Method and apparatus for attaching an elastic band to a tubular workpiece
AssigneeRockwell-Rimoldi S.p.A.
InventorGiancarlo Della Torre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for use with a sewing machine having a frame for supporting a tubular workpiece that is movable between a workpiece loading station and the sewing area of the machine. The workpiece is supported under tension on the frame which includes a positioning element for locating it thereon and a folding element for folding one of its ends over an elastic band placed on the workpiece at a predetermined distance from the positioning element. Movement of the frame to the sewing area places the workpiece in position to receive a seam of stitches in the folded portion within which the elastic band is located.
Claims6
An apparatus for folding one end of a tubular workpiece over an elastic band and sewing the same therebetween in a sewing machine having a stitch forming needle and presser foot defining the sewing area thereof, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a frame (1) operatively associated with the sewing machine and movable between positions of a workpiece loading station spaced from the machine and the sewing area thereof;
- (b) a tensioning device (6) mounted on said frame which includes:
- (i) at least two rollers (7) for engaging the inner surface adjacent one end of the tubular workpiece;
- (ii) a positioning element (15) slidably mounted on said frame (1) adjacent each of said rollers for engaging the end of the workpiece;
- (iii) means defining a folding element (16) attached to said positioning element(15);
- (iv) means forming a part of each roller defining a location for positioning an elastic band on the workpiece;
- and
- (v) actuating means for simultaneously moving said positioning and folding elements from a rest position toward and parallel with the axes of said rollers to effect folding the end of the workpiece over the elastic band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.