Patent GB-1218326-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for and method of bonding textile fabrics
IPC: D06N7/06
Filed: 1969-02-03
Abstract: 1,218,326. Seaming non-metallic sheet material. UNION SPECIAL MACHINE CO. 3 Feb., 1969 [12 Feb., 1968], No. 5730/69. Heading B5K. Apparatus for bonding fabric sheets S 1 , S 2 , Figs. 4 and 7, utilizing heat-activatable adhesives comprises presser bars 31, 32, Fig. 1, for supporting the sheets S 1 , S 2 , respectively, at spaced apart positions; means for imparting relative movement between the bars 31, 32 to bring portions of the sheets into pressure contacting relationship; and heating means 36, Fig. 4, for activating heat-activatable adhesive contiguous the contacting portions to bond the sheets together.  A sheet S 2 , e.g. a garment band, is secured to the bar 32 by manually depressing-a plunger 102, Fig. 7, of a clamping mechanism 80, at one end of the bar 32, to move a leg 101 of a clamping member 92 away from an insulating plate 113, of non-conductive and pressure resistant material, provided on the bar 32. One end of the sheet S 2  is placed between the leg 101 and the plate 113 with the right-hand edge, Fig. 7, against a locating leg 117 of a bracket 115. The plunger 102 is released and a spring 96 returns the member 92 to its initial position. The sheet S 2  is slightly stretched to lie flat against the plate 113 and the second end is clamped by a second mechanism 80. A sheet S 3 , Fig. 9, e.g. a label, is placed on a leg 132 of a bonding mechanism 120 so that its right-hand edge contacts a movable guide plate 134, the leg 132 being in a lowered position. A sheet S 1 , e.g. a garment, is laid on a platform 58, Fig. 4, and its marginal edge E 1  is positioned on the bar 31 by a plate 64 of a locating mechanism 60 so that the edge E 1  is vertically aligned with the edge E 2 , Fig. 7, of the sheet S 2 . The sheet S 1  is retained on the platform 58 and the bar 31 by a vacuum drawn through a manifold 54, a triangular duct 56 and a conduit 57. If the sheet S 1  has a cross seam a thin shim is secured to the knurled surface of the bar 31 and/or the bar 32 in alignment with the cross seam. A switch 188, Fig. 3, is manually operated so that fluid supply to a cylinder 124 of the mechanism 120 is cut off for a time determined by a time delay (208), Fig. 11 (not shown), so that a spring (not shown) in the cylinder 124 causes the leg 132 to engage the bar 32. At this time, an electrical heating element 140 in the leg 132 is energized to activate the adhesive and bond the sheets S 2 , S 3  together. Simultaneously, fluid is supplied to a cylinder (73), Fig. 2 (not shown), so that its piston rod 72, Fig. 4, is retracted to move the mechanism 60 away from the bar 31. Flow of pressure fluid to cylinders 78 of mechanisms 75, 76 is cut off so that fluid exhausts out of the cylinders 78 and the bar 32 slowly descends towards the bar 31. As the bar 32 descends a plunger 177, Fig. 3, carried thereby contacts an arm 176 to close a switch 175 so that fluid pressure acts to retract a piston rod (162), Fig. 5 (not shown), in a cylinder (161) to swing cylinders 148, Figs. 1 and 3, of mechanisms 146, 147 forwardly so that pistons 150 thereof are aligned with the bar 32. When a switch 181, Fig. 3, is closed by a post 183, fluid is supplied to the cylinders 148 causing the pistons 150 to extend to clamp the sheets S 1 , S 2  between the bars 31, 32 and effect bonding during energization of an electrical heating element 36 in the bar 31, the element 36 being heated to a temperature of 350-400 F. Actuation of the switch 181 is impossible if the pistons 150 do not overlie the bar 32. If safety switches 166, 167, Fig. 1, are actuated, due to misalignment of pistons 150 with the bar 32, before the post 183 has contacted the switch 181 the entire operational processes are reversed to restore the apparatus to its starting position. The pistons 150 are retracted after a period determined by a time delay (242), Fig. 11 (not shown). Fluid supply to the cylinder (161), Fig. 5 (not shown), is reversed so that the rod (162) moves outwardly to swing the cylinders 148, Figs. 1 and 3, rearwardly out of alignment with the bar 32. During the return movement of the cylinders 148, the switch 181 returns to its normal position and a switch 182 is closed by a bar 184 so that fluid is supplied to the cylinders 78 to cause the bar 32 to be raised. Pistons 111 of cylinders 108 extend to open the clamping members 92 and release the sheet S 2  prior to upward movement of the bar 32. The bonded sheets S 1 , S 2 , S 3  are now removed. When the bar 32 has fully returned to its elevated position a bracket 178, Fig. 3, carried thereby actuates a switch 185 to cut off the fluid supply to the cylinders 108 and the members 92 are again closed so that each leg 101 engages the underside of the bar 32. Supply of fluid to the cylinder (73), Fig. 2 (not shown), causes the mechanism 60 to move to its operative position, Fig. 4. The bar 32 may be directly heated in addition to or as an alternative to the direct heating of the bar 31. If at least one of the sheets to be bonded has a curved edge portion, this edge portion is temporarily transformed to a straight portion prior to bonding. In an alternative embodiment, Fig. 12, the upper presser bar 300 is heated by an element 304 and is initially in its uppermost position with piston rods 342 of cylinders 340, (341), the latter not shown, in their outermost positions (broken line position). To secure a fabric sheet S 4  to the bar 300, a clamping member 330 is pivoted against the bias of a torsion spring 357, the sheet S 4  is inserted beneath a plate 348 with its edge in contact with a flange 351 on the plate 348, and the member 330 is released. The opposite end of the sheet S 4  is secured to a second clamping member. A switch (187), Fig. 17 (not shown), is closed and fluid is supplied to the cylinders 340, (341) to retract the rods 342 (to the full line position) so that a trigger 347 carried by the plate 348 actuates buttons 337 of switches 336, (338) to deactivate the label clamp opening cylinder and activate the time delay (208) so that the label clamp (120) will close. Flow of air to the cylinder 73 is reversed to cause retraction of the locating mechanism (60) associated with the lower presser bar. Fluid supply to the cylinders (75), (76) is cut-off so that fluid is exhausted therefrom whereby the bar 300 is lowered. The operation of the apparatus is identical to that of the first embodiment until the time that the bar 300 begins to return upwardly during which travel a bracket (178), Fig. 3, actuates a switch (185) so that the piston rod (72) is extended and the mechanism (60) returns adjacent the lower bar (31). Fluid supply to the cylinders 340, (341) is reversed so that the rods 342 are extended to bring the members 330 forward of the bar 300 (broken line position). The sheet S 4  and the sheet bonded thereto are removed upon upward movement of the bar 300. During the forward movement of the rods 342 the trigger 347 releases the buttons 337 to close the switches 336, (338). Fluid control circuits for the operation of the apparatus are described, Figs. 11 and 17 (not shown).