Methods and apparatus for processing web-like materials

Claim 2

Apparatus for processing web-like materials comprising, in combination, means for supporting at least a portion of such materials during movement past a processing location, means for performing a process on such material during movement thereof past such processing location, means for providing feeding movement of such material past such processing location and means for cyclically rotating said processing means so that the directional orientation of such processing may be varied during movement of such material past said processing means, wherein said feeding means is structurally associated with said processing means so that variations in the relative rotational orientation during feeding will produce a transverse relative shifting between said feed means and the material as a result of the feeding movement and thereby a transverse shifting of the processing operation relative the material and wherein said rotating means comprises, in turn, means for cyclically oscillating said processing means to produce a wave-form-like pattern.

Claim 3

Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said rotational means is constructed and arranged to rotate about the processing location.

Claim 4

Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said rotation means is constructed and arranged to rotate eccentric the processing locatIon.

Claim 5

Apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising means for varying the center of rotation of said rotating means.

Claim 6

Apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said rotating means and said support means comprise, in turn, a rotatable platform and wherein said feeding means and said processing means comprise, in turn, a sewing head mounted for movement therewith.

Claim 7

Apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said rotating means further comprises, reversible motor means for selectively rotating said platform in either of a plurality of directions and control means for said motor means to enable intermittent cyclic reversing operations thereof.

Claim 8

Apparatus for processing web-like materials comprising, in combination, means for supporting at least a portion of such materials during movement past a processing location, means for performing a process on such materials during movement thereof past such processing location, means for providing feeding movement of such material past such processing location and means for cyclically rotating said processing means so that the directional orientation of such processing may be varied during movement of such material past said processing means wherein said feeding means is structurally associated with said processing means so that variations in the relative rotational orientation during feeding will produce a transverse relative shifting between said feed means and the material as the result of the feeding movement and thereby a transverse shifting of the processing operation relative the material and wherein said rotating means and said support means comprise a platform, a table and a frame; said platform being rotatable supported by said table, said table being movably supported by said frame; means for rotating said platform relative said table; means for moving said table relative said frame generally transversely of the direction of material feed; and means for controlling said rotating and moving means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for processing web-like materials comprising, in combination, means for supporting at least a portion of such materials during movement past a processing location, means for performing a process on such materials during movement thereof past such processing location, means for providing feeding movement of such material past such processing location and means for cyclically rotating said processing means so that the directional orientation of such processing may be varied during movement of such material past said processing means wherein said feeding means is structurally associated with said processing means so that variations in the relative rotational orientation during feeding will produce a transverse relative shifting between said feed means and the material as the result of the feeding movement and thereby a transverse shifting of the processing operation relative the material and wherein said rotating means and said support means comprise a platform, a table and a frame; said platform being rotatable supported by said table, said table being movably supported by said frame; means for rotating said platform relative said table; means for moving said table relative said frame generally transversely of the direction of material feed; and means for controlling said rotating and moving means.

Claim 10

Apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said table moving means comprises a reversible, variable speed motor, said rotating means comprises a reversible, variable speed motor and said control means comprises means for sequentially, automatically and cyclically actuating, stopping and reversing said motors so that the process will be performed on the material in a repetitive, wave-like pattern.

Claim 11

Apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said control means comprises table motor switch means structurally associated with said table for controlling said table moving motor means and actuation in response to the position of said platform and actuating motor switch means structurally associated with said frame for controlling said platform moving motor means and actuation in response to the position of said table so that said platform motor means will be automatically energized to rotate said platform when said table reaches a pre-determined position and said table motor will be automatically energized to translate said table when said platform reaches a pre-determined rotational position.

Claim 12

Apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein said table motor switch means and said platform motor switch means are constructed and arranged to reverse the respective motors upon actuation thereof.

Claim 13

Apparatus defined in claim 9 further comprising means for de-energizing said table motor when said platform motor becomes energized and de-energizing said platform motor when said table motor becomes energized so that a sequence of motion will be automatically and repetitiously produced whereby said table will translate to one extreme position thereof whereupon it will actuate said platform motor switch means to stop the table movement and initiate rotation of said platform to one extreme position thereof to actuate said table motor switch means to stop rotation of said platform and initiate reverse movement of said table to the other extreme position thereof for actuating said platform motor switch means to stop translation of said table and initiate rotation of said platform in the other direction of travel.