US4560434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for producing bouffant caps
Assignee: Nankaisangyo Co Ltd
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Filing: 1983-12-27
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Granted: 1985-12-24
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Expires: 2003-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for continuously and efficiently producing bouffant caps, the arrangement comprising a section for supporting and supplying a thin band-like material wound in roll form, a laying section for laying stretchable linear elements in stretched condition on opposite sides of the band-like material being continuously payed out from the supply section, a welding section for integrally attaching the laid stretchable linear elements to the band-like material, a zigzag folding section for widthwise zigzag folding the band-like material having said stretchable linear elements welded thereto, a fixed length seal section for welding at regular intervals the stretchable linear elements laid on the opposite sides of the zigzag folded material, and a cutter section for cutting the material at the middle of each weld region.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:35
CPC Classifications
A; A42; A42B; A42B1/00; A42B1/012; A42C; A42C1/00; B; B31; B31F; B31F1/00; B31F1/0003; B31F1/0006; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1007; Y10T156/1015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
Apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like, comprising: a longitudinally extending frame for mounting the apparatus components along a straight line of travel, said frame having a forward end and a rearward end; a support and supply section mounted at said frame rearward end comprising means for deliverably supporting a band-like material wound in roll form; and means for automatically delivering the material at a constant speed and in a generally horizontal orientation, the material thus having an upper and a lower side; a stretchable linear element laying section mounted on said frame forward of said support and supply section and comprising two bobbin means each for containing a supply of a stretchable linear element and means for continuously laying the linear elements on and along opposite lateral edges of the material being delivered, and tension adjusting means disposed below said bobbin means for adjusting the tension of the linear element; a welding section mounted on said frame forward of said element laying section comprising means for integrally welding the laid linear elements to the material; a zigzag folding section mounted on said frame forward of said welding section, said zigzag folding section comprising means for supplying the material with welded linear elements, and means for continuously zigzag folding said supplied material in the transverse direction; a fixed length seal section mounted on said frame forward of said zigzag folding section comprising means for bunching the zigzag folded material, and means for welding the bunched material between the stretchable linear elements on both sides at fixed length intervals; and a cutter section mounted on said frame forward of said seal section for successively cutting said material substantially transversely to the longitubinal direction at the middle of each welded region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
Apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like, comprising: a longitudinally extending frame for mounting the apparatus components along a straight line of travel, said frame having a forward end and a rearward end; a support and supply section mounted at said frame rearward end comprising means for deliverably supporting a band-like material wound in roll form; and means for automatically delivering the material at a constant speed and in a generally horizontal orientation, the material thus having an upper and a lower side; a stretchable linear element laying section mounted on said frame forward of said support and supply section and comprising two bobbin means each for containing a supply of a stretchable linear element and means for continuously laying the linear elements on and along opposite lateral edges of the material being delivered, and tension adjusting means disposed below said bobbin means for adjusting the tension of the linear element; a welding section mounted on said frame forward of said element laying section comprising means for integrally welding the laid linear elements to the material; a zigzag folding section mounted on said frame forward of said welding section, said zigzag folding section comprising means for supplying the material with welded linear elements, and means for continuously zigzag folding said supplied material in the transverse direction; a fixed length seal section mounted on said frame forward of said zigzag folding section comprising means for bunching the zigzag folded material, and means for welding the bunched material between the stretchable linear elements on both sides at fixed length intervals; and a cutter section mounted on said frame forward of said seal section for successively cutting said material substantially transversely to the longitubinal direction at the middle of each welded region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
159 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein said delivering means of said band-like material support and supply section comprises two inclined plates fixedly erected on the upper surface of said frame on opposite sides at said rearward end thereof, the upper end surfaces of said inclined plates downwardly sloping from the forward end thereof to the rearward end thereof, bearings fixed on the machine frame adjacent the lower ends of said inclined plates for removably supporting a center shaft of the material roll, a grooved guide shaft adapted to fit at its opposite ends on the sloped surfaces of said inclined plates and roll along said sloped surfaces, and guide rollers slidably removably fitted on the opposite sides of said guide shaft and each guide roller having a roller portion and a collar portion of larger diameter such that the material is constrained therebetween in contact with said roller portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stretchable linear element laying section comprises two bobbins installed on opposite sides of the machine frame above the upper surface of the material, and each having a stretchable linear element wound thereon, welding rollers and tension adjusting rollers disposed forwardly and rearwardly of and below said bobbins, guide wheels disposed rearwardly of said tension adjusting wheels, and guide wheels disposed below the first-mentioned guide wheels for feeding the stretchable linear elements to said welding rollers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the zigzag folding section comprises relaxing means for reducing transverse tension in the material, and a pair of longitudinally extending upper and lower folding plates located forward of said relaxing means, each plate having a plurality of folding projections, said folding projections being fitted together so as to alternate with each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fixed length seal section comprises two guide bars installed on the machine frame and extending in the direction of travel of the band-like material, a carriage slidable on said guide bars, and a supersonic welding device mounted on said carriage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cutter section comprises a rotary press roller and a rotary cutter roller which are pressed against each other, the outer peripheral surface of said cutter roller being provided with a longitudinal groove extending radially from the surface, a cutter blade received in said longitudinal groove so that it comes in and out, and a nipping projection disposed rearwardly of said longitudinal groove and adapted to be pressed against said rotary press roller by the pressure of a spring during cutting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
239 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein said delivering means of said band-like material support and supply section comprises two inclined plates fixedly erected on the upper surface of said frame on opposite sides at said rearward end thereof, the upper end surfaces of said inclined plates downwardly sloping from the forward end thereof to the rearward end thereof, bearings fixed on the machine frame adjacent the lower ends of said inclined plates for removably supporting a center shaft of the material roll, a grooved guide shaft adapted to fit at its opposite ends on the sloped surfaces of said inclined plates and roll along said sloped surfaces, and guide rollers slidably removably fitted on the opposite sides of said guide shaft and each guide roller having a roller portion and a collar portion of larger diameter such that the material is constrained therebetween in contact with said roller portion; and an apparatus wherein the stretchable linear element laying section comprises two bobbins installed on opposite sides of the machine frame above the upper surface of the material, and each having a stretchable linear element wound thereon, welding rollers and tension adjusting rollers disposed forwardly and rearwardly of and below said bobbins, guide wheels disposed rearwardly of said tension adjusting wheels, and guide wheels disposed below the first-mentioned guide wheels for feeding the stretchable linear elements to said welding rollers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 7, wherein the zigzag folding section comprises relaxing means for reducing transverse tension in the material, and a pair of longitudinally extending upper and lower folding plates located forward of said relaxing means, each plate having a plurality of folding projections, said folding projections being fitted together so as to alternate with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 8, wherein the fixed length seal section comprises two guide bars installed on the machine frame and extending in the direction of travel of the band-like material, a carriage slidable on said guide bars, and a supersonic welding device mounted on said carriage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 9, wherein the cutter section comprises a rotary press roller and a rotary cutter roller which are pressed against each other, the outer peripheral surface of said cutter roller being provided with a longitudinal groove extending radially from the surface, a cutter blade received in said longitudinal groove so that it comes in and out, and a nipping projection disposed rearwardly of said longitudinal groove and adapted to be pressed against said rotary press roller by the pressure of a spring during cutting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 4, wherein the degree of fit between said upper and lower folding plates gradually increases from the rearward to the forward ends of said plates and the distance between said upper and lower folding plates gradually decreases from the rearward to the forward ends of said plates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps and the like as set forth in claim 8, wherein the degree of fit between said upper and lower folding plates gradually increases from the rearward to the forward ends of said plates and the distance between said upper and lower folding plates gradually decreases from the rearward to the forward ends of said plates.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
267 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps, comprising a band-like material support and supply section for deliverably supporting a band-like material such as a non-woven fabric or film wound in roll form; said band-like material support and supply section comprises two inclined plates fixedly erected on the upper surface of the machine frame on opposite sides at one end thereof, the upper end surfaces of said inclined plates downwardly sloping from the front end to the rear end of the machine frame, bearings fixed on the machine frame adjacent the lower ends of said inclined plates for removably supporting a center shaft, a grooved guide shaft adapted to fit at its opposite ends on the sloped surfaces, and guide rolls slidably removably fitted on the opposite sides of said guide shaft and having collar portions of larger diameter; a stretchable linear element laying section for continuously laying stretchable linear elements on and along opposite lateral edges of said band-like material being delivered while withdrawing said stretchable linear elements from bobbins; a welding section for integrally welding the stretchable linear elements laid on opposite lateral edges of the band-like material to the latter; a zigzag folding section through which the band-like material with said stretchable linear elements welded thereto is passed whereby it is zigzag folded in the direction of the width; a fixed length seal section for welding the zigzag bunched folded material between the stretchable linear elements on both sides at fixed intervals of length; and a cutter section for successively cutting said material substantially transversely to the longitubinal direction at the middle of each welded region.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
267 words
An apparatus for producing bouffant caps, comprising a band-like material support and supply section for deliverably supporting a band-like material such as a non-woven fabric or film wound in roll form; said band-like material support and supply section comprises two inclined plates fixedly erected on the upper surface of the machine frame on opposite sides at one end thereof, the upper end surfaces of said inclined plates downwardly sloping from the front end to the rear end of the machine frame, bearings fixed on the machine frame adjacent the lower ends of said inclined plates for removably supporting a center shaft, a grooved guide shaft adapted to fit at its opposite ends on the sloped surfaces, and guide rolls slidably removably fitted on the opposite sides of said guide shaft and having collar portions of larger diameter; a stretchable linear element laying section for continuously laying stretchable linear elements on and along opposite lateral edges of said band-like material being delivered while withdrawing said stretchable linear elements from bobbins; a welding section for integrally welding the stretchable linear elements laid on opposite lateral edges of the band-like material to the latter; a zigzag folding section through which the band-like material with said stretchable linear elements welded thereto is passed whereby it is zigzag folded in the direction of the width; a fixed length seal section for welding the zigzag bunched folded material between the stretchable linear elements on both sides at fixed intervals of length; and a cutter section for successively cutting said material substantially transversely to the longitubinal direction at the middle of each welded region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-23 | 1989-06-24 | 1989-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-23 | 1993-06-24 | 1993-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-23 | 1997-06-24 | 1997-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |