Elastic metering device for sewing machine
AssigneeUnion Special Corporation
InventorsRonald J. Boser, Henry J. Watts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An elastic metering device including a plurality of individual tape feeding and tensioning mechanisms having a common drive shaft, with each mechanism being adapted to independently act on one of a plurality of tapes as they advance toward the machine. Each tape feeding and tensioning mechanism includes an operator controlled variable speed drive mechanism for selectively affecting the manner in which each mechanism acts on each tape.
Claims30
In combination with a sewing machine having reciprocal needle means adapted to secure a pair of elastic tapes to a waistband, a tape delivery apparatus comprising:
- a pair of substantially identical mechanisms which are operated by a common input shaft, each mechanism being adapted to advance one of said elastic tapes;
- and
- individual operator controlled means operatively associated with each of said mechanisms for selectively controlling the advance of tape to said sewing machine whereby two tapes having varying degrees of tension may be delivered to the machine simultaneously.
Apparatus for feeding a series of elastic tapes to a sewing machine in a spaced parallel relation relative to one another, said apparatus comprising:
- an operative assembly for individually feeding and tensioning the tapes at a location proximate said machine, said operative assembly including a series of spatially arranged feeding and tensioning mechanisms all of which are driven from a common input shaft;
- wherein each individual mechanism includes a pair of cooperating feed rollers adapted to have one elastic tape pass therebetween, and operator controlled means for effecting the tape advance rate of one pair of feed rollers relative to another pair of feed rollers.
Apparatus for feeding a plurality of adjacently arranged elastic tapes to the work area of a machine, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of aligned tape feeding and tensioning means arranged adjacent the work area of the machine and operated by a common drive shaft
- each tape feeding and tensioning means includes a pair of cooperative roller means adapted to act on one of said tapes, an idler wheel operative to transmit rotational motion from said drive shaft to said roller means, and operator controlled means capable of individually varying the feed rate of each tape feeding and tensioning means.
An apparatus for advancing a series of adjacently arranged elastic strips to a sewing machine comprising:
- support means;
- a revolubly mounted input shaft adapted to be connected to a power source;
- at least two pair of cooperatively arranged rollers carried by said support means, with each pair of rollers being adapted to act on one of said elastic strips;
- at least two motion transmitting means for independently coupling each pair of rollers with said input shaft;
- and
- individual operator influenced control means for varying the input imparted to said rollers.
In combination with a machine adapted to secure a series of contiguously arranged material strips to a workpiece, a strip feeding apparatus comprising:
- a series of strip feeding and tensioning means contiguously arranged proximate said machine, each strip feeding and tensioning means being adapted to act on one of said strips;
- and
- a series of independent variable speed drive means for selectively imparting premeasurable advance rates to each of said strip feeding and tensioning means according to the desired degree of tension required and machine requirements.
Apparatus for feeding a series of horizontally arranged elastic tapes to a sewing machine having a series of laterally spaced needles defining a sewing area, said apparatus comprising:
- support means arranged proximate said needles;
- a plurality of aligned tape feeding and tensioning means carried by said support means and operably driven by a common drive shaft;
- wherein each tape feeding and tensioning means includes a pair of cooperatively arranged rollers adapted to act on one of said tapes, an idler wheel effective to transmit motion between said drive shaft and said rollers, and operator controlled means for individually adjusting the feed rate of each tape feeding and tensioning means.
In combination with a sewing machine having a stitching zone defined by a plurality of laterally spaced sewing needles capable of securing a series fo contiguously arranged tapes to a workpiece, a drive mechanism for said sewing machine and tape dispensing apparatus comprising:
- an assemblage of tape feeding and tensioning mechanisms arranged proximate the stitching zone, said assemblage being operatively connected to said drive mechanism;
- and
- each tape feeding and tensioning mechanism being adapted to manage one of said contiguously arranged tapes and includes means for operating each mechanism at any desired ratio relative to any other mechanism.
A tape delivery apparatus adapted to feed a series of adjacently aligned elastic tapes to a sewing machine comprising:
- a series of correspondingly aligned elastic tape handling mechanisms having a common input shaft and arranged proximate said machine for individually advancing each elastic tape toward said machine;
- each of said mechanisms including an operator controlled means capable of individually regulating the mechanisms advance rates.
In a sewing machine having a sewing area defined by at least two spaced reciprocable needle means adapted to secure at least two relatively spaced elastic tapes to a workpiece means and an elastic metering device comprising:
- a first operative means adapted to advance and tension one of said tapes at a location proximate the sewing area;
- a second operative means adapted to advance and tension the other tape at a location proximate the sewing area;
- and
- said first and second operative means having a common drive shaft and included individual mechanisms for regulating the feed rate of each operative mechanism relative to one another and the machine.
An elastic tape handling apparatus for a sewing machine, comprising:
- support means;
- two or more pairs of cooperatively arranged rollers carried by said support means and capable of feeding an elastic tape;
- a common drive shaft capable of imparting rotation to said pair of rollers;
- and
- operator influenced means disposed between said common drive shaft and each pair of cooperatively arranged rollers for effecting the rotational feed rate imparted to said feed rollers.
An apparatus for advancing at least two side-by-side arranged elastic tapes to a sewing machine comprising:
- a support frame;
- a first tape feeding and tensioning mechanism adapted to act on one of said elastic tapes and which includes a first pair of cooperatively arranged feed rollers;
- a second tape feeding and tensioning mechanism adapted to act on the other elastic tape and which includes a second pair of cooperatively arranged feed rollers;
- said first and second tape feeding and tensioning mechanisms having a common input drive shaft;
- individual rotation inducing means for each of said tape feeding and tensioning mechanisms capable of detachably interconnecting the drive shaft and each pair of cooperatively arranged rollers;
- and
- means associated with each of said rotation inducing means for selectively effecting the rotation imparted to said rollers.
A device for supplying a plurality of adjacently arranged tapes to a sewing machine having a plurality of spaced needles adapted for reciprocatory movement, said device comprising:
- a plurality of aligned tape feed and tensioning assemblies with each assembly carrying a pair of cooperatively arranged feed rollers adapted to act on one of said tapes;
- a common input drive for all of said tape feed and tensioning assemblies;
- and
- mechanisms operatively interposed between said input drive and said feed rollers for individually selecting the feed advance rate of each tape relative to the machine and to the other tapes.
A method for advancing an elastic strip to a sewing machine comprising the steps of:
- feeding and tensioning one lateral edge of said elastic strip at a first advance rate;
- and
- feeding and tensioning the opposite lateral edge of said elastic strip at an advance rate different from the first advance rate.
A method for advancing at least two elastic strips to a sewing machine comprising the steps of:
- feeding and tensioning one of said elastic strips in the proximate area of the sewing machines at a first advance rate;
- and
- simultaneously feeding and tensioning the other of said elastic strips in the proximate area of the sewing machine at an advance rate different from the first advance rate.
A method for forming a garment waistband incorporating at least two strips of elastic material comprising the steps of:
- feeding and tensioning one of said elastic strips at a first advance rate;
- simultaneously feeding and tensioning the other of said elastic strips at an advance rate different from the first advance rate;
- surrounding the tensioned elastic tapes with material arranged in a waistband type configuration and conjointly advancing the waistband with the elastic strips to a sewing machine;
- and
- securing the waistband material and the elastic strips together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.