Method and apparatus for producing face protection masks

An apparatus for manufacturing face protection masks having mask bodies, comprising:

• an ear loop forming unit configured to form a first and a second array of ear loops, each including a U-shaped elastic thread,
• an application unit configured to apply and attach pairs of ear loops to respective mask bodies,
• wherein said ear loop forming unit comprises a movable structure carrying two arrays of holding sectors, and wherein said holding sectors are arranged in groups of sectors configured to hold respective elastic threads portions, and
• a cutting roller configured to cut successive portions of elastic threads between each pair of groups of sectors adjacent to each other to form respective discrete elastic thread portions, and
• wherein each of said groups of sectors comprises a fixed sector and two movable sectors disposed laterally on opposite sides of the fixed sector and rotatable with respect to the fixed sector to U-bend the respective elastic discrete thread portions.