the new elongate articles. The present invention seeks to provide a guide device capable of guiding an elongate article without transverse fluctuation and also of guiding elongate articles of different widths without involving any complex width-changing adjustment process. According to the present invention, there is provided a guide device for guiding an elongate article, comprising: a base plate; a turntable rotatably supported on said base plate for rotation around an axis; and a guide assembly supported on said turntable and comprising a plurality of guide units spaced circumferentially around said axis and having different widths for guiding the enlogate article. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred strctural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example. Figure l is a perspective view, partly cut away, of a guide device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II - II of Figure l; Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view of an apparatus for coating surface-type fasteners, with the guide device of the invention being incorporated in the apparatus; Figure 4 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, of a guide device accoring to another embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a guide rod according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Like or corresponding parts are denoted by like or corresponding reference characters throughout several views. The principles of the present invention are particularly usefuel when embodied in a guide device, generally denoted by the reference numeral l0 in Figure l, for guiding an elongate article such as a surface-type fastener, a ribbon, or any of various narrow pieces of fabric or othe materials. As shown in Figure l, the guide device l0 generally comprises a base plate ll extending vertically and a guide assembly l2 rotatably mounted on the base plate ll. As illustrated in Figure 2, the guide assembly l2 comprises a turntable l3 including a first circular side plate l4 having a coaxial shaft l5 projecting through and rotatably supported on the bases plate ll by a bearing l6. The shaft l5 can be rotated about its own axis by a handle l7 attached to the projecting end of the shaft l5. The turntable l3 also includes a second circular side plate l8 extending parallel to and spaced axially from the first circular side plate l4 the first and second circular side plates l4, l8 having the same diameter and being coaxial with each other. The first and second circular side plates l4,l8 are interconnected by a plurality (four in Figures l and 2) of rods or pins l9 angualrly spaced at equal intervals around the axis of the first and second circular side plates l4, l8. Therefore, the first and second side plates l4, l8 of the turntable l3 can be rotated about the axis of the shaft l5 by rotating the handle l7. Each of the pins l9 has opposite ends fixed to the first and second side plates l4, l8. A collar 20 is fitted over each of the pins l9 and extends from end to end thereon. Each collar 20 supports thereon a pair of flanges 2l axially spaced from each other and fixed to the collar 20 for locating an elongate article therebetween. The paired flanges 2l on the four collars 20 are spaced from each other by different axial distances Wl, W2, W3, W4 which are progressively greater in the described order, as shown in Figure 2. The pins l9, the collars 20, and the flanges 2l spaced by the distances Wl, W2, W3, W4 jointly constitute four guide units 22, 23, 24, 25, respectively. The first side plate l4 has a plurality of detent mechanisms 26 spaced in the circumferential direction and positioned radially inwardly of the guide units 22 through 25. Each of the detent mechanisms 26 comprises a sleeve 27 disposed on the side surface of the side plate l4 facing the base plate ll and projecting axially toward the base plate ll, the sleeve 27 having an open end defined by a constricted edge. A ball 28 is diaposed in the sleeve 27 and is normally urged by a compression coil spring 29 in the sleeve 27 to be pressed against the base plate ll. The ball 28 is prevented from being displaced out of the sleeve 27 by its constricted end. The base plate ll has a plurality of recesses 30 defined in the side surface thereof facing the first side plate l4. Each of the recesses 30 receives part of one of the balls 28. When the balls 28 are partly received by the respective recesses 30, the turntable l3 is locked in one of angular positions with respect to the base plate ll. The detent mechanisms 26 are positioned such that when the turntable l3 is locked in one of the angular positions, one of the guide units 22 through 25 is located in an uppermost position for guiding an elongate article. In Figures l and 2, the guide unit 24 is locked in the uppermost position. Although not shown, it possible to employ only one detent mechanism for locking one of the guide units 22 - 25 in the uppermost position, the detent mechanism consisting of either a combination of a single spring-loaded ball with four circumferentially spaced recesses, or a combination of four circumferentially spaced, spring-loaded balls with a single recess. The flanges 2l of the guide units 22 through 25 are positioned such that the centers of the respective guide units 22-25 in the longitudinal direction of the pins l9 lie on one vertical plane. Figure 3 shows an apparatus for coating surface-­ type fasteners F, the apparatus employing the guide devices l0 constructed as shown in FIgures l and 2. For guiding a plurality of spaced and juxtaposed surface-type fasterners F, a corresponding number of guide devices l0 are employed in the coating apparatus. The handles l7 of the guide devices l0 are turned so that the guide units having a width corresponding to that of the surface-type fasteners F to be guided are located in the uppermost position. More specifically, as shown in Figures l and 2, each guide unit 24 having the width W3 for guiding a surface-type fastener F between the flanges 2l is bought into the uppermst position by turning the turntable l3 with the handle l7, and is locked in the uppermost position by the detent mechanisms 26. Then, the surface-type fastener F is transversely positioned between the flanges 2l of each guide unit 24. The surface-type fasteners F are guided by the guide devices l0 and an inlet guide roll 3l onto a rotating coating roll 32 that is partly immersed in a coating solution 33 contained in a coating bath 34. A plurality of spaced doctor blades 36 are held against the coating roll 32 to scrape the eccess coating solution off the coating roll 32, leaving parallel layers of the coating solution for application to the respective surface-type fasteners F. The surface-type fasteners F, with their backs coated with the coating solution, are then guided by an outlet guide roll 35 for a next process. The surface-­ type fasteners F can be fed along respective straight paths by the guide devices l0 of the present invention without being transversely fluctuated since each of the surface-type fasteners F is transversely positioned between the flanges 2l. Therefore, the juxtaposed surface-type fasteners F are prevented from being overlapped or interfering with each other. When a surface-type fastener having a different width corresponding to the distance Wl, W2, or W3 is to be set on the guide device l0, the handle l7 is turned to move the guide unit 22, 23, or 25 into the uppermost position, in which the guide unit is automatically locked by the detent mechanisms 26. Since the guide units 22 through 25 have their centers on the same plane, the surface-tyoe fastener desired to be guided is not manually required to be transversely shifted into proper alignment with the guide unit that has been brought up to the uppermost position, but can automatically be centered on the guide unit in the uppermost position. Inasmuch as the guide unit in the upper most position is securely locked by the detent mechanisms 26, the surface-type fastener can stably be guided by the guide unit. Figure 4 shows a guide device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The guide device, generally denoted at 40 in Figure 4, differs from the guide unit l0 of Figures l and 2 in that each of guide units 46 through 49 of a guide assembly 4l on a turntable 42 comprises three pairs of axially spaced flanges 45 supported on collar 44 fitted over a pin 43 supported by and extending between the first and second side plates l4, l8. The flangs 45 in each pair of the guide unit 46 are spaced the distance Wl, the flanges 45 in each pair of the guide unit 47 are spaced the distance W2, the flanges 45 in each pair of the guide unit 48 are spaced the distance W3, and the flanges 45 in each pair of the guide unit 49 are spaced the ditance W4. The guide device 40 can guide three spaced elongate articles with the guide unit locked in the uppermost position. In Figure 4, the guide unit 48 is in the uppermost position. The guide device 40 is advantageous for use with the coating apparatus shown in Figure 3 since three surface-type fasteners can simultanously be guided by the single guide device 40 into the coating apparatus. Figure 5 illustrates a guide rod 5l of a circular cross section having a plurality of guide grooves 50 defined between axially spaced flanges 52, each of the guide grooves 50 having a predetermined width or flange-to-flange distance W. The guide units of a guide device may be composed of a plurality of guide rods 5l, respectively, with their guide grooves 50 having different widths for guiding elongate articles of different widths.

Claims: 1. A guide device (l0, 40) for guiding an elongate article (F), comprising: a base plate (ll); a turntable (l3; 42) rotatably supported on said base plate (ll) for rotation around an axis; and a guide assembly (l2; 4l) supported on said turntable (l3; 42) and comprising a plurality of guide units (22, 33, 24, 25; 46, 47, 48, 49) spaced circumferentially around said axis and having different widths (Wl, W2, W3, W4) for guiding the elongate article (F). 2. A guide device (l0, 40) according to claim l, further including detent means (26) for selectively locking one of said guide units (22, 23, 24, 25; 46, 47, 48, 49) at a time in a fixed position. 3. A guide device (l0, 40) according to claim l, said turntable (l3; 42) comprising a first circular side plate (l4) having a coaxial shaft (l5) rotatably supported on said base plate (ll), said shaft (l5) having said axis, and a second circular side plate (l8) spaced from said first circular side plate (l4) and connected thereto by said guide units (22, 23, 24, 25; 46, 47, 48, 49). 4. A guide device (l0) according to claim l, each of said guide units (22, 23, 24, 25) comprising an axial pin (l9) supported on said turntable (l3), a collar (20) fitted over said pin (l9), and a pair of flanges (2l) supported on said collar (20), the flanges (2l) of said guide units (22, 23, 24, 25) being axially spaced by said different widths (Wl, W2, W3, W4), respectively. 5. A guide device (40) according to claim l, each of said guide units (46, 47, 48, 49) comprising an axial pin (43) supported on said turntable (l3), a collar (44) fitted over said pin (43), and a plurality of pairs of flanges (45) supported on said collar (44), said flanges (45) in each pair of said guide units (46, 47, 48, 49) being axially spaced by said different widths (Wl, W2, W3, W4), respectively. 6. A guide device (l0; 40) according to claim l, each of said guide units (22, 23, 24, 25; 46, 47, 48 49) comprising a plurality of guide rods (5l) each having axially spaced guide grooves (50), said guide grooves (50) of said guide rods (5l) having different widths (W), respectively. 7. A guide device (l0; 40) according to claim l, said guide units (22, 23, 24, 25; 46, 47, 48, 49) having respective centers in the direction of said axis which lie on one plane parallel to said bases plate (ll).

Inventors: MURASAKI, RYUICHI
Applicants: YOSHIDA KOGYO K.K.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B65H23
IPC codes: B65H23, A44B18