Patent GB-1299703-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus and method for making prefabricated bows and bows made thereby
IPC: D04D7/10
Filed: 1970-01-16
Abstract: 1299703 Decorative bows MINNESOTA MINING & MFG CO 16 Jan 1970 [17 Jan 1969] 2325/70 Heading B6G Pre-bows are produced by superposing two lengths of ribbon in back-to-back relationship, bonding the superposed ribbons together at a plurality of spaced points along their lengths and severing the bonded ribbons from the remainder of the ribbon lengths at a point removed from the last of the bonded areas. A formal bow is fashioned from the pre-bow by accummulating the bonded areas of the superposed ribbons in stacked relationship thereby simultaneously forming loops of ribbon on either side of the bonded areas and fastening the formed bow at its centre with a constraining device. As shown in Fig. 8 a pre-bow 110 comprises two strips of ribbon material 101 and 102 and a draw string 103 heat-bonded together at three paced points 111, 112 and 113, bonded area 111 being continuous across the entire width and bonded areas 112 and 113 extending across the width but segmented at the mid-point so that draw string 103 is constrained but not bonded thereby. The bow is formed by pulling draw string 103 to its full extent such that bonds 113, 112 and 111 are tightly pressed together in stack relationship. Decorative band 118 is placed around the loop step at the bow centre and is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating protected by a covering strip. Apparatus for producing the pre-bow comprises as shown in Fig. 1, spindles 22, 23 and 24 for receiving and rotatably supporting two supply rolls of ribbon and a supply roll of draw string, guide members 25, 26 and 27 for superposing the ribbons into back-to-back relationship with the draw string centrally disposed therebetween, a ribbon bonding assembly 38 comprising thermostatically electrically heated sealing pads, 51, 52 and 53 having a narrow, elongated rectangular ribbon contacting surface, sealing pads 52 and 53 being provided with relief slots at their mid-points slightly wider than the draw string, ribbon advancing means 60 comprising a rubber pull wheel having a one-way clutch 104 for intermittently advancing the superposed ribbon and drawstring composite into and through the ribbon bonding means, air-actuated ribbon cutoff means comprising cutting dies 75a arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel of the ribbon material and 75b arranged at 45 degrees to the direction of travel, and motor means 29 for sequentially actuating the ribbon bonding means, the ribbon advancing means and ribbon cut-off means. The apparatus and its operation is described in detail. In another embodiment, a pre-bow for a pompom comprises, as shown in Fig. 12, two lengths of ribbon 201 and 202 superposed in back-to-back relationship with draw string 203 centrally disposed therebetween, the ribbons and the draw string being adhesively bonded together at end 216 and the ribbons being adhesively bonded together at a plurality of successively spaced points along the lengths, e.g. by adhesive dots 211 and 212 with the draw string loosely constrained therebetween, the bonded ribbons being notched at each of the bonded areas along their lengths, e.g. at 214, 215. Apparatus for producing this bow comprises (Fig. 11, not shown) ribbon bonding means comprising a first adhesive dispensing assembly having two spaced orifices transversely disposed relative to the ribbon length and a second adhosivo dispensing assembly having a single orifice for dispensing adhesive centrally of the two-spaced orifices, guide means for superimposing ribbon having adhesive deposited thereon with another ribbon in back-to-back relationship with the draw string centrally disposed therebetween, ribbon advancing means comprising a plurality or ribbon squeeze rolls, ribbon notching means, and motor means for sequentially actuating the ribbon bonding means and ribbon advancing means.