Patent ID: 7753099

Claim:
An apparatus for making an undergarment having side seams from a web, the web being cut to form a pre-form comprising first and second transverse edges and first and second longitudinal edges, each longitudinal edge having two waist sections and a crotch section located intermediate the waist sections and a sealing area being located adjacent each waist section, the apparatus comprising a processing wheel having at least one processing station, the processing station comprising: (a) a frame; (b) carrier arms, each carrier arm being coupled to the frame and mounted on a hinging axis extending generally transversely to the carrier arms and substantially parallel to the transverse edges of the pre-form; (c) a plurality of grippers that grip the pre-form in gripping areas, each gripping area being located near a respective sealing area, each gripper being coupled to a carrier arm; (d) a carrier arm actuator that rotates the carrier arm around its hinging axis to a folded configuration, the carrier arm actuator comprising a lower member and a connecting arm, the connecting arm being hingeably connected to the lower member; and (e) at least one retractable linear guiding mechanism for controlling the motion of the grippers and having the ability to contract in length; and (f) a motion stop for limiting vertical movement of the grippers, wherein the motion stop comprises a grippers portion and a wheel portion, the wheel portion comprising a T-bar and the grippers portion comprising a bracket for engaging the T-bar.