Patent GB-881289-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for attaching sliding clasp fastener interlocking members to a carrier tape
IPC: B29C65/00
Filed: 1959-04-08
Abstract: 881,289. Sewing machines. RUHRMANN, J. April 8, 1959 [April 17, 1958], No. 11867/59. Class 112 [Also in Group VIII] In a sewing machine for attaching sliding clasp fastener members to a carrier tape, an interlined string of said members is located on the tape by a feed wheel having a periphery toothed to engage the individual fastener members and to apply them to the carrier tape at the stitching position in their correct positions relative to one another. It is stated that the machine may be modified by substituting electrodes for the needles to secure a thermoplastic string of fastener members to a tape consisting of thermoplastic material or coated or impregnated therewith. As shown, a motor 401 drives a main shaft 402 via a belt 403, and a roller chain 105 connects shaft 402 to the upper shaft 104 which drives a needle bar 101 carrying a pair of needles 106, 107. Shaft 402 is coupled by two pairs of gears 110, 111 to two vertical shafts 112, 113 driving respective looptakers 108, 109. The feed members are driven intermittently by a Maltese cross gear 228 coupled to shaft 402. The carrier tape 201 passes through a guide 220, between rollers 221, 222, around a freely suspended and weighted pulley 226 to form a tensioned bight 225, between rollers 222, 223, past the stitching point, and between rollers 224, 250, roller 224 being of greater diameter than roller 223 to tension the tape across the stitching point. If the passage of tape through the guide 220 is obstructed, pulley 226 will rise to actuate a cut-out switch 227 for stopping the machine. A vertical, intermittently driven shaft 234 carrier at its lower end a feed wheel 235 having a toothed periphery for engaging the string 202 of the fastener members, and at its upper end a gear 236. An arm 237, pivoted on shaft 234, has journalled thereon a gear 239 meshing with gear 236. Arm 237 is connected to an armature 245 common to two spaced solenoids 243, 244. When solenoid 244 is energized, arm 237 is swung to engage gear 239 with a gear 242 on the upper end of a freely journalled shaft 240, the lower end of which carries a feed wheel 241 similar to wheel 235. When solenoid 243 is energized, arm 237 is swung to disconnect gear 239 from gear 242 to stop feed wheel 241, and cutter blades 248, 249 are also actuated by a lever 246 from the armature 245 to sever the string 202 between the feed wheels 235, 241. The feeding of the string 202 is thus interrupted, and the piece cut off is fed by wheel 235 on to the tape 201 for attachment thereto with a pair of cords 203, 204. A shaft 302, driven by gearing 301 from shaft 104, carries a worm 303. An arm 309, pivoted at 308, has journalled thereon at 306, 307, respective worm wheels 304, 305, and is connected to an armature 312 common to a pair of solenoids 310, 311. When solenoid 310 is energized, arm 309 swings to engage worm wheel 305 with worm 303, and when solenoid 311 is energized worm wheel 304 engages worm 303. When worm wheel 304 is disengaged, a pin 313 thereon is biased against an adustable stop 318, movable over a scale 317, by a spring 314 via a cord 316 and a pulley 315 rigid with wheel 304. Similarly, a pin 319 on wheel 305 is biased against an adjustable stop 324, movable over a scale 323, by a spring 320 via a cord 322 and pulley 321. As shown in Fig. 7, armature 245 is in its left-hand position, whereby feed wheel 241 is disconnected, and a switch 338 is closed to energize solenoid 310 for driving wheel 305. Pin 319 moves away from stop 304 till it contacts a lever 333 which thus closes a switch 334 to energize solenoid 224. Armature 245 then moves to the right to drive feed wheel 241 and to close a switch 339 to energize solenoid 311 for driving wheel 304. Pin 319 then returns to stop 324 and pin 313 moves away from stop 318 till it engages a lever 330 for closing a switch 331 to energize solenoid 243 for moving the armature 245 leftwards, whereby feed wheel 241 is disconnected, the blades 248, 249 sever the string 202, and solenoid 310 is energized for driving wheel 305. The position of stop 318 thus determines the length of the individual pieces of fastener members severed from the string 202, and the position of stop 324 determines the distance between an adjacent pair of said pieces. If the string is to be attached continuously, arm 309 is moved to a central position in which both the worm wheels 304, 305 are disengaged from the worm 303. If armature 245 fails to move on the closing of either of the switches 331, 334, as a result of an obstruction in the feed, the respective lever 330, 333 will continue its movement to close an associated cut-out switch 332, 335 for stopping the machine. The finished stringer 205 on leaving feed roller 224 passes over a feed wheel 257 driven from roller 224 via an intermediate gear 258. Pressure rollers 251, 252 co-operate with wheel 257. The latter is formed with a circumferential groove in which is loosely disposed a ring 253. A spring-biased roller 254 engages ring 253 to urge the latter into engagement with rollers 255, 256 spaced apart at such a distance that at least one of the latter will co-operate with a portion of the string of fastener members on the carrier tape irrespective of the gap between adjacent pieces of the string.