US 6,908,018 B1Granted

Ribbon wheel

OwnerMarian Barrettinventor

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Abstract

A ribbon wheel (27) to which lengths of ribbon (22) from spools (65) are wound for ultimate severance into ribbon strands (29). Ribbon material (23) advances from posted spools (65) in compartment (61) of frame (36) of apparatus (20) to their collection at and through slot (67) in top panel (34) of frame (36) for apparatus (20). A post (66) in compartment (61) guides ribbon material (23) to slot (67). The collected ribbon lengths (22) are wound a number of revolutions upon the wheel's peripheral surface (25) formed between the wheel's discs (38, 39) by means of shaft (48) and handle (51) that rotates wheel (27). Recesses (31) in wheel (27) provide points at which the ribbon lengths (22) are severed after ties (85) tie them together at other particular recesses (31) to form multiple ribbon strands (29). A mechanism (75/74) is provided on frame (36) for curling ribbon lengths (22) prior to their introduction to wheel (27). A clip (78) is mounted on frame (36) to prevent slippage of ribbon lengths (22), integral to ribbon material (23), back through slot (67) after severance of them on wheel (27). A revolution counter (54) on frame (36) cooperates with its tripper (55) on wheel (27) to record the number of revolutions undertaken by wheel (27) from which calculation of the number of ribbon strands (29) may be made.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An apparatus for cutting ribbon lengths of one or more ribbon material into one or more measured ribbon strands, said apparatus comprising

a frame having top panel means provided with a first slot, a base, support means joining said top panel means to said base, and a compartment formed within said frame between said top panel means and base for disposition of at least one ribbon material spool means,
wheel means rotatably mounted in said first slot and having peripheral surface means thereon, said wheel means freely rotatable about and within said frame,
means within said compartment securely mounted to said frame for supporting at least one ribbon material spool means,
means for rotating said wheel to wind ribbon lengths from the ribbon material spool means onto said peripheral surface means,
station means circumferentially mounted on said wheel means for severing ribbon lengths wound about said peripheral surface means thereby forming ribbon strands, and
means included in said frame for collecting ribbon material unraveling from the ribbon material spool means mounted on said supporting means to wind thereafter onto said wheel means,
whereby upon actuation of said wheel means and unraveling of ribbon material on the ribbon material spool means, the ribbon material advances to and through said collecting means and thereafter to wind onto said wheel means as ribbon lengths, stands of ribbon being generated by cutting at said severing station means the ribbon lengths wound on said peripheral surface means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.