Apparatus and method for forming belt loops and the like

Apparatus for cutting a continuous length of strip-like material into elongate strips and for making the strips into fastened loops such as belt loops and the like, comprising:

• means for receiving a supply of strip-like material;
• elongate first track means;
• a first clamping carriage movable on said first track means between a first position towards said supply and a second position away from said supply;
• a clamp affixed to said first clamping carriage for engaging the material when said first clamping carriage assumes said first position and for drawing a predetermined amount of the material from said supply as said first clamping carriage moves to said second position;
• a cutter positioned adjacent said predetermined amount of the material for cutting the material into elongate strips of a predetermined length;
• elongate second track means;
• a second clamping carriage movable on said second track means between a first position adjacent to said cutter and a second position away from said cutter;
• grasping means affixed to said second clamping carriage for grasping said elongate strip at said first position of said second clamping carriage and for moving said elongate strip to said second position of said second clamping carriage;
• mandrel means positioned adjacent said second position of said second clamping carriage for receiving said elongate strip and for bending said elongate strip into a substantially U-shape;
• folding means for engaging the ends of said elongate strip at said mandrel means and for placing the ends into adjacent relationship, thereby forming a loop;
• and
• fastening means for affixing the ends of said elongate strip together to form a fastened loop.

Apparatus for cutting a continuous length of strip-like material into elongate strips and forming the strips into fastened loops such as belt loops and the like, comprising:

• means for drawing the material from a supply;
• means for cutting the drawn material into an elongate strip of a predetermined length;
• means for forming said strip into a loop wherein an end of said strip is adjacent the other end;
• strip moving means for moving said strip from said cutting means to said forming means, said strip moving means comprising extendable and retractable grasping means operative to extend toward the material, grasp the material prior to cutting by said cutting means, retract away from the material carrying said strip after said cutting means has cut the material, extend towards said forming means after said strip moving means has moved from said cutting means to said forming means, and release said strip at said forming means;
• and
• means for fastening said end of said strip to said other end at said forming means to form a fastened loop.

Apparatus for cutting a continuous length of strip-like material into elongate strips and forming the strips into fastened loops such as belt loops and the like, comprising:

• means for drawing the material from a supply;
• means for cutting the drawn material into an elongate strip of a predetermined length;
• means for forming said strip into a loop wherein an end of said strip is adjacent the other end;
• strip moving means for moving said strip from said cutting means to said forming means, said strip moving means comprising grasping finger means for grasping the material and extension means for extending said grasping finger means to a first position for grasping the material and retracting said grasping finger means to a second position for carrying said strip;
• and
• means for fastening said end of said strip to said other end at said forming means to form a fastened loop.

Apparatus for cutting a continuous length of strip-like material into elongate strips and forming the strips into fastened loops such as belt loops and the like, comprising:

• means for drawing the material from a supply;
• means for cutting the drawn material into an elongate strip of a predetermined length;
• means for forming said strip into a loop wherein an end of said strip is adjacent the other end, said forming means comprising elongate trough means for receiving said strip, a bar mandrel, and folding means,
• said trough including a recess for receiving said bar mandrel,
• said trough means being operative to lift said strip into engagement with said bar mandrel so that said bar mandrel is received in said recess of said trough means and said ends of said strip extend upwardly from said trough means about the sides of said bar mandrel, and said folding means being operative to fold said ends of said strip about the top of said bar mandrel;
• and
• means for fastening said end of said strip to said other end at said forming means to form a fastened loop.

In an apparatus for stapling loops of pliable material, an improved apparatus for forming separate independent fastened loops, comprising:

• a bar mandrel;
• an elongate trough for receiving a strip of pliable material and a recess for receiving said bar mandrel, said trough being movable between a first position away from said bar mandrel and a second position engaged with said bar mandrel;
• means for moving said trough into engagement with said bar mandrel so that the ends of a strip of material placed in said trough extend outwardly from said trough;
• folding finger means movable into engagement with the outwardly extending ends of said strip from said trough to move the ends of said strip into adjacent relationship about a surface of said bar mandrel;
• means defining a staple-receiving notch in said folding finger means when said folding finger means place the ends of said strip in adjacent relationship;
• and
• stapling means operative to staple the ends of said strip by inserting a staple through said notch means.