Patent GB-1244151-A (GB)
Title: Endless band joining apparatus
Inventor: ARNOLD DENNIS ELIAS
IPC: A41H43/00
Filed: 1967-09-15
Abstract: 1,244,151. Making waistbands for garments. TUBBS LEWIS & CO. Ltd. 16 Dec., 1968 [15 Sept., 1967], No. 12056/67. Heading A3V. [Also in Division D1] Apparatus for manufacture of endless bands of strip material such as garment waistbands comprises a length measuring device 3 for drawing a predetermined length of strip material 19 from a supply 20, a cutting device 2 for severing the predetermined length, a transfer device 4 for gripping the predetermined length adjacent its ends, bending it into a band having overlapped ends and presenting it to a joining device 34 at a joining station 5, and means 36 for removing completed endless bands from the station 5. Apparatus is shown suited to use with elastic strip material, a preliminary draw off device 1 being used to prevent tension in the material supplied to device 3. Material 19 is initially fed by hand through rollers 6, two pairs of one way grippers 7, rollers 21 and cutting scissors 2; the preliminary draw off device 1, which consists of piston operated interdigitating fingers 8, 9 has its movable fingers 9 in dashed position 9a during this initial operation. Operation of piston and cylinder 13 draws a length of material somewhat greater than the above predetermined length through the left side one way gripper 7. The fingers 9 are returned to the dashed position 9a, and movable jaw 25 is moved to the left in Fig. 1, grips the end of the material adjacent cutting device 2 and returns to the right, pulling some of the material in the preliminary draw off device through the second one way gripper, 7. During this motion, interdigitating fingers 22, 23 are moved parallel to their axes on a carriage (not shown) so as not to foul movable jaw 25. The fingers are then returned to the dashed position 22, 23a and operated by piston 28 to draw the predetermined length of material past cutting device 2. The material is then gripped by clamps 32 on rotatable arms 30 which have been advanced into position parallel to their axes 31, and cutting device 2 severs the material. Fingers 27 are returned to the dashed position 27a, and the material which is suspended from fingers 22 is bent into a loop by rotation of arms 30 in opposite directions. During this rotation the carriage (not shown) is retracted and movable jaw 25 commences drawing material for the next band, and preliminary draw off device 1 draws another length from the supply. Arms 30 place one end of the loop of material on plate 33 of a sewing machine slightly before the other, and an air blast (not shown) positions the ends which are then joined by sewing machine 34. Clamps 32 are opened, arms 30 are retracted clear of the movable jaw and are rotated to a vertical position to commence the next cycle. An ejector device (not shown) pushes the completed band from the plate 33 in the direction of retraction of arms 30, and the band slides down an inclined rod 36 to a receiving station. A photo-electric counting device may be placed at the receiving station, and the bands may be automatically fastened together in predetermined numbers. The band circumference may be altered by adjustment of the strokes of piston 13 and 28. The sewing machine may form part of the apparatus, or the apparatus may be used with a separate sewing machine, alternatively any convenient joining device may be used in place of a sewing machine.