Patent Publication Number: US-6908018-B1

Title: Ribbon wheel

Description:
This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/487,805, filed on Jul. 15, 2003. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention is directed to an apparatus for generating strands of one or more ribbons, uncurled or curled, and more particularly, to a simplified apparatus by which one or a multiple number of strands from ribbon material are generated or produced for use in tying of helium balloons and for accessorizing packages, and for other merchandise on which the strands of ribbons provide decorative and restraining effects. 
   BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
   Disclosures in prior art teachings describe and illustrate ribbon-strand-making devices or apparata which are directed to either automated modes of operation or more rudimentary cutting and/or curling machines for ribbon strands. This invention is directed to a manually operative ribbon-strand producing apparatus, mechanical in nature, that requires ordinary skill attributes for the operator to manually operate it. Examples of the automated and the more rudimentary or elementary devices for generating strands of ribbons are found in the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,790,041; 5,232,132; 5,407,417; 5,518,492; 5,916,081; 5,711,752; 6,000,586; 6,015,070; 6,298,639; 6,360,413; and 6,655,559. 
   The present status of the pertinent art to which this invention pertains is directed to automated devices that generate ribbon strands in response to the operation of the automated machines themselves, and do not seek to provide a ribbon strand machine that may be simply operated in a manual fashion for a relatively short duration of time in which only a desired or certain number of ribbon strands are desired to be produced at a point or location at which they are to be utilized. This invention answers a dilemma between more of a rudimental or elementary approach to strand-making devices and the automated machines. 
   In view of the need to provide an immediate service to customers for a product offered to them for sale, this invention provides a quick and facile procedure by which the customer&#39;s demand is met, in a matter of a few minutes, as well as meeting the need for availability of larger quantities of decorative effects of strands of ribbons, curled or uncurled, in a very short period of time. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is found in an embodiment of an apparatus that includes a rotatable wheel supported within a slot in a top panel of a frame provided with a base to which the top panel is securely mounted by support panels or other support members. A manually operable handle is connected to a shaft concentrically mounted to the wheel, the shaft freely rotatable in a pair of journalled bearings secured to the top panel. The wheel includes a peripheral surface about its circumference for winding one or more ribbon lengths on it, and preferably by way of an annular groove defining within the wheel itself the peripheral surface. Stations such as recesses generally extending radially inwardly from the wheel&#39;s circumference are provided and in which ribbon lengths wound on the wheel are cut to produce ribbon strands of different measurements. A compartment is provided in the frame between the top panel and its base and in which one or more spool holders, such as a rod or line of rods vertically-oriented but not necessarily in one vertical line or plane with one another, is secured to the frame within the compartment for supporting one or more spools of uncut ribbon material, and with a head to prevent slippage of spool from the rod or rods. A post generally in parallel alignment with the spool holders is provided in the compartment for pulling ribbon length, say, on the lowest, of spools away from interference with an adjacent spool on its spool holder as it advances by itself, as well as gathering ribbon material from more than one ribbon spool for threading to a slot formed in the top panel, the size of which is at least the width of the widest ribbon material. From the slot in the top panel the threaded ribbon material is advanced to the wheel, however, a curling mechanism in the form of an edge is securely mounted to the top panel adjacent the ribbon&#39;s slot for optionally curling the ribbon material prior to it/them being further advanced and wound onto the wheel. Stations such as recesses formed in the wheel are circumferentially spaced about the wheel and at which cuts of ribbon lengths are systematically made to produce ribbon strands. A revolution counter for the wheel is connected to the top panel to co-operate with a tripper attached to the wheel to count the number of revolutions the wheel makes, and calculate therefrom the total number of ribbon strands being generated in a cycle of operation. The measure of the length of ribbon strands is determined by the diameter of the peripheral surface of the wheel. 
   An object of this invention is to eliminate a totally manually handmade technique with scissors for producing one or more strands of ribbons, curled or uncurled, held in an operator&#39;s hands. 
   Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified and efficient device for cutting ribbon lengths into ribbon strands, curled or uncurled, vis-à-vis rudimental and automated and more expensive devices made for producing ribbon strands. 
   A still further object of this invention is to provide measured lengths of ribbon strands in a cycle of operation of the apparatus. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive measured ribbon-strand apparatus. 
   Another object of this invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and easily operable apparatus or device for producing in a quick timely manner measured ribbon strands, curled or uncurled, which then are immediately available for application as a tying or decorative product. 
   A further object of the invention is to count and measure lengths of ribbon strands, curled or uncurled. 
   These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent by a full and complete reading of the following description, its appended claims and the accompanying drawing comprising six (6) sheets of eleven (11) FIGURES. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view from a longitudinal side of the apparatus. 
       FIG. 1A  is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus with illustration of ribbon material applied to an element of the apparatus for curling the ribbon material in operation of the invention prior to advancing it to the wheel for further operation in producing one or more ribbon strands. 
       FIG. 1B  is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus with illustration of an element of the apparatus by which gravitation, of the next set of lead ends of ribbon lengths after cut of the previous ribbon lengths has produced ribbon strands, back into the compartment of the apparatus is averted. 
       FIG. 1C  is a fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus&#39; wheel, showing the wheel with ribbon lengths held thereon in preparatory mode for producing one or more ribbon strands by cut of ribbon length(s). 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a view taken on line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a view taken on line  4 — 4  of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a view taken on line  5 — 5  of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal side view, partly in section, of the curling and averting elements of  FIGS. 5 ,  1 A and  1 B. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view taken on line  7 — 7  of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a resulting curled ribbon strand. 
   

   BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
   Turning to the drawing FIGURES in which reference characters correspond to like alphanumerical characters hereinafter, the invention is found in an apparatus  20 ,  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , to which ribbon lengths  22  of uncut ribbon material  23 , including different colors, is wound about a peripheral surface  25 ,  FIG. 2 , formed on the circumference of a wheel  27  to produce ribbon strands  29 ,  FIG. 8 , of measured lengths in one or multiple numbers. Wheel  27  includes severing stations  31  in the form of a series of cut-out portions or recesses spaced along its circumference and at which stations  31  cutting of the wound ribbons sever the lengths of ribbon into ribbon strands  29  of a pre-determined length or lengths. It may be noted that the circumferential spacing between severing stations  31  provides the measurement for the lengths of ribbon strands  29 . 
   Rotatable wheel  27 ,  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , is disposed in a slot  33 , elongated to a length longer than the diameter of wheel  27  , in a top panel  34  of a frame  36  for apparatus  20 . Wheel  27  is composed of two (2) flat circular discs  38 ,  39 ,  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , of wood in between which a concentric circular member  41 ,  FIG. 2 , is disposed, formed by a suitable material, for example, of Styrofoam™. Member  41  includes a diameter of at least one (1″) inch less than the diameter of wheel  27 , so that an annular groove  42  is formed by the interior walls of the two (2) disc  38 ,  39  of wood and at the bottom of which peripheral surface  25  is formed to provide the circumferential measurement for ribbon strands  29 . The thickness of member  41  is sufficient to accommodate the width  45 ,  FIG. 7 , of lengths of ribbon to be severed, these lengths usually one atop of the other in multiple revolutions of wheel  27 . It should be understood from  FIG. 7  that even though only three (3) ribbon lengths  22  are illustrated, one on top of another, that a suitable total number of revolutions of ribbon lengths  22  about wheel  27  is limited only by the depth of annular groove  42  and the thicknesses of the ribbon lengths  22  in the groove  42 , and is not limited to the three (3) ribbon lengths  22  whose cross-sections are illustrated in FIG.  7 . 
   Wheel  27  is supported in its position in slot  33 ,  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , by means of metal plates  47  suitably securely mounted to the outside walls of its wooden disc  38 ,  39  that have concentrically formed (not shown) holes in them, a shaft  48  extending through such holes and projecting out of aligned concentric holes (not shown) in plates  47  to journal bearings  49  whose flanges  50  are suitably securely mounted to top panel  34  to each side of slot  33 . Thus wheel  27  is free to rotate above and below top panel  34  as a handle  51  suitably secured, outwardly of edge  52  of top panel  34 , to the one end of shaft  48 ,  FIG. 1 , is manually rotated without any hindrance in the operation of the subject matter of the invention. 
   A conventional mechanical counter  54  is suitably secured to top panel  34  for cooperation with a tab or tripper  55  securely mounted to the one disc  38  of wood of wheel  27 , so that each revolution of wheel  27  is counted as tripper  55  actuates counter  54  to record the number of revolutions as handle  51  rotates wheel  27 . The total number of revolutions of wheel  27  determines the number of ribbon strands  29  that are produced in the operation of the invention. 
   Top panel  34  is suitably secured to end panels  57  in conventional manner, such as by nails, screws, or bolts (not shown), as well as by additional vertically-extending side panels  58  to support the weight of wheel  27 , plates  47 , and the journalled shaft  48  structures. A base  60  supports the entire apparatus  20 , its top, end, and side frame panels being suitably secured or connected to it. 
   A compartment  61  is formed within frame  36  and in which one or more spool posts  62  are secured to a backing or panel  58   b  extending between top panel  34  and base  60 . In the illustrated FIGURES of the embodiment, three (3) spool posts  62 ,  FIG. 3 , are utilized, each spaced from the other so that interference between them in their sizes and in the unwinding of spool ribbon materials  23  from them does not occur. Each spool post  62  is secured to backing panel  58   b  by a nut  63  or the like and includes a bolthead  64  at its other end over which a ribbon spool  65  can pass, be supported by its spool post  62  and be freely mounted for rotation thereabouts. Boltheads  64  on each post  62  prevents its ribbon spool  65  from sliding off its post  62  as its ribbon material  23  unravels or unwinds from its spool  65  in the operation of apparatus  20 . 
   At least one post  66  is securely mounted in a likewise fashion as are spool posts  62  to backing panel  58   b  as an efficient guide by which an operator can gather together ribbon material  23  from the multiple numbers of spools  65  for guiding or threading them in a consolidated form to a slot  67  in top panel  34  which collects the consolidated or other form that ribbon material  23  may take. It should be understood that such a post  66  may be provided in frame  36  for each spool post  62  should it be desired. The small slot  67 , formed in top panel  34 , is of a size that provides free passage for width  45  of ribbon material  23 , and is in general parallel alignment with the width of peripheral surface  25 . The end or ends of one or a multiple number of ribbon material  23  and its/their subsequently following ribbon material are threaded to slot  67  in a consolidated or other convenient form desired by an operator, as the ribbon material  23 ,  FIG. 4 , is or are unwound from its one or corresponding number of spools  65  on posts  62 . 
   For curling a ribbon or ribbons, a curling mechanism or block  68 ,  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A,  3 ,  5 , and  6 , is securely mounted on top panel  34  at a position for ease of optional use during the operation of apparatus  20 . Wooden block  68 ,  FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  6 , is suitably securely mounted, such as by screws or glue (not shown), to top panel  34 , with a portion  70  thereof cut out to form an inclined surface  71  ,  FIG. 6. A  shim  72 ,  FIG. 5 , is used under the non-inclined-surface-portion of block  68  to form a space  73  under the inclined-surface portion  71  of block  68 , so that ribbon material  23  can be introduced therethrough to a curling edge  74 ; such as, for example, an edge on an ordinary scissors, of a flat member  75  suitably securely mounted to inclined surface  71 . The curling edge  74  of flat member  75  extends into space  73  for cooperation with ribbon material  23  to form a curled pattern in the length of the ribbon material  23 . Curling edge  74  is in general parallel alignment with ribbon slot  67  so that in operation ribbon material  23  past or above slot  67  are easily slipped into space  73  and then pulled against curling edge  74  as lead ends  76 ,  FIG. 1 , of ribbon material  23  are pulled towards wheel  27  where they are to be held for operation of apparatus  20 . A uniform length of curling throughout the entire length of ribbon material  23  applied to wheel  27  then is effected, as is illustrated in FIG.  8 . 
   A conventional gripping clip  78 ,  FIGS. 1 ,  1 B,  5 ,  6 , is provided at a convenient point on apparatus  20  , here atop the non-inclined surface portion of block  68 . Its function is to avert the next set of lead ends of ribbon material  23  from gravitating back through ribbon slot  67  into compartment  61 , which would require the operator to again advance or thread such next lead ends beginning at the spools  65  and their guidepost(s)  66 . Its application during operation of apparatus  20  is immediately prior to cutting the ribbon lengths  22  at their wheel stations  31 , the ribbon material  23  being handled by the operator at a point immediately above slot  67  and before the curling block  68 , the ribbon material  23  taken from that point and introduced into clip  78 , FIG.  1 B. Then as the measured lengths of ribbon strands  29  are cut at severing stations  31 , the uncut ribbon length(s) fall back from wheel  27 , their lead ends not gravitating back through slot  67  by reason of clip  78  retaining such ribbon material  23 . 
   As a preparatory step or as a step in operation of apparatus  20 ,  FIG. 1C , the lead ends  76  of ribbon lengths  22 , curled or uncurled, are fed into annular groove  42  to just past severing station #  1  at which point the ribbon lengths  22  are slid through a slit  79  formed in disc  38  to be held in a looped configuration  80  about small anchors  81  on disc  38 , after which a piece of tape  82  may optionally be use to holds lead ends  76  to the side of disc  38 . Previously, a threading action has been manually undertaken by an operator to gather together the spools&#39; ribbon materials&#39; lead ends  76  hanging from their corresponding spool(s)  65  on their posts  62 , to guide them around guide post  66  into their consolidated form and onwardly to and through ribbon slot  67 . Thereafter, but without utilizing the curling mechanism, lead ends  76  are introduced into annular groove  42  of wheel  27 , being fed to just past station #  1  on wheel  27 , and as described above held to the side wall of disc  38 . 
   The operator turns wheel  27  (in direction of arrows,  FIG. 1 ) by handle  51  an indefinite or definite number of revolutions and stops wheel  27 . Ties  85  are applied to ribbon lengths  22 , say, at severing stations #  2  and #  4 , after which cut of ribbon lengths  22  by the operator are made at stations #  1  and #  3 . Assuming an eight (8) foot peripheral surface  25  on wheel  27 , two (2) sets of four (4) foot ribbon strands  29  are obtained, one (1) set of ribbon strands  29  being held together by one of the two (2) ties  85  and the other one (1) set of ribbon strands  29  being held together by the other one of the two (2) ties  85 , while the short uncut ribbon lengths  22  still integral to their ribbon material  23  on their spools  65  drop from wheel  27  but do not gravitate back through slot  67  as a result of clip  78  gripping the ribbon material  22  that leads to the next set of lead ends on such ribbon material  22 . The number of strands for each or both sets are determined by the number of revolutions undertaken in a cycle of operation. 
   The same cycle of operation may obtain one (1) set of eight (8) foot ribbon strands  29 , by tying the wheel-mounted ribbon lengths  22  at severing station #  3 ,  FIG. 1C , and cutting the lengths  22  at station #  1 , the total being one set of eight (8) foot strands. The number of strands  29  depend upon the number of revolutions on wheel  27  of ribbon lengths  22  undertaken. 
   Assembly of apparatus  20  appears to be evident from the drawing FIGURES and the above description, however, not necessarily assembled in the following order, slit  79  is conventionally formed in the one wooden disc  38  at its circumference adjacent to the #  1  cut-out recess prior to assembly of fabricated discs  38 ,  39  to one another and to member  41 . Concentric introduction of journalled shaft  48 , while journalled bearings  49  and flanges  50  are mounted to top panel  34  to each side of slot  33 . Handle  51  is attached to shaft  48  before or after mounting this subassembly into slot  33 . Frame  36  composed of top panel  34 , base  60 , wooden panels  57 ,  58 , are assembled together in conventional manner by glue, screws or other suitable fasteners. Posts  62 ,  66  are attached to the compartment backing  58   b . The curling and averting mechanism elements,  74 / 75  and  78 , respectively, are fabricated prior to securely mounting the two on block  68  adjacent to the one end of top panel  34 . 
   Various changes and modifications may be made in the subject matter of this invention without varying or departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Peripheral surface  25  is not limited in its circumference to eight (8) feet, as larger or smaller surfaces and their wheels fall within such spirit and scope. 
   Industrial Applicability 
   This invention is applicable to ribbon strands, curled and/or uncurled, of variously desired materials, sizes, weights, and lengths the nature of which may suitably vary.