Sewing apparatus for making composite draw cord/elastic waistband

An apparatus for making composite bands including an elastic band and a non-elastic draw cord, comprising:

• (a) a sewing machine for sewing the draw cord to one surface of the elastic band, said sewing machine including a sewing head arranged and configured to form a plurality of longitudinally-spaced stitches extending over the draw cord and defining a longitudinally-extending channel encasing the draw cord;
• (b) band feeding means for feeding the elastic band through the sewing machine;
• (c) band guide means for guiding the elastic band as it is fed through the sewing machine;
• (d) band stretching means for stretching a segment of the elastic band and maintaining said segment in a stretched condition as it is fed through the sewing machine;
• (e) cord feeding means for feeding the draw cord through the sewing machine in side-by-side relationship with the stretched segment of the elastic band;
• and
• (f) cord guide means for aligning the draw cord with the elastic band as the draw cord is fed in side-by-side relationship with the elastic band through the sewing machine.

A machine for making a composite band from an elastic band and a draw cord comprising:

• (a) a sewing machine for securing the draw cord to one surface of the elastic band to form a composite band, wherein the sewing machine includes a sewing head arranged and configured to form a plurality of longitudinally spaced stitches extending over the draw cord which defines a longitudinally-extending channel for the draw cord;
• (b) a first set of rollers disposed upstream from the sewing machine and in rolling contact with the elastic band for advancing the elastic band towards the sewing machine;
• (c) a second set of rollers disposed downstream from the sewing machine in rolling contact with the composite band, said second set of rollers being operative to feed the draw cord through the sewing machine;
• (d) a draw cord guide for guiding the draw cord into side-by-side relationship with the elastic band as the draw cord and elastic band are fed through the sewing machine such that the sewing machine may secure the draw cord to one surface of the elastic band to form the band;
• and
• (e) drive means for driving both the first and second sets of rollers, said drive means being operative to drive the second set of rollers at a greater speed than the first set of rollers to stretch a segment of the elastic band between said first and second sets of rollers and for maintaining said segment in a stretched condition during the sewing operation.

An apparatus for making composite bands including an elastic band and a non-elastic draw cord and for use in conjunction with a sewing machine for sewing the draw cord to one surface of the elastic band, the sewing machine including a sewing head arranged and configured to form a plurality of longitudinally-spaced stitches extending over the draw cord and defining a longitudinally-extending channel encasing the draw cord, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) band feeding means for feeding the elastic band through the sewing machine;
• (b) band guide means for guiding the elastic band as it is fed through the sewing machine;
• (c) band stretching means for stretching a segment of the elastic band and maintaining said segment in a stretched condition as it is fed through the sewing machine;
• (d) cord feeding means for feeding the draw cord through the sewing machine in side-by-side relationship with the stretched segment of the elastic band;
• and
• (e) cord guide means for aligning the draw cord with the elastic band as the draw cord is fed in side-by-side relationship with the elastic band through the sewing machine.

An apparatus for making a composite band including an elastic band and a non-elastic draw cord and for use in conjunction with a sewing machine, wherein the sewing machine includes a sewing head arranged and configured to form a plurality of longitudinally-spaced stitches that extend over the draw cord to form a longitudinally-extending channel encasing the draw cord, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) band-feeding means for advancing the elastic band along a path of travel, said band feeding means including means for stretching a segment of the elastic band as it passes through the sewing machine;
• (b) cord feeding means for advancing the draw cord in side-by-side relationship with the elastic band;
• and
• (c) wherein the sewing machine may be positioned along the path of travel of the elastic band for sewing the draw cord to the stretched segment of the elastic band.

A machine for making a composite band from an elastic band and a draw cord and for use with a sewing machine for securing the draw cord to one surface of the elastic band to form the composite band, wherein the sewing machine includes a sewing head arranged and configured to form a plurality of longitudinally spaced stitches extending over the draw cord which defines a longitudinally-extending channel for the draw cord, said machine comprising:

• (a) a first set of rollers disposed upstream from the sewing machine and in rolling contact with the elastic band for advancing the elastic band towards the sewing machine;
• (b) a second set of rollers disposed downstream from the sewing machine in rolling contact with the composite band, said second set of rollers being operative to feed the draw cord through the sewing machine;
• (c) a draw cord guide for guiding the draw cord into side-by-side relationship with the elastic band as the draw cord and elastic band are fed through the sewing machine such that the sewing machine may secure the draw cord to one surface of the elastic band to form the composite band;
• and
• (d) drive means for driving both the first and second sets of rollers, said drive means being operative to drive the second set of rollers at a greater speed than the first set of rollers to stretch a segment of the elastic band between said first and second sets of rollers and for maintaining said segment in a stretched condition during the sewing operation.