Patent GB-931446-A (GB)
Title: Machine for making decorative bows
IPC: D04D7/10
Filed: 1959-07-23
Abstract: 931,446. Machines for making decorative bows. MINNESOTA MINING & MANUFACTURING CO. July 23, 1959 [July 23, 1958], No. 25365/59. Class 141. [Also in Group XV] A machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon comprises a ribbon feed assembly and a rotatable loop retainer, the feed assembly successively applying portions of ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof against the retainer to form radiating loops of ribbon, and the retainer holding the applied ribbon fixed in relation thereto. The bow may be one according to Specification 931,447. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the bow is formed on a pin 19 having a shaft 20, a flat base 21 and a conical point 22, the free end 23 of the ribbon being impaled on pin 19 and the ribbon being twisted to form a loop 10, whereupon the ribbon is again impaled on pin 19. Further loops 11 and 12 in the other arms of the bow are so formed, and then further loops 13, 14 and 15 are similarly formed over the first three loops. Similar larger loops may be added as desired. In the machine, Fig. 5, ribbon R is drawn from a spool 137 of adjustable width at the top of standard 45 and is led round a bar at the top of post 41 to the reciprocable ribbon feed assembly 31. The assembly 31 is carried on an arm 134 fixed to shaft 131 and carrying an arm 170 which may be adjustably fixed, by means of a thumb screw, in the clamp bar 172. The bar 172 is connected by spring take-up means in housing 182 to a rod 186 having at its lower end an eye pivoted eccentrically on the disc 116 (not shown). The assembly 31 comprises a block 150 carrying a ribbon guide which is rolled up at 152 to define a slot 153. A spring 155 allows the ribbon to pass freely in the forward direction, but holds it in the reverse direction. A shuttle block 156 apertured at the forward end carries a pivoted ribbon guide 158 urged anticlockwise by spring 165, the aperture in guide 158 being arched to curve the ribbon transversely. The retainer assembly 32 is carried by a block 46 carrying a spindle 48, Fig. 6, integral with a brake drum 49, a pinholder support 51, and a sleeve support 53. In a bore in spindle 48 is an ejector rod 55 carrying a handle 56. Two pin-holders 59 have rear projections 61 engaging in the groove 52 of spindle 48 and front prongs and tangs 63, 64, and are shaped centrally to form cams 62. On the sleeve support 53 is a sleeve 66 having a diametrical slot 67 and urged forward by spring 71. When the rod 55 is pushed forward, the pin-holders 59 are spread, and after insertion of a pin 19 the rod 55 may be retracted to permit the prongs 63 to hold the pin. A leaf-spring 80 on the block 46 engages the brake 82 on the drum 49. A drive-sprocket 83 free on spindle 48 has an extension 84 connected to the extension 86 of the member 85 fixed to spindle 48 by a loose spring forming a one-way clutch. A tube 99 in a bore in block 46 carries at one end a knob 100, Fig. 5, having an integral scale plate cooperating with a fixed mark 190 on the block 46, and is lightly braked by the spring-pressed leather disc 107, Fig. 6. On the other end of tube 99 is a collar carrying an apertured index arm 104, Fig. 5. The shaft 110 in tube 99 carries at one end a crank 111 and at the other a disc 113 connected by an eccentric shaft to a second similar disc 116 (not shown), the eccentric shaft carrying a pulley 118 (not shown). A bead chain 121 is fastened at one end to the aperture in arm 104, round idler pulleys 119, 120, and then around sprocket 83 to a tension spring. Turning of the crank 111 thus results in unidirectional rotation of spindle 48, the extent of this rotation being controlled by the setting of the knob 100, and also vertical reciprocation of rod 186, resulting in reciprocation of shuttle 156 to and from spindle 48, the extent of movement away from spindle 48 being controlled by the adjustment of clamp bar 172 along arm 170. In operation, ribbon R withdrawn from the spool is fed round the guide bar, through aperture 153, under leaf-spring 155, and through the curved aperture in pivoted guide 158. A pin 19 is inserted into assembly 32, the knob 100 is set according to the number of points in the desired bow, and the clamp bar 172 is set along arm 170 to produce a relatively small loop. As the crank 111 is turned, the shuttle 156 contacts sleeve 66 to force it to its rearward position, and the ribbon is impaled on pin 19. As the shuttle 156 commences to move away from assembly 32, the sleeve 66 moves out to hold the ribbon firmly, and the spring 155 slips over the ribbon. Further movement of the shuttle 156 towards the assembly 32 causes the spring 155 to hold the ribbon and draw more off the spool, while in the meantime the assembly 32 rotates to twist the loop being formed. Finally, the ribbon adjacent the shuttle is impaled on the pin 19 to hold the loop. As the crank 111 is further rotated, fresh loops are successively formed. When the bow is finished, the ribbon is cut between it and the shuttle. For the outer loops, the clamp bar 172 is appropriately adjusted along arm 170. The crank 111 may be replaced by a motor-driven pulley. Some bows require opposite rotation of the assembly 32 for the later loops, achieved by removing chain 121 and rotating the spindle 48 manually. When the point 22 of the pin 19 remains exposed, the second leg of the final loop may be impaled on the pin by folding, thus concealing the point with the final loop. Multicoloured bows may be produced by changing the ribbon after a small bow has been formed. The end of the drive chain may be connected to an adjustable position along lever 134.