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US 4,703,706 AGranted
Elastic band feeding and tensioning mechanism for a sewing machine
OwnerDenis Planteinventor
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OwnerDenis Planteinventor
Estimating the term…
An elastic band feeding and tensioning mechanism and method for the application of an elastic band, having at least a portion thereof tensioned, on a fabric piece fed under a stitching needle of a sewing machine. A footplate guide is provided for positioning the elastic band in alignment on a fabric piece. A sewing guide member is adapted for securement to a foot arm of a sewing machine, and has a jaw opening for receiving the elastic band. A guide mechanism is provided for guiding the elastic band toward the jaw opening. The elastic band is advanced through the sewing machine by the feeddog of the sewing machine and tension is applied to the band by tension members. The tension members comprise a drive and idler rolls driven at a band feeding speed slower than the feeddog, and a further band stretching roll which instantaneously stitches the band between the drive roll and feeddog. A control circuit activates the tension members whereby to feed a predetermined length of the elastic band in a predetermined stretched condition through the sewing guide member for sewing the stretched elastic band on the fabric piece. A cutting element also cuts the elastic band at a predetermined location.
A band feeding and tensioning mechanism for use with a sewing machine, said mechanism comprising a sewing guide member for positioning an elongated flat band in alignment on a fabric piece, said sewing guide member being adapted for securement to a foot arm of a sewing machine and having a jaw opening for receiving said elongated flat band, guide means for guiding said elongated flat band toward said jaw opening, drive means associated with said sewing machine for advancing said elongated flat band through said guide means, tension means for tensioning said elongated flat band, said tension means including a tension drive roll and drive idler engageable with said tension drive roll for feeding said elastic band at a predetermined speed slower than said drive means, and a band stretching means for instantaneously stretching said elastic band between said tension drive roll and said drive means, and cutting means to cut said elongated flat band in an area prior to entering said jaw opening of said sewing guide member.
An elastic band feeding and tensioning mechanism is connected to a pressure applying cylinder to cause said friction engaging feed element to apply retention pressure on said fabric against a pulling force opposite to the direction of feed of said fabric and sufficient to stretch said gathered portion of said fabric and elastic to substantially its initial stretch position when initially sewn.
A method of feeding and tensioning at least a portion of an elongated flat band for application on a fabric piece fed under a stitching needle of a sewing machine, said method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.