US3587946A - Method and machine for the manufacture of pom-pom bows - Google Patents

Abstract

AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ATTRACTIVE POMPOM BOWS AUTOMATICALLY FROM A CONTINUOUS STRIP OF RIBBON MATERIAL IS DISCLOSED. THE BOWS ARE FORMED BY FEEDING SUCCESSIVE RIBBON PORTIONS ALONG THE CONTINUOUS RIBBON LENGTH TO A RIBBON-HOLDING MANDREL. A PLURALITY OF SUCCESSIVE TUFTED LOOPS ARE FORMED DISPOSED RADIALLY ABOUT THE MANDREL. IN THE FORMATION OF EACH LOOP THE RIBBON IS TWISTED 180* ON ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS PROXIMATE TO EACH POINT OF ATTACHMENT OF THE RIBBON TO THE MANDREL. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE TWISTING, THE RIBBON IS PROVIDED WITH REDUCED WIDTH AREAS. THE REDUCED WIDTH AREAS ENHANCE THE TWISTABILITY OF THE RIBBON AND ENABLE PROPER PLACEMENT OF THE LOOPS WITHOUT HAND MANIPULATION. IN THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT THE TWISTING OF THE RIBBON AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE SUCCESSIVE LOOPS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY ROTARY INDEXING OF THE MANDREL RELATIVE TO THE RIBBON-FEEDING MECHANISM AS THE RIBBON IS FED TO THE MANDREL.

Description

United States Patent [45) Patented June 28, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.

770,237, Oct. 24, 1968.

[54] METHOD AND MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF POM-POM BOWS 24 Claims, 21 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.5. CI 223/46, 161/9 [51] lnt.Cl. A4lh 43/00 [50] FieldoiSearch 161/9, 10; 223/1, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,872,086 2/1959 Duncan 223/46 2,982,452 5/1961 Anderson 223/46 mechanism as the ribbon is fed to the mandrel.

3,309,001 3/1967 Thayen. 223/46 3.415.429 12/1968 Lopata. 223/46 3.464.601 9/1969 Christensen... 223/46 3.194.459 7/1965 Knox 223/46 Primary Examiner- Patrick D. Lawson Assistant Examiner-George V. Larkin Attorneys-Norman L. Chalfin and Richard Morganstern ABSTRACT: An apparatus and method for producing attractive pom-pom bows automatically from a continuous strip of ribbon material is disclosed. The bows are formed by feeding successive ribbon portions along the continuous ribbon length to a ribbon-holding mandrel. A plurality of successive tufted loops are formed disposed radially about the mandrel. 1n the formation of each loop the ribbon is twisted 180 on its longitudinal axis proximate to each point of attachment of the ribbon to the mandrel. In order to accomplish the twisting, the ribbon is provided with reduced width areas. The reduced width areas enhance the twistability of the ribbon and enable proper placement of the loops without hand manipulation. 1n the disclosed embodiment the twisting of the ribbon and the placement of the successive loops is accomplished by rotary indexing of the mandrel relative to the ribbon-feeding PATENTEUJUH28I97I 3587.946

SHEET 1 OF 7 YWX I ATEN 1H] M28 19::

SHEU 2 [IF 7 SHEET 3 [IF 7 PATENTED M28 \971 PATENTEU JUN28 x97:

sum 5 or 7 NMN n QN PATENTED JUN28 I97] SHEET 6 OF 7 SHEET 7 OF 7 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF POM-POM BOWS The present invention is a continuation-in-part of copending application of the same inventor, Ser. No. 770,237 filed Oct. 24, 1968, and entitled Pom Pom Bow Manufacture.

' THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to decorative ribbon bows and more particularly to a method and apparatus for forming attractive pom-pom bows automatically from a continuous strip of ribbon material. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In the ornamental packaging field and particularly in the gift wrapping of packages, bows are used to add to the festiveness and aesthetic appeal of the wrapping.

Originally, ornamental bows were assembled by hand from one or more strips of ribbon material. In recent years machines have been devised for mechanizing the production of bows of simple configuration such as the star bow. A machine of this type is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,601 issued Sept. 2, 1969, to the present inventor.

Due to its extreme attractiveness, commercially the most popular bow is the pom-pom bow. The pom-pom bow, however, is a most difficult and complex bow to produce. It requires the assembly of many closely spaced tufted loops of ribbon radially disposed about a central axis. For this reason, the formation of pom-pom bows for many years necessitated precise hand manipulation of the strip material by an individual skilled in the art of bow forming. More recently, devices have been devised to reduce the level of manipulative skill required. Such a device is disclosed by Wanchek in his U.S. Pat. No. 2,84l,905 granted July 8, 1958.

The inherent complexity of the pom-pom bow has heretofore frustrated attempts at their automatic fabrication. The high density of creased ribbon material at the bow center has proved a major difficulty. The central material buildup tends to crowd and distort the loops, thereby preventing them from assuming their proper positions without additional hand manipulation. Accordingly, insofar as the present inventor is aware, no machine for producing commercially acceptable pom-pom bows automatically has been devised heretofore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there has been devised an apparatus and method for producing attractive pom-pom bows automatically from a continuous strip of ribbon material.

The bows are formed on a ribbon-holding means such as a ribbon-holding mandrel. The mandrel is adapted to receive successive ribbon portions applied thereto. The holding mandrel retains fixedly relative thereto the successively applied ribbon portions, to permit the formation of successive attractive tufted loops radially positioned thereon. Means, such as a reciprocating feed mechanism, are provided for applying to the mandrel the successive ribbon portions from the continuous strip of ribbon at predetermined points along the ribbon length.

The ribbon portions intermediate adjacent points form tufted bow loops. Each loop is radially disposed about the location of attachment to the mandrel.

Means are provided for twisting the ribbon 180 about its longitudinal axis in the vicinity of each of the predetermined points of attachment to the mandrel. The ribbon, although twisted, is made to lie substantially fiat at the bow center. The ribbon material at the bow center therefore does not interfere with the positioning or placement of the individual porn-pom bow loops.

In a preferred embodiment 'of the invention means are also provided for selectively removing ribbon material to provide the ribbon with reduced width areas. The impaling, as disclosed therein, takes place proximate the area of reduced ribbon width. The twisted ribbon in the first and all subsequent loops is substantially flat about the points of impalement. The

ribbon material at the bow center will therefore not interfere with the placement of the individual loops in the vicinity of each of the points of attachment to the mandrel. The reduction in ribbon width enhances the twistability of the ribbon and reduces ribbon bulk at the bow center.

In the embodiment described herein the twisting means includes means for rotary indexing the mandrel relative to the ribbon-feeding mechanism as the latter applies successive ribbon portions to the mandrel. The indexed position of the mandrel also controls the radial placement of each bow loop.

The novel apparatus and method provides for rapid, completely automatic production of pom-pom bows. No hand manipulation is required. The cost of pom-pom bow manufacture is significantly reduced. I

Although the broader aspects of the present invention have been summarized above, other novel aspects, features, and attendant advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the pertinent art from a reading of the following description of an embodiment constructed in accordance therewith taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially cross-sectional view, from the top, of the parts of a feed mechanism, and an impaling stake showing the positional relationship between them in operative position, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view as through 2-2 of FIG. 1 of a part of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional view, from the side, of the parts shown in FIG. 1, in another positional relationship and including additional components in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. I of the parts shown in FIG. 3 in another positional relationship in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing a positional relationship in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are perspective details of the mandrel and ribbon illustrating the manner of forming the bow in alternative embodiments in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective detail of the mandrel and ribbon illustrating an advanced step in the forming of a bow in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective detail of the mandrel and ribbon in a still further advanced step in the formation of a bow according to the principles of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an exemplary completed layer of bows formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGIII) is an illustration of an exemplary multilayered pompom bow formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory chart of an exemplary indexing scheme used in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a partially cross-sectional view illustrating the stapling of a bow in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 illustrating the stapling of a bow to an adhesive label.

FIG. l4is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the invention showing the ribbon feed path, notching punch and table, the impaling feed table and head, and stapling mechanisms thereof;

FIG. I5 is an elevational view of the opposite side of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 14 showing the indexing, counting and other control mechanisms thereof;

FIG. 16 is a section through 16-16 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a section through 17-17 of FIG. I4;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the notching mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 14 but showing a different positional relationship between the various components; and

FIG. 20 is a circuit diagram of an exemplary electrical system for the invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2. a holding means includes a mandrel ll rotatable in a tubular guide 12. The end 13 of guide 12 is flared and undercut as shown at 16. The undercut I6 is preferably spherical for action as a staple pin bending guide as hereinafter described. Mandrel 11 has impaling pins l4, l5 and 19 extending from the extremity thereof. The mandrel 11 is movable as hereinafter described. in the directions shown by arrows 17.

A ribbon feed mechanism 26 is shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5.

Mechanism 26 is movable in the directions of arrow 24 and 30 as hereinafter described and includes the mechanism of an upper plate 18 and a lower plate 23 defining a ribbon guide path 21 therebetween. Mandrel I1 is arranged so that impaling pins 14, 15,19 enter a bore or aperture in the upper plate 18 of feed mechanism 26. Ribbon 22, from a standard spool supply means 188 (FIG. 14) is fed through guide 21. When the ribbon feed mechanism or impaling carriage 18/26/23 is moved in the direction of arrow 24, a length of ribbon shown at 22 is extended from guide 21 while a push bar 27 is thereafter moved in payed out. direction of arrow 28 to dashed-line position 27a so that the extended end of ribbon 22 rises to position 220, opposite the impaling pins I4, l5, 19 on mandrel 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ribbon feed mechanism 26 is then moved in the direction of arrow 30. The extended end 220 of ribbon 22 is pointing up vertically, being held in this position by push bar 270. The end 220 is thereby impaled on impaling pins 14, 15, and 19. A length of ribbon shown by bracket 31 (FIG. 5) remains beyond the point of impalement. There follows a repeat of the motion of the ribbon feed mechanism 26 shown in FIG. 3 which results in a further length of ribbon 32 being payed-out. Upon a repeat of the action shown in FIG. 4 (as indicated in FIG. 5 by arrow 33) a loop is formed as shown at 34.

In FIG. 6a and 6b there are shown two separate embodiments of an action which occur simultaneously with the action illustrated in FIG. 5. Mandrel 11 rotates together with the sheath l2, turning impaling pins l4, l5, 19 through some predetermined angle X" in the direction of arrow 35. The ribbon 22 is provided with areas of reduced width as can be seen at 36.As will be more fully described hereinafter the areas of reduced ribbon width 36 are provided at predetermined points along the ribbon length.

As a result of the rotary indexing of mandrel l1 torsional forces act upon ribbon 22 tending to twist it about its longitudinal axis as may be seen at 37. The degree of resistance to these torsional forces is a function of the ribbon stiffness and the depth of the notches defining the reduced width areas 36. The reduced width areas enhance the twistability of the ribbon. It has been found that with sufficient notch depth the ribbon will be twisted 180 about its longitudinal axis in the vicinity of the maximum reduction in ribbon width. The ribbon defining the bight portion of the loop remains uncreased and suitably arched as at 32, FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b.

The point of impalement may on either side (37a or 37b) of the ribbon notches 36. If the impalement is at 37a as in FIG. 6a the twist 37 occurs on the portion 390 of the loop not yet impaled. If the impalement occurs as shown in FIG. 6b on the portion 37b ofthe ribbon, twist 37 occurs near the point of impalement already completed, and so also subsequent points.

FIGS. 7, B, and 9 follow through the sequence of operations as continuing from the impalement form shown in FIG. 6a. It has been found that the end result of an impalement as practiced in either 6a initially, or in 6b initially will ultimately result it! a completed bow such as is shown in FIG. 10.

This twist, shown at 37, takes up the rotation of the expanding loop 34 as it moves through rotation angle X" and begins the formation of a second loop as shown at 38 (FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b).

In FIG. 7, the impaling of the second point (shown at39 in FIG. 60) on pins 14, 15, 19 is illustrated with the beginning of formation of loop 38. The impaling, as shown, takes place proximate the area 36 of reduced ribbon width. The twisted ribbon in loop 34 and in all subsequent loops is substantially flat about the points of impalement. The ribbon material at the bow center will therefore not interfere with the placement of the individual loops. The repetitive action (oscillation) of the feed mechanism 26 continues to withdraw (as in FIG. 3) and thereafter to move toward the impaling pins 14, 15, 19 (as in FIG. 4). For each cycle of oscillation of mechanism 26, the mandrel 11 rotates through predetermined indexing angle X (as in FIG. 6), and a separate loop is formed.

Whether impaled as indicated in FIG. 6a or in FIG. 6b, the

index angle X will be the same. The succession of loops hereinafter described will also be the same. The completion of loop 38 following loop 34 is seen in FIG. 8. Loop 40 is the next loop in a plurality of successive loops all impaled on mandrel 11. In FIG. 9 loops 34, 38, 40, 42, 44 have been formed on mandrel l1 and loop 46 is about to be formed in succession from the continuous ribbon 22.

In FIG. 10 is shown the result of the above-described operations, namely, the repeated rotary indexing of mandrel 11, and oscillation of ribbon feed mechanism 26 to produce a pompom bow 50.

In FIG. 9 the dashed line 460 shows where loop 46 preferably falls on the index rotation step next following that shown in FIG. 9. The intermediate position is the space between the fifth loop (44), and the first loop (34). Successive loops will then fall between 32-38, 40-42, 4244, and so on ultimately to build up in several layers into the bow 50 shown in FIG. 10.

When as many layers of loops as desired have been completed on mandrel 11, it is moved with its bow 50 thereon over a stapling gun 53 (FIG. 12). Gun 53 forces a staple 49 through a label 52 and through the center of bow 50 in a manner well known in this art. Mandrel 11 is withdrawn as shown at 51 in FIG. 12. When the mandrel 11 is withdrawn the pins of staple 49 (still open) as shown in FIG. 13, press against the spherical undercut 16 in guide 12. Staple pins 49 close over label 52 and bow 50 to hold the assembly together. As the gun 53 is removed, bow 50 with staple 49 and label 52 is released and falls to a hopper receptacle, not shown.

In each layer of loops, for example (as shown in FIG. 9), the choice of the number of loops per layer is made as desired by the proper selection of indexing angle X.

Referring now to FIG. 11, an example of the way in which such a choice can be implemented is illustrated. FIG. 11 diagrams angular shifts suitable for two layers of 6 and 5 loops each, respectively. Each succeeding loop is oriented at an angle of 66% from its adjacent preceding loop. The numbers l6 inclusive on the inner circle 60 represent the orientations of the first six loops forming the first layer. The numbers 7- -II in the outer circle 61 represent the orientations of the five of the next six succeeding loops forming the second layer. The sixth loop in the second layer (loop 12) begins the third circle. It can be seen that the positions of the second five loops will fall between those of the first five loops, as a result of this choice of indexing angle. The 66% indexing angle is preferably followed to the completion of the bow. Whatever indexing angle is preferably chosen, the completion of one circle should result in the first loop of a succeeding circle falling between two adjacent loops of the circle just completed. This gives the most attractive form of a pom-pom bow.

The 66.5 choice is tabulated below:

In FIG. 9 the first six loop locations have been identified by circled numbers I, 2. 3. 4, S and 6 It may be seen that by the above choice of indexing angle (665) the succeeding loops of each layer fall between those on layers beneath them. For example. loop 2 in layer 2 at l05,5 lies between loops 2 and 3 of layer 1 (665 and 133). Loop 3 of layer 3 lies between loops 3 and 4 of layer 2 172 and 238.5), and so on. Other indexing angles may be selected to provide more or fewer loops per layer as desired.

Preferably the indexing angle is selected so that successive adjacent bow loops are attractively close together.

The pom-pom bow making machine of this invention provides means by which the continuous web of ribbon 22 is fonned into an attractive multilayered bow 50 (FIG. entirely automatically and at a speed of six or more bows per minute. The machine includes means for punching pairs of notches 36 at opposite edges of the ribbon at predetermined lengths along the ribbon and for impaling, looping and twisting the ribbon into the bows 50 through any selectedtnumber of loops and layers of loops. The machine can be adjusted so as to produce bows of different diameters as desired. This is accomplished by changing the length of travel of an impaling table 76 (FIG. 14) to increase the length of ribbon payed out as each loop is fonned as will become apparent from the following description.

The major components of the bow making machine are the notcher, including a circular shear type of punching mechanism and a means for shuttling the notcher back and forth to reposition the notch separation along the length of ribbon during the machine operation in the preparation of each bow; an impaling and looping mechanism which during the successive loop formation indexes the impaling head thereon over a predetermined angle, so that the adjacent loops are formed separated by that angle. Each completed bow is trimmed by the machine and cut from the continuous ribbon, following which it is automatically stapled to an adhesive card with the adhesive covered with a release paper.

The pom-pom bow making machine according to this invention can best be understood as to its construction and opera tion from the illustrations thereof in FIGS. 14 and and in the cross sections of FIGS. 13 and 14. The pom-pom bow making machining is mountedon a panel 70 as may be seen in FIG. 14 wherein the machine is illustrated with an outboard panel 73 removed. The opposite face of panel 70 is shown in FIG. 15 with its mechanisms. In FIG. 16 a cross section through the impaling carriage 76 is shown and in FIG. 17 a cross section through the punching carriage 77 is shown.

The mounting panel 70 is positioned vertically. Parallel to it, and separated from it by posts 84, is a smaller outboard panel 73. Panel 73 is removed in FIG. 14 and shown in dashed line for location. Panel 73 may also be seen in cross section in FIGS. 16 and 17.

On panel 70 a pair of spaced parallel supporting ways 71 and 72 are positioned along'a horizontal line. Referring to FIG. 16 and 17 an identical pair of ways 74 and 75 can be seen located on panel 73 opposite the ways 71 and 72 on panel 70. On ways 71-72, 74-75 impaling carriage 76 and punch carriage 77 are freely movable on. cam rollers 78-79, 78a-79a for the feed mechanism or impaling carriage 76 and 81-82, 810-82 for the punch carriage. Guide cam rollers 82, 83, 82a, 83a ride upon the opposed vertical surfaces 80, 80a of supporting ways 71 and 74. These may be seen in the perspective view of punch carriage 77 shown in FIG. 18. On punch carriage 77 a vertical support plate 91 is fixedly positioned. A bearing 92 is positioned centrally near the top of plate 91. Bearing 92 has a bore 93 therethrough to receive a drive shaft 94 slidably. An eccentric cam 95 is mounted on shaft 94 with a rectangular key notch 96 therein to be engaged with the key extension 97 extending along the length of the keyway 90 in shaftQ so that as cam 95 moves along shaft 94 during the travelof punch carriage 77 any rotation of shaft 94 is imparted to cam 95 (FIG. 19). Depending from cam 95 and fixed thereto in an articulatingfashion is a connecting rod 98 with a bore 99 at one end to receive the ball 100a and split axle I00 therethrough. Axle 100 is split at the center into a ball configuration. On a xle 100, on either side of connecting rod 98, is

located a pair of circular shear punhes I01, 102 held on axle 100 by stop collars 103, I04. Punches 101, 102 are positioned in die block 105 to be guided therein onto ribbon 22 to notch ribbon 22 as shown at 36. Die block 105 is cutaway at 110 to show cutting edges 111 in one of the shear punches 102 by which the notches 36 are cut in ribbon 22. Die block 105 is affixed to carriage 77 and support plate 91, so that when eccentric cam 95 is rotated, shear punch cutting edges such as shown at 111 cut through ribbon 22 into cutting edge plates in the bottom of die block 105 in the lowermost position of connecting rod 98, and above the surface of ribbon 22 in the uppermost position of connecting rod 98 on cam 95. Ribbon 22 is moved during the uppermost position of shear punches 101, 102 in the direction of arrow 116 (FIG. 14) as hereinafter more fully described.

Referring now again to FIG. 14, at the end 113 of punch carriage 77 is a block 114 in which is located'an axle 115, transversely to the direction of travel (arrows 116) of punch carriage 77. A drive cylinder 117 attached to panel 70 and pneumatically operated in response to electric solenoid valves, has a piston l18coupled to a piston rod 119. A clevis link 60 is attached on rod 119 articulatingly to axle 115. Movementof piston 118 by pneumatic cylinder 117 pushes or pulls carriage 77 back and forth along ways 71-72, 74-75. Actuating cylinder 117 is of the same type described in the present inventors U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,601 and also in U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,784, where the present inventor is a joint inventor with M. Kavin and L. Pieter, and need not be further described here.

The impaling carriage 76 rides on supporting ways 71, 72, 74-75 on its rollers 78 and 79, and cam rollers 120, 121

which are the only rollers visible in FIG. 14. On the rear end 122 of the impaling carriage 76 is a ribbon-holding clutch 196. Depending from rear end 122 is a block 131 with an axle 132 therein similar to axle 115. An impaling carriage drive rod has a clevis mounted to axle 132 to articulate thereon so as to move the impaling carriage 76 as a function of the rotation of axle 132.

The impaling and holding mandrel assembly 10 which has previously been described in detail is mounted in an assembly block 142 which is rotatable about a gear shaft 232 (seen in FIG. 15) joumaled through mounting plate 70. Beveled gear 143 rotates on shaft 232 engaging beveled gear 144 on a hollow shaft 145 journaled through the assembly block 142 and in which the mandrel 11 is slidable and rotatable as may be seen at 147, 148. The end of inner rod 147 at 146 is threaded to accommodate a pair of nuts 149. A spring 150 attached to block 142 at 151 and threaded end 146 of rod 147-8 normally urges rod 147-8 to the right of the illustration so as to maintain mandrel 11 within sleeve 12 with the pins 14, 15, 19 thereof extended so as to permit impalement thereon of bow loops as previously described. Engagement of the nuts 149 by bar 152 as later described retracts mandrel 11 after a multilooped bow is formed so that it may be stapled to an adhesive label as previously described and the mechanics of which is hereinafter described.

An air actuating cylinder 151 like cylinders 117 and 124 previously described, has its drive piston shaft 153 coupled to block 142 by which at the appropriate time in the operating cycle of the bow-making machine block 142 is rotated as shown by arrow 155 clockwise to bring the mandrel and impaling assembly 10 into position for stapling and thereafter returning block 142 to the bow forming position, as illustrated in FIG. 14.

Mounted on plate 70 are several switches which are engaged by moving parts for actuating cylinders to perform the operations in the bow-forming sequences of the machine. Switch 154 is struck on its contact button 156 by cam bar 152 at the screw 155 which may be adjusted as to the length extending from bar 152 to establish the striking time in the cycle. Switch 154 actuates cylinder'170 for return operation. Switch 157 actuates cutter bar 165 to be hereinafter described. Switch 160 actuates upward movement of staple gun 171.

Impaling carriage or ribbon feed mechanism 76 is oscillated back and forth by drive rod 130 coupled with the slot 128 in cam bar 129, rotating with shaft 206 on which cam bar 129 is mounted. Shaft 206 is journaled in plate 70 and is driven by the master drive motor described hereinafter. Mechanism 76 can also be moved by cylinder 124 which has a piston rod 126 coupled to a slotted cam bar 127 ratcheted on shaft 206. Cylinder 124 is articulatingly mounted on clevis mount 125. Cylinder 124. is normally inoperative during the continued oscillation of table 76 as above described. However, at the completion of a predetermined number of oscillations of table 76 as a function of chain 213 hereinafter described in connection with FIG. 15, cylinder 124 is actuated to move table 76 so as to eittend a short length of ribbon at the completion of a bow just prior to the ribbon end being cut off by cutter bar 165 as hereinafter described.

On plate 70 above irnpaling table 76 is mounted an inertial chain and sprocket assembly 134, 135, 136. An elbow linkage 137, 138 is coupled from a lower section 140 of chain 136 to an axle 25 at the front end of irnpaling table 76. As connecting rod 130 drives carriage or table 76 towards the left of the illustration in FIG. 14, links 137, 138 stretch to their limit and thereafter pull chain 136 around sprockets 134 and 135 clockwise. The action of stretching links 137 and 138 rotates axle 25 in table 76 to lift push bar 27 articulating on axle 25. Push bar 27 and its action is also shown in FIGS. 3--5 inclusive in another embodiment. Ribbon 22 is lifted by push bar 27 so as to form the loops such as 34 (FIG. 5) hereinbefore described. The loops are then impaled on mandrel 11. This occurs at the limit of travel to the left of ribbon feed table 76 for each loop formed. The loops are held on irnpaling pins 14, 15, 19 of ribbon holding means as earlier described.

On the return of carriage 76 to the right the links 137 and 138 articulate on their joint 141 rotating axle 25 counterclockwise to rotate push bar 27 counterclockwise away from the end 26 of ribbon feed table 76. Ribbon 22 is released (as may be seen in FIG. 3) so that as table or carriage 76 is moved to the right, ribbon is payed out in preparation for the formation of a subsequent loop.

Panel 70, can be seen in FIG. 15, is mounted on an angle iron standard 190 shown in part. Angle iron supports 191, 192 provided mounting means for cams, gears, sprockets, pulleys and switches described below. FIG. 15, to which reference is now made, is aview of the obverse side of mounting panel 70. A main drive shaft 200 is attached to a motor 203, only the base of which is shown on the drawing. Motor 203 provides the operating force for the pom-pom bow making machine. A clutch 201 on the main drive shaft 200 is an electrically actuated clutch which engages a pulley 202 to drive various entities hereinafter described. Main drive belt 204 couples pulley 202 to a larger pulley 205 which turns ribbon feed drive shaft 206 at a slower rate than shaft 200. Also on shaft 200 is a sprocketed pulley, not visible in the illustration, by which an endless ribbon feed chain 207 drives ribbon feed sprocketed pulley 208. Shaft 209 for sprocketed 208 pulley is journaled in a bearing in plate 70. A takeup sprocket 210 is provided to conduct endless chain 207 around sprocket pulley 208.

On shaft 206 sprockets are provided at 211 on which a drive chain 212 for operating the punch and foot mechanisms 185, 186 previously described. Also on shaft 206 is a timing and counting chain 213 for operating the bow forming cycle control means and for operating the various actuating switches 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 8-4 and 8-5 which are positioned in the path of chain 213. A dog 214 on chain 213 shown near switch S5, actuates the several switches in sequence as chain 213 moves on its path of travel and passes the switches.

The number of links in chain 213 determines the number of loops that are formed in each pom-pom bow and also the number of rotations per cycle of cam bar 129 and shaft. If a number of links be added to or removed from the length of chain 213. idler am 215 and sprocket 215a thereon are repositioned on a pivot 216.

A cam follower bar 217 with a series of holes 218 punched therein pivots on a bearing 219 journaled in plate 70. Another cam follower bar 220 pivoting on a bearing 221 are linked together with cam bar 217 by a commutator link cylinder 222. An air return cylinder 223 is pivotally attached at one end 224 to the panel 10. The other end of cylinder 223 is attached to bar 220. The piston 225 of cylinder 224 is attached to slotted bar 220. Bar 220 is slotted at 226 so that the position of one end, 227, of link 222 can be positioned on cam follower bar 220 and tightly held at that position thereon by a nut and bolt. The other end of link 222 can be positioned in one of the holes 218 on cam follower bar 217. Cam follower bars 217 and 220 are shown dashed in alternative positions at 217a and 220a. Similarly the changing positions of link 222 and cylinder 223 can be seen by dashed line structures shown thereabout. The normal positions of line 222 and cylinder 223 and bars 220 and 217 are the 220a and 2170 positions thereof. Cylinder 223 normally biases the cam follower bars in the a positions.

On a shaft 232 journaled in plate 70, a pinion gear 228 is located at the upper right of FIG. 15. Gear 228 is engaged with a rack 229 on the end of a bar 230. Bar 230 is attached to cam follower bar 220 at 231. The movement of bar 220 between the positions of 220 and 2200 results in the rotation of gear 228 by rack 229. Gear 228 is ratcheted in such fashion on shaft 232, that shaft 232 is rotated only in the counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 15) for each stroke of bar 230 in the direction of arrow 233. The angle of rotation of gear 228 is a function of the positioning of link 222 on cam follower bars 220 and 217.

Chain 212 which was previously described, drives sprocket 235 on a shaft 236 journaled in plate 70. An idler sprocket 234 maintains an appropriate tension on chain 212.

The switch S1 operates to disengage the motor drive clutch solenoid 303 and engage the brake solenoid 302, both shown in FIG. 20. The switch S-3 controls the solenoid valve for operating the punch carriage drive cylinder 117 for the first position of the punch carriage 77 (FIG. 14). Switch S-4 actuates the solenoid valve operating the cylinder controlling the paper feed for the bow chip paper, 52. Switch S-5 operates the solenoid valve actuating the drive cylinder for the second position of punch carriage 77.

The sequence of operation of the components of the bow making machine of this invention is best described as follows with reference to all of the FIGS. as indicated throughout this discussion.

Ribbon 22 for use in the invention is usually provided from a roll or a spool out of a supply means as indicated generally at 188 in FIG. 14. The ribbon 22 is threaded through a guide path 189 through the punch mechanism on table 77 and path 21 in ribbon feed mechanism on table 76. The guide path is seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 at 21 through the end 26 of ribbon feed mechanism of table 76, and' in FIGS. 16 and 17 through the respective cross sections therein.

At the outset, a length of ribbon 22 as shown in FIG. 3 is pulled through the path 189, 21 with ribbon feed table 76 in its rearmost position as in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 14.

In FIG. 14 table 76 has just started forward so that elbow crank 137, 138 has articulated on shaft 25 to lift ribbon end 22a as shown in FIG. 3 as a result of the positioning of push bar 27 on shaft 25 to the location shown at 270.

It should be noted from FIG. 1 that push bar 27 is of a generally U-shape in the portion visible in the top view of FIG. 1 (corresponding to 270 in FIG. 3). As a result, the open area of the U straddles the bore 20 so that as irnpaling stake 11 in sheath 12 is approached during the travel from right to left of ribbon feed table 76 pins 14, 15, 19 engage ribbon 22a. Finally, as shown by arrow 30 in FIG. 4, the end 22a of ribbon 22 is impaled on pins 14, 15, 19 of stake 11 as the pins enter bore 20.

Stake 11 is rotated with its sheath 12 as has been previously described, by gears I43, 144 (FIG. 14) on shaft 232 (FIG. 15). Shaft 232 is operated by pinion gear 228 as previously described, driven by therack 229 on the end of rod 230 moving in thedirection of arrow 233. Rod 230 is coupled at 231 to cam bar 220 and actuated by drive cylinder 223 operating cam bar 220 in one direction, forcing it to position 220a and by cylinder 222 forcing it back. Shaft 232 is ratchet equipped for unidirectional rotation, so that the direction of rotation of impaling stake or holding means 10 is always the same for each stroke of rod 230 in direction of arrow 233. Shaft 232 does not rotate during the return stroke of shaft 230. Thus, stake 11 is rotated in one direction only.

Ribbon feed table 76 is oscillated back and forth by rod 130 articulating on shaft 132 and driven by shaft 206 through slotted cam bar 129.

During the direction of motion of table 76 right to left of FIG. 14 ribbon feed clutch 196 holds ribbon 22 against the surface of table 76. During the direction of travel of table 76 left to right upper foot 185 and lower foot 186 come together to hold ribbon stationary while table 76 moves under ribbon 22. While ribbon 22 is thus held shear punches 101 and 102 punch through the edges of ribbon 22 as may be seen in FIG. 18 to produce notches 36 (areas of reduced width).

Shaft 94 is rotated by sprocket gear 235 operated by chain 212 (FIG. 15) to rotate shaft 236. Shaft 236 rotates bevel gear 180 (in assembly 199, FIG. 14) to drive shaft 94 via bevel gear 181 on shaft 94.

Cam 182a is actuated by shaft 94 rolling on cam roller 182 to raise or lower rod 184 normally urged upward by spring 183.

In FIG. 16 rod 184 is in the open position when shaft 94 is turned 180 from position shown in FIG. 16. Rod 184 is forced down, placing upper foot 185 against ribbon 22, holding the ribbon against lower foot 186 so that ribbon 22 cannot move while table 76 slides back beneath it.

When table 76 has reached the maximum travel to the right of FIG. 19, the movement to the left is repeated.

Cam 95 on shaft 94 is in the punching position of FIG. 18 at the same time that cam surface 182b is in dashed position shown in FIG. 16.-

Thus, while ribbon 22 is held by the clamping action of feet 186 and 185, punch and die set 101, 102, 105 are actuated to cut out notches 36 in ribbon 22 as shown in FIG. 18.

Referring now to FIG. 15, ribbon 22 is fed continuously by rotation of sprocket 208 by chain 207 operated by master drive shaft 200 on motor 203. 1

Timing chain 213 also driven by shaft 200 via drive belt 204 and pulley 205 has a number of links such that a given number of cycles of the action of tables 76 and punch 77 just described (-move forward, impale ribbon, move back while ribbon is held, punch and move forward again). In the course of the running of chain 213 dog 214 passes the switches 81-85 inclusive to perform a sequence of switching operations.

A sequence of operations in the formation of a single bow will be understood from the following description with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 in particular and the remaining FIGS. generally. The sequence is taken up as the dog in FIG. 15 at 214 is moved on chain 213 through the array of switches shown in FIG. 15 at 8-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, and S-S. Power is applied to the machine by operating switch 306, a toggle switch shown in FIG. 20. Switch 306 closes the DC circuit to clutch solenoid 303 which engages shaft 206 causing it to rotate the cam bar 129 on shaft 206 and oscillate rod 130 back and forth to oscillate table 76 back and forth as hereinbefore described. During this oscillation bow loops are formed as previously described. When dog 214 arrives at the location of 8-1, 5-2, 8-2 is actuated to apply current to brake solenoid 302 and remove current from clutch 303. In FIG. switch 307, which is the same as switch 8-2, can be seen to perform this switching transfer, being in the normally closed position (N.C.) during the operation of shaft 206, and being placed in the normally open position (N.C.) by the movement of dog 214 thereacross.

As the same time as switch 8-2 is operated, 8-1 is also engaged by dog 214 to operate air cylinder 151 to rotate turret assembly 142 in the direction of arrow 155 into a position where the axis of impaling pin assembly 10 is in line-with the axis of stapling gun 171. This can be seen in FIG. 19. As point 158 passes switch am 159 switch 157 actuates a cylinder not visible in the illustration to move cutter bar forward to cut off the now completed bow from the ribbon being fed through path 21 in table 76. And at approximatelythp same time end 161 strikes switch arrn 162 of switch .160 tt) energize cylinder starting staple gun upward so its end 172 meets the impaling pin end of mandrel and sleeve 11, 12 coming around on turret assembly 142. As stapling gun 171 moves upward rod 173 articulating 0n pivot 174 moves cam bar 152 upward so that switch point 156 is engaged by pin 155 on bar 152-to actuate cylinder 124 to crank cam bar 127 a short distance counterclockwise thus rotating shaft 206 to move table 76 back to the maximum limit of its travel to the left as may be seen in FIG. 14. The comer 1520 of bar 152 as rod 173 moves it upward engages nuts 148-9 to withdraw mandrel rod 11 and impaling pins 14, 15, 19 from the bow. An adhesive label is forced under the bow at this time as the staple gun and impaling head come together. This is accomplished by the operation of switch S-4 being struck by dog 214. As cylinder 124 reaches its maximum position it engages switch contact 164 on switch 163 to actuate the staple-firing mechanism of known design on the stapling gun so that the staple is forced through the adhesive label (known in this art as a bow chip) and completed bow.

The rotation of turret 142, the upward movement of gun 171, and the insertion of the bow chip between the bow and gun are occuring almost simultaneously. On completion of the stapling of the bow, to the bow chip as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 the staple-punching head 172 returns as is well known in staple gun operation. As the retraction of the stapling head occurs a return switch 167 is. actuated to return gun to its initial position. This is accomplished by cylinder 170 acting in reverse, pulling on rod 176.

Also as staple gun 171 is returning it engages another switch behind switch 169 which recyclescylinder 151 to return turret 142 to its ribbon and bow loop assembly position of FIG. 14. All of the rotation of head 142 and stapling operations occur extremely rapidly. At the same time that the turret 142 is returned the same switch action overrides the clutch and brake solenoid switches to reengage them in operating condition and table 76 is once again oscillated back and forth to form and impale loops on pins 14, 15, and 19. When dog 214 passes switch S-5 cylinder 117 is actuated to move punch table forward a small amount (to the left of FIG. 14) so that after some six or so loops are formed the impaling point is changed slightly with respect to the punched areas of reduced width. This tends to stiffen and make more attractive the completed bow.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for forming apom-pom bow from a continuous strip of ribbon material. said apparatus comprising:

ribbon-holding means for fixedly holding relative thereto ribbon portions applied thereagainst;

means for applying an end portion of said ribbon to said holding means;

means for twisting said ribbon l80 about its longitudinal axis at a first position along the continuous length thereof proximate to said end portion; and

means for applying a second ribbon portion at a second position along the ribbon length remote from said first position to said holding means to form a bow loop.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said ribbon is provided with a reduced width portion at said first position to enhance the twistability of said ribbon material at said position.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said twisting means comprises:

second holding means for fixedly holding the ribbon relative thereto at a third position along the ribbon length, further removed from said end portion than is said second position; and

means for rotating said first holding means relative to said second holding means over a sufficient angle to twist the ribbon.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said second holding means includes:

means for releasing the ribbon at said third position subsequent to the application of said second ribbon portion to said first holding means; and

means for holding said ribbon at a fourth position along the ribbon length, further removed from the end portion than is said third position whereby a second bow loop may subsequently be formed.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising means for cutting away portions of said ribbon width as said first position to provide an area of reduced ribbon width as said first position.

6. A machine for producing pom-pom bows from a continuous strip of ribbon material, said machine comprising:

holding means for receiving and retaining fixedly relative thereto, ribbon portions applied thereagainst;

means for applying to said holding means successive ribbon portions at predetermined points along the ribbon length, the ribbon intennediate adjacent points forming bow loops; and

means coupled with said holding means and said applying means for twisting the ribbon l80 about the longitudinal axis thereof in the vicinity of each of said predetermined points.

7. The machine defined in claim 6 further comprising:

means for selectively removing ribbon material to provide the ribbon with reduced width areas in said vicinity of each of said predeten'nined points, whereby the twistability of said ribbon material is enhanced.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein said applying means comprises: r

a reciprocating feed machine mechanism having a ribbon guide path for successively feeding ribbon to said holding means, the reciprocating motion moving said feed mechanism alternately toward and away from said holding means; and

second holding means for retaining the ribbon on the guide path in fixed position relative thereto when said feed mechanism is moved toward said first holding means.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein said twisting means comprises:

means for rotating said first holding means relative to said second holding means when said feed mechanism is moving toward said first holding means.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein said ribbon material removing means comprises:

ribbon-cutting means operatively disposed relative to the ribbon guide path for removing ribbon material when brought into engagement with the ribbon.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein said reciprocating feed mechanism includes means responsive to the motion of said mechanism for moving ribbon along the ribbon guide path a predetermined amount each reciprocal cycle.

12. The machine of claim ll further comprising:

means operatively coupled to said cutting means and responsive to the motion of said feed mechanism for causing the ribbon-cutting means to engage the ribbon when said feed mechanism reaches a predetermined portion of each reciprocal cycle.

13. The machine of claim 12 further comprising:

means operatively coupled to said cutting means and responsive to the completion of a predetermined number of cycles by said reciprocal feed mechanism for moving the location of said cutting means relative to the ribbon guide path, whereby on the next succeeding reciprocal cycle thelocation of the reduced width ribbon area will be modified.

14. The machine of claim 13 wherein said cutting means comprises:

a shear located adjacent the ribbon guide path proximate the ribbon surface;

a die adapted to engage said shear in ribbon-cutting relation therewith; and

lit

means for selectively engaging said shear with said die. 15. Apparatus for forming'po m-pom bows from a length of ribbon material, said apparatus comprising: a

means for cutting a first series of notches in said ribbon at predetermined uniform intervals alonga first lengthsegment thereof;

ribbon holding means for receiving and fixedly retaining relative thereto ribbon portions applied thereagainst;

means for successively applying ribbon po rtion s at predetermined points along the ribbon length to 'said holding means, each ribbon portion being proximate a notch, the ribbon intermediate successive portions w forming individual bow loops;

means for twisting the ribbon l about the longitudinal axis thereof at the location of each notch subsequent to applying the ribbonportion proximate the notch to the holding means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

means for cutting a second series of notches in said ribbon at said predetermined uniform intervals along a second length segment thereof, the first notch in said second series being separated from the last notch in said first series by an interval different than said uniform interval.

17. Apparatus for formingja pom-pom bow from a continuous strip of ribbon material, said apparatus comprising:

ribbon-holding means for fixedly holding relative thereto ribbon portions applied thereagainst;

means for applying an end portion of said ribbon to said holding means;

means for twisting said ribbon l80 about its longitudinal axis at a first position along the continuous length thereof remote from said end portion and means for applying the ribbon portion proximate said first position to said holding means to form a bow loop.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 17 wherein said ribbon is provided with a reduced width portion at said first position to enhance the twistability of said ribbon material at said position.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein said twisting means comprises:

second holding means for fixedly holding said ribbon at a second position further removed from said end portion than is said first position; and

means for rotating said first holding means relative to said second holding means over a sufficient angle to twist the ribbon.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein said holding means includes:

means for releasing the ribbon at said second position subsequent to the application of said first ribbon position to said first holding means; and

means for holding said ribbon at a third position further removed from the end portion than in said position whereby a second bow loop maysubsequently be formed. 2t. Apparatus for formingyom-porn boyjtrcm a length of ribbon material. said apparatus comprising:

means for cutting a first series of notches in aid. ribbon at predetermined uniform intervals along a first length segment thereof; ribbon-holding means for receiving and fixedly retaining relative thereto ribbop portions applied tbereagainst;

means for successively applying ribbon portions at predetermined points along the ribbon length to said holding means, each ribbon portion being proximate a notch, the ribbon intermediate successive portions .{orming individual bow loops;

means for twisting the ribbon about the longitudinal axis thereof at the location of each notch prior to applying the ribbon portion proximate the notch to the holding means.

22. A method of making a bow from a length of ribbon comprising the steps of:

a. holding a ribbon end portion at a holding point located at the axis of the bow;

holding said ribbon at a position spaced from said end portion to provide a length of ribbon sufficient for forming a loop;

. twisting said ribbon 180 about its longitudinal axis proxiholding said ribbon at a second holding position spaced from the secured portion to provide a length of ribbon sufficient for forming a second loop;

. twisting said ribbon 180 about its longitudinal axis proximate said second position to provide the ribbon with a 180 twist at said second position and a remaining second uncreased portion;

. securing the ribbon portion proximate said second twist at the axial holding point to form a second loop falling on a bow radius spaced from that of the prior loop and having a bight formed from said second uncreased ribbon portion;

h. repeating the aforesaid steps employed in forming said second loop to form a sequence of loops.

23. A method of making a bow from a length of ribbon comprising the steps of: I

a. securing a ribbon end portion at a holding point located at the axis of the bow;

b. twisting the ribbon l about its longitudinal axis proximate said ribbon end portion;

c. securing a ribbon portion remote from said prior secured portion at said holding point to form a first bow loop;

d. twisting the ribbon about its longitudinal axis proximate said latter secured portion;

e. securing a ribbon portion remote from said latter secured portion at said holding point to'form a second bow loop falling on a bow radii spaced from that of the prior loop;

f. repeating the aforesaid steps employed in forming said second loop to fonn a sequence of loops.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 further comprising the step of:

providing said ribbon with reduced width areas at the locations of twisting to enhance the twistability of the ribbon.

Images