Apparatus for advancing flexible, strand-like material into the field of action of processing means

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHOE-LACE BRAID RECEIVED FROM A SUPPLY TO A LACE-TIPPING MACHINE OF THE KIND WHICH INCLUDES RELATIVELY MOVABLE TIP-FORMING DIES BETWEEN WHICH A LENGTH OF BRAID IS PLACED PREPARATORY TO THE CLOSURE OF THE DIES TO FORM A TIP UPON THE BRAID AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE DIES, IN COMBINATION, FEEDING MEANS FOR DISPOSING A LENGTH OF BRAID BETWEEN THE DIES IN READINESS FOR THE APPLICATION OF A TIP, SAID FEEDING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF ENDLESS BELTS, MEANS FOR SO GUIDING THE BELTS AS TO FORM PARALLEL, SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL RUNS ABOVE AND WHICH EXTEND TRANSVERSELY OF THE TIP-FORMING DIES, SAID RUNS NORMALLY CONTACTING EACH OTHER WITH RESILIENT PRESSURE, MEANS FOR DRIVING THE BELTS INTERMITTENTLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND AT THE SAME SPEED, MEANS OPERATIVE WHILE THE BELTS ARE MOVING, TO MEASURE OFF A PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF BRAID FROM THE SUPPLY AND TO FORM SAID LENGTH INTO A LOOP COMPRISING DOWNWARDLY CONVERGING LEGS WHOSE UPPER ENDS ARE GRIPPED AT SPACED POINTS RESPECTIVELY, BETWEEN THE PARALLEL RUNS OF THE BELT AND WITH THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID MEASURED LENGTH DEPENDING FREELY BELOW THE BELTS RUNS, THE DRIVE MEANS FOR THE BELTS BEING OPERATIVE TO CAUSE THEM TO DWELL WHEN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID LOOP IS POSITIONED WITHIN THE FIELD OF ACTION OF THE TIP-FORMING DIES.