MXPA98004695A - Rotary transfer roller with extendable plate girato - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus comprising a rotating base roller for applying at least one drawn strip of a first material to a base fabric comprising a second material and continuously moving to a first direction. The discrete length strip is cut, on the rotating roller, from a continuous belt is rotated on the base roller to a desired orientation, and stretched to a desired length. The apparatus includes the rotating roller supply apparatus for feeding the continuous belt to a circumferential contact with the rotating roller, a cutter for cutting the strips of discrete length of the continuous belt, at least one rotatable extendable plate mounted on and rotating with the rotating roller and an applicator rotating in concert with the rotating base roller to apply the strips cut, rotated and stretched to the cloth

Description

ROTARY TRANSFER ROLLER WITH ROTATING EXTENDABLE PLATE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for conveying discrete articles on a rotating base roller to a receiving surface of a receiving fabric, and transferring the articles to the receiving surface. More specifically, the invention relates to the reception of discrete strips of a material cut from a continuously supplied endless cloth, to rotate and stretch the strips of material, and to transfer the stretched strips of material in the rotated orientation to a cloth receiving continuously in motion with the sections of the strips oriented transverse to the direction of movement of the receiving fabric.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The desire to apply elastics of various types to the garments to assist in for example the notch of the garments in the wearer is well known. The traditional method for securing the elastic in a garment is by sewing the elastic in the garment material. The material is either folded and the elastic is applied in the relaxed condition or the material is kept flat and the elastic is applied in a stretched condition. The sewing of the elastic in the garment material, whether the sewing is done by hand or by machine, is slow and therefore costly in terms of the work required.

In a relatively modern technology relating to disposable garments, the elastic strip material has been bonded to the sheet material by the use of adhesives or heat or sonic bonding. These approaches have been commercially successful where the elastic strips have been applied with their stretches in the direction of movement of the sheet material from which the garment is formed. Efforts have also been made to apply the elastic strip material with all or a part of its length transverse to the direction of movement of the garment sheet material. Such efforts have had limited application. An example of this approach is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,608,115 issued to Schroth et al., Incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In the Schroth et al. Patent, an undrawn elastic band is supplied to a revolving roll having a first axis and placed as discrete strips on the plates mounted on the revolving roll. The plates rotate with the revolving roll, and each plate rotates 90 degrees about a second axis intersecting the first axis and extending through the plate and then deposits its discrete strip or strips on a "continuously moving fabric, with the strips oriented transverse to the machine direction of the moving fabric.

One limitation of the teachings of Schroth et al. Is that the strips of tape material can only be placed on the continuous advancing fabric in the stretched condition in which they are received on the roll. Therefore, if the strips are relaxed when received on the plate, the strips will be relaxed when placed on the fabric. The plates shown in Schroth and others can not stretch the strips of material before placing them on the continuously advancing fabric. However, it is preferred to apply for example elastic strips to a fabric in a stretched condition wherein the fabric is a precursor to making disposable garments thereof. The application of the elastic strips in a stretched condition allows the receiving fabric to be laid flat rather than requiring the fabric to be folded when the elastic strips are applied.

The invention described herein is an improvement over the teachings of Schroth and others in the sense that the strips of material are received on the plate in a relaxed condition and are stretched on the plate before the strips are placed on the advancing fabric. continually.

SYNTHESIS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus in which the discrete strips of the stretchable material are carried on a rotating base roller and, while they are carried are stretched, and are rotated from a first orientation to a second orientation, and transfer from the base roller to a web of continuous advance.

It is another object of the invention to provide such an apparatus in which the discrete strips of the stretchable material are carried on plates mounted on the base roller, the base roller has a first axis of rotation, each plate having a rotating axis that passes through the first axis, each plate being individually driven for stretching, and the concurrent rotation around the second axis.

Certain objects are achieved in embodiments comprising the apparatus for applying to a fabric of a first material, moving in the first direction, at least one discrete strip of a second material stretched in the machine direction of the second material, the apparatus comprises a base roller that rotates around an axis; a supply apparatus that supplies the second material to a circumferential contact with the base roller; at least one extendable plate placed on the base roller by rotating with the base roller about the axis, the delivery apparatus delivers the discrete strip to at least one extendable plate, the extendable plate holds the discrete strip there, and extends from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration while rotating with the base roller about the axis, thereby stretching the discrete strip from a first retracted condition to a second stretched condition; and a transfer apparatus for transferring the discrete strip in the stretched condition from the base roller to the fabric.

In preferred embodiments, the roller is a rotatable extendable roller, rotating about a second axis "extending from the first axis and passing through the roller, and thereby rotating from a first orientation to a second orientation about the second axis. while "rotating with the base roller about the first axis, thereby stretching the discrete strip and correspondingly rotating the discrete strip to the second orientation.

Preferably, the apparatus includes first retention means such as a vacuum source and connecting vacuum conduits, leading to receiving surfaces on the roller, to retain the discrete strip on the extendable roller until "the discrete strip is transferred to the fabric In addition, the invention may include second retention means, such as a vacuum source and connection vacuum conduits, for retaining a section of the second material in circumferential contact with the base roller before the length of material is placed and retained on a respective plate.

The preferred apparatus comprises a roller base mounted on a vacuum plate, the first and second opposed plate body members mounted for a sliding contact with respect to the plate base from the retracted configuration to an extended configuration, the body members First and second plate members further comprise the respective first and second receiving surfaces of cooperatives for cooperatively receiving the discrete strip on the combination of the first and second plate body members, and the vacuum communication lines communicating the vacuum of a vacuum source through the vacuum plate, and therefore through the plate base, to the first and second plate members on the first and second receiving surfaces, to hold the respective first and second portions of the discrete strip on the surfaces respective first and second recipients of the respective first and second plate body members and by both stretch the discrete strip in the machine direction of the discrete strip as the plate body members of the stretched configuration are moved to the extended configuration, and rotate about the second axis.

Preferably, the delivery apparatus comprises a supply apparatus for providing a continuous section of a second material, a supply roll for supplying the second material circumferentially to the base roller, and a cutter for cutting the continuous section of the second material in discrete strips .

The drive apparatus preferably comprises means which maintain the first and second plate body members in the retracted configuration and in the first orientation until the discrete strip is received on the first and second receiving surfaces, means for extending the body members of first and second plate of the configuration retracted to the extended configuration and rotating the first and second plate body members from the first orientation to the second orientation, means for maintaining the first and second plate body members in the extended configuration, and in the second orientation, until the respective discrete strip is transferred to the fabric, and means for returning the first and second plate body members to the configuration retracted in the first orientation.

In addition to the preferred apparatus, the vacuum apparatus comprises control means for controlling the application and removal of vacuum to and from the circumferential portion of the base roller.

The invention may comprise rotating the extendable roller in a surface-to-surface contact with a vacuum plate, the plate comprising a plate base including a guide member, the first and second opposed plate body members including the notches first and second respective, in the plate body members, receiving the guide member and thereby mounting the plate body members in the plate base for a slidable contact therewith, the vacuum plate and the body members of plate comprise the first and second cam surfaces and the respective first and second cam followers engaged therewith, effecting the extension of the first and second plate body members outwardly from each other with the rotation of the plate around the second axis, including rotation of the first and second plate body members.

In a second family of embodiments, the invention comprises a method for applying a fabric of a first material, moving in a first direction, a discrete strip of a second material oriented transverse to the fabric, the discrete strip being stretched in the direction of the machine of the second material, the method comprises the steps of rotating a base roller about a first axis; feeding the second material in circumferential contact with the base roller, and on a rotating extendable plate placed on the base roller and rotating with the base roller about the first axis, and thereby delivering the second material to the plate as a discrete strip; hold the discrete strip on the plate; while holding the discrete strip on the plate, rotating the plate with the base roller around the first axis, and transmitting the driving force to the roller and therefore (i) rotating the plate with respect to the second axis extending from the first axis and passing through the plate (ii) and extending the plate from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration, thereby transposing the discrete strip from a first retracted condition in a first orientation direction with respect to the second axis to a second condition stretched in a second direction of orientation with respect to the second axis; and transferring the discrete strip in the condition stretched and rotated from the base roller to the fabric.

Preferably the method includes retaining the discrete strip on the rotating expandable plate until the discrete strip is transferred to the fabric.

Also preferably, the method includes receiving the discrete strip on the first and second receiving surfaces of the plate, and holding the strip preferably under vacuum, on the receiving surfaces while rotating the receiving surfaces, and thus the strip, around of the second axis and sliding the first and second plate body members with respect to the plate base and thereby stretching the strip in the machine direction of the strip as the plate body members of the retracted configuration move to the extended configuration.

Preferred methods include maintaining the first and second plate body members in the retracted configuration and in the first orientation until "the discrete strip of the second material is received on the first and second receiving surfaces, extending the plate body members. first and second of the configuration retracted to the extended configuration and rotate the first and second plate body members of the first orientation to the second orientation, keeping the first and second plate body members in the extended configuration in the second orientation until the discrete strip is transferred to the fabric, and the first and second plate body members returning to the configuration retracted in the first orientation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure IA shows a lateral elevation of the application apparatus of the invention including a supply of tape, a supply of fabric and a base roller.

Figure IB shows a lateral elevation of an alternate embodiment of the ribbon supply.

Figure 2 is an elevation of a base roller of the invention, taken on line 2-2 of Figure IA.

Figure 3A is a side elevation of the base roll of the invention.

Figure 3B is a side elevation of the base roll illustrating a vacuum system for holding the tape, and discrete strips of the tape on the base roll.

Figure 4 is a plan view, with cut-away portions, of an extendable plate mounted on the base roller of Figure 3A, the plate being shown in the retracted configuration, holding two strips of material.

Figure 4A is a plan view as in the Figure 4, with the plate extended and rotated, thereby stretching the strip of material.

Figure 4B is a perspective view of the extendable plate shown in Figure 4.

Figure 5 is a side view of the extendable plate shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a cross section of the extendable plate shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is a raised view of a drive. band to rotate the plates.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the individual impellers for rotating a plate.

Figure 9 is a plan view, partially in section of one of the individual drives for rotating a plate.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a fabric of endless material on which discrete strips can be placed in the manufacture of a disposable garment.

The invention is not limited in its application to the details from the construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other modalities or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also understood "that the terminology and phraseology employed are for the purpose of description and illustration and should not be seen as limiting. Similar reference numbers are used to indicate similar components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED MODALITIES Referring generally to Figures IA and 2, the apparatus of the invention is shown having a frame 2, on which a base roller 4 is mounted. A cutter roll 6 and an applicator 8 are rotatably mounted on the frame 2 in the upper areas and bottom of the frame, with the base roller placed between them. The supply of endless belt material 10 including the belt supply rolls 12 and 14 are rotatably supported on suitable supports (not shown). The supply rolls 12 and 14 continuously supply the belts 16 and 18 to the base roller 4. The rollers 12 and 14 rotate in the directions shown by the arrows in Figure IA, the supply belts 16, and 18 for the roller 4. A supply of fabric 13 including a fabric supply roll 20 is rotatably supported by suitable means not shown. The fabric supply is provided to continuously feed a worm 22 of the material to contact the base roller 4 between the base roller 4 and the applicator 8.

The base roller 4 is mounted on a drive shaft 104 which rotates about its centerline axis 110 between the spaced side walls 3 and 5 of the frame 2. The shaft 104 is screwed into the bearings (not shown) on the walls 3 and 5. The shaft 104 projects through the wall 3 and is rotatably driven to rotate the base roller 4 in a continuous form by means of a suitable drive (not shown). The base roller 4 comprises a pair of spaced apart side plates 48, 48 'fixed to the shaft 104 and a plurality of guide plates 98 (see also Figures 3A and 3B) spaced at equal distances around the circumference of the base roller 4 The guide plates extend and are fixed to each of the side plates 48 and 48 '. Each of the guide plates has an outward facing surface 100. The vacuum plates 78 are positioned between the adjacent pairs of guide plates, as illustrated in Figure 3B, and are also attached to each of the plates. of guide 48 and 48 '. By rotating the base roller 4 through each complete revolution, it passes sequentially through the supply station 57, the cutting station 58, and the transfer station 59.

A plurality of rotatable extendable plates 32, shown in Figures 3A and 3B, are mounted on the base roller 4 to receive the discrete strips 54 and 56 of the endless belt 16 and 18 as they are cut by the cutting roller 6, carrying, rotating and stretching the discrete strips 54 and 56, and transferring the strips to the fabric 22 in the applicator 8. Each plate 32 is mounted directly on a vacuum plate 78 between an adjacent pair of the guide plates along the circumference of the base roller 4. The guide plates 98 and the plates 32 together form the outer circumferential surface 102 of the roller 4.

The plates 32 rotate about the respective shafts 112 which extend from the axis 110 of the shaft 104 and pass through the respective plates 32. The shaft 112 preferably defines respective perpendicular angles with the shaft 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the shaft 112 rotation also lies along lines extending radially from the axis 110. Because "the plates 32 lie directly against the vacuum plates on which they are mounted, when the plates are rotated, they are rotated. they move slidably along the outer surfaces of the respective vacuum plates 78.

One of the plates 32 is shown in greater detail in Figures 4, 4A, 4B, 5 and 6. Each plate 32 includes a generally rectangular body 31 and a circular base 35. The circular base 35 has a pair of openings 147, 149 extending therethrough to an interior surface 117. The interior surface 117 faces the direction of and closes an end of an opening 84 in the vacuum plate 78.

The generally rectangular body 31 includes the first and set body members 31A and 3IB. The body members 31A and 31B are slidably mounted to the outer surface of the circular base 35 by the grooves 46 in the inward facing surfaces 114 of the body members 31A and 31B received in the cooperating guide members 45 mounted on the outer surface of the circular base 35. Figure 4B. Each of the body members 31A, 31B has a cam follower shaft 92 engaged with a respective cam groove 94 on the respective sides of the vacuum plate 78.

Each cam groove 94 extends into the outer surface of the vacuum plate, but does not extend through the respective vacuum plate 78, whereby the vacuum in the vacuum chamber 90 is retained with respect to the grooves of cam 94. Cam slots 94 pass through arcs of essentially 90 degrees, with radii of increasing curvature in the direction in which plate 32 rotates as it passes from cutting station 58 to transfer station 59, such rotation being described from aguí onwards.

The plate body members 31A, 31B include the outer ends 106, 108 respectively and the outer surfaces 119A and 119B. The plate body member 31A includes the anvil 122 at its outer end 106 and forms a portion of the outer surface 119A. Formed longitudinally along the outer surfaces 119A, 119B are the cooperating grooves 116A, 116B and 118A and 118B to distribute the admitted vacuum through the vacuum conduits 74. The plate body members also include the louvers 115A and 115B positioned on the outer surfaces 119A and 119B to assist in distributing the vacuum along the outer surfaces of the plate body members.

With reference to Figures 3A, 8 and 9, a plurality of impellers 34 is illustrated to provide the rotary driving force to plates 32, an impeller 34 for each plate 32. Each impeller 34 is mounted on a base roller 4 between side plates 48 and 48 '. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, an impeller 34 includes an input drive shaft 36, a cam driver 37 and an output assembly 126. Each input drive shaft 36 is rotatably driven by a drive source described. from now on. As shown in Figures 3A and 5, each outlet assembly 126 extends toward and engages a plate 32 to rotationally drive the respective plate.

The cam driver 37 is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 in a simplified manner so that it shows only those components which are necessary for an understanding of overcoming in conjunction with the other elements of the present invention. Also, the cam impeller 37 is of a type "which is well known and commercially available from various suppliers such as the Commercial Cam Division of Emerson Electric Company. The cam driver 37 comprises a housing 124, a controller 125 and a follower cam wheel 132. The controller 125 comprises a cam cylinder 128 mounted on and rotating with the input shaft 36 and having the slots or cam surfaces 130. The follower cam wheel 132 is fixed to the output shaft 127 of the output assembly 126 and includes the followers 134 positioned in the cam slots 130 so that the follower wheel 132 is rotated as determined by the direction of the trajectory of the cam followers. cam slots 130 when rotating cylinder 128.

It is preferred that each plate 32 has a rotating and intermittent movement in which the plate does not rotate while the respective plate is in and between the supply station 57 and the cutting station 58 and while it is in the transfer station 59. The plate 32 must be rotationally stationary with respect to the axis 112 in these stations to prevent rotational movement of the tape 16, 18 or of the strips 54, 56 that could interfere with the positioning and cutting of the strips on the plates 32 or their transfer in the correct orientation to the fabric 22.

Further with reference to Figures IA, 2, 3A and 4, the plate 32 should be maintained at the supply and cutting stations in a first orientation in which the plate body as defined by the retracted body members 31A, 3IB they have their length and vacuum grooves 116A, 116B, 118A and 118B in alignment with the supply direction of the belts 16A, 18 while at the supply and cutting stations, and aligned respectively with the direction of movement of the belt. outer surface of the base roller 4 at the beginning of its rotation about the axis 110 towards the transfer station 59. On the other hand, referring to the Figures IA, 3A and 4A, while the plate 32 is in the transfer station 59, being in a second orientation in which the plate body as defined by the extended body members 31A, 31B has its length disposed at a transverse angle of 90 degrees to the direction of movement of the body. ela 22, and 90 degrees corresponding to the direction of rotation of the base roller 4. Each plate 32 rotates about the respective axis 112, through the intervening 90 degree arc, and extends the plate body members, during the respective plate movement of the plate. the cutting station 58 or the transfer station 59. The plate 32 rotates about the respective axis 112, through the intervening inverse 90 degree arc, and therefore retracts the plate body members, during the movement of the respective plate from the transfer station 59 back to the supply station 57.

The intermittent rotation and placement requirements of each plate 32 are achieved by providing the necessary angle in the slope of the cam groove 130, together with the appropriate arcs in the cam grooves 94, as followed by the cam followers 92. During the period of time in which the follower cam wheel 192 and thus the plate 32 do not move, the part of the cam groove 130 engaging a cam follower 134 has a declivity angle of zero degrees. For the period of rotation in which the follower cam wheel 132 is to rotate so that the plate 32 rotates from the first position in the cutting station 58 to the second position in the transfer station 59, the cam groove 130 has a slope so that the cam followers 134 advance in an axial direction within the slot 130 to provide the desired rotation to the plate 32. The particular required slope angle of the slot 130 was determined by the speed and travel distances of the various components of the device.

The output assembly 126 of the rotary impeller 34 includes an adapter plate 136 (Figure 8) attached to the salute shaft 127 outside the case 124. The adapter plate 136 is positioned on the shaft 127 so that it rotates in a generally parallel plane to the outer surfaces 119. The adapter plate 136 and the end 119 of the shaft 127 are positioned towards but spaced from the inner surface 117 on the circular base 35, including the respective inner surfaces of the guide members 45. Thus, when cutting the belt 16, 18, the belt cutting force of the cutting roller 6 in the direction from the outer surface 119 to the inner surface 114 and towards the rotary impeller 34, which is applied to the anvil 122 and transferred to the plate 132 , is not transferred by the shaft 127 or the adapter plate 136 of the cam driver 34. Rather, the cutting force is transferred by the interior surfaces 117 of the guide members 45 of the circular base 3. 5 to the respective vacuum plate 78. Consequently, wear on the cam driver 34 due to the cutting impact is prevented and the life of the cam driver 34 is essentially longer than without such provisions for the absorption of the cutting force. .

In Figure 3A, a plurality of force transfer means 140 are shown in contact with the plate 32. As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, each of the force transfer means 140 comprises part of the respective output assembly. 126 to transfer the rotational force of the cam driver 37 to the plate 32. The force transfer means 140 comprises a pair of shoulder bolts. 142 each having a head 144, an elongate shaft 145 having a threaded end 150 threaded into the threaded opening 137 of the adapter plate 136, and a spring 154 mounted concentrically in compression on the handle 145 between the head 144 of the bolt 142 and the circular base 35 of the plate 32. The bolts 142 transfer the rotary force of the cam impeller 37 to the circular base 35 of plate 32 for rotating the plate about axis 112.

As previously discussed, the plate 32 rotates in a sliding contact on the vacuum plate 78 on the inner surface 117. The compression of the spring 154 between the head 144 of the pin 142 and the circular base 35 provides a pushing force by keeping the plate 32 in contact with the vacuum plate 78 by rotating the plate 32 with the base roller 4 about the shaft 110 while at the same time rotating in a sliding contact with the vacuum plate 78 about the axis 112.

Given that the adapter plate 136 on which the force transfer apparatus 140 is mounted rotates in a parallel plane on the outer surface 119 of the body members 31A and 3IB, the rotational force of the force transfer apparatus 140 is applied in a direction parallel to the plane of the outer surface 119. Conversely, the rotational force in an opposite direction and in the same plane can also be applied by the plate 32 to the force transfer apparatus 140.

Consequently, given that the cutting force of the cutting roller 6 is applied in a direction generally transverse to and preferably perpendicular to the plane of the surface 119, the cutting force is not transmitted to the force transfer apparatus 140 and therefore to the impeller. 37, but rather it is transferred to the vacuum plate 78.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 7, there is illustrated a belt impeller 38 for providing a rotary driving motion of each of the rotary impellers 34. The belt impeller 38 includes the rotating drive pulleys 42 and the stationary pulley 40. The pulley 40 is supported on a cylindrical arm 39 which is mounted on the side wall 5 of the frame 2. The rotating drive pulleys 42 are mounted on the input shafts 36 of the rotary drives 34. A continuous drive belt 44 is wrapped around of the pulleys 42 and around the stationary pulley as shown in Figure 7. By rotating the shafts 36 and the rotating pulleys 42 with the base roller 44, the belt 44 moves on the surface of the pulley 40 to make which rotate the pulleys 42. The input shafts 36 are therefore rotationally driven in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 7, by the rotation of the base roller 4.

Referring again to Figures IA, 2 and #a, the supply of tape 10 feeds the two belts 16 and 18 towards the base roller 4 and on the respective guide plate 98 on which the belts slide as they are initially received on the plate 98. The tapes are fed parallel to each other and spaced apart by a distance shown for the strips 54 and 56 in Figure 2. The tapes 16 and 18 are urged towards the base roller 4 by the drive rollers 30 and 30 'at speeds so that they move on the base roller 4 under minimal tension in a relatively relaxed condition. The tapes 16 and 18 can have a profession-sensitive adhesive coating on their surfaces facing away from the base roller 4. Thus, when the discrete length strips 54 and 56 of the tapes 16 and 18 contact the tape with the fabric 22, the discrete length strips 54 and 56 are transferred and joined to the fabric 22. Alternatively, referring to Figure IB, the tapes 16 and 18 can be supplied without adhesive. The adhesive can be installed to be applied to the tapes as one of the steps in the supply of the tapes to the base roller 4. In Figure IB, the tapes 16 and 18 are shown as being supplied by the tape supply rolls 12 and 14. to the base roller 4 by means of the drive rollers 30 and 30 '. Between the rollers 30 and 30 'and the contact area of the tapes 16 and 18 with the base roller 4, the adhesive is applied to each of the tapes by means of the adhesive applicator 19.

A strip and tape retainer system comprising a vacuum system 11 is shown in Figures 2 and 3B. The vacuum system 11 includes a side plate 50 fixed to and rotating with the base roller 4 and a vacuum cover 72 mounted in a stationary manner on the arms 73 and 73 'extending from the side wall 3 of the frame 2. Two tubes of Vacuum supply 81 and 81 'are connected to the vacuum cover 12 and to a suitable vacuum source (not shown). The side plate 50 forms the inner wall of a vacuum chamber and the vacuum cover 72 forms the outer wall of the chamber. The cover 72 and the plate 50 are placed on a very small gap between them to avoid friction when the plate 50 is rotated, but at the same time they minimize the loss of vacuum from inside the vacuum chamber. The interior of the vacuum cover 72 is divided into two semicircular chambers 71 and 75. The end plugs 77 and 77 'form a relatively short chamber 75 which is connected to the vacuum pressure source through the vacuum conduit 81. The vacuum chamber 71 is closed at its ends by the plugs 79 and 79 'and supplied from the vacuum source through the conduit 81'. Four vacuum conduits 89 for each plate 32 extend through the plate 50 from the vacuum chamber 71 and are connected to the vacuum conduits 76 in the vacuum plates 78. In Figures 4 and 5, the vacuum conduits 76 are shown in a vacuum plate 78 as being connected to a vacuum chamber 90 formed by the opening 84 in the vacuum plate 78. The inner surface 117 of the base 35 and the adapter plate 136. The vacuum openings 74 through the circular base 35 communicate with the respective notches 116A, 116B, 118A and 118B through the slots 120, the notches 116A, 116B, 118A and 118B preferably centered around the slots 120. The plate body members 31A and 3IB are also connected to the vacuum chamber 90. The vacuum pressure of the conduits 76 is applied through the conduits 74 and along the notches 116, 118 to keep the strips discreet. of tape 54 and 56 in place on plate 32.

By rotating the plate 32 and the side plate 50 with the base roller 4, the vacuum conduits 89 are connected to the vacuum chamber 71 to thereby provide vacuum to the plate 32 between the cutting station 58 and the transfer 59. When each of the plates rotates out of the arcuate path defining the vacuum chamber 71 between the plugs 79 and 79 ', the conduits 89 supplying vacuum to that plate are exposed to atmospheric pressure and the vacuum to the plate ends .

The plates 98 each contain vacuum conduits 83 connected to their outer surfaces 100. The vacuum conduits 85 in the side plate 50 connect the vacuum chamber 75 to the vacuum conduits 83 in the slip plates. By rotating the plates 98 with the side plate 50 on the base roller 4, the conduits 85 move through the vacuum chamber 75 and connect the vacuum to the conduits 86 in the slide plates 98. Since the chamber vacuum 75 comprises a relatively short part of the total circumference of the cover 72 in the area of the supply station 57 and of the cutting station 58, the vacuum is applied to the skid plates 98 only during the correspondingly short part of the movement total circular of the conduits 85. During the rest of the circular movement of the conduits 85, the conduits are open to the atmosphere. Therefore, even when the tapes 16 and 18 are on the plates 98 and moving towards the supply station 58, they are held relatively motionless on the slide plates by the vacuum from the conduits 83.

With reference to Figures IA, 2, and 3A, the cutter roll 6 is shown positioned between the side walls 3 and 5 of the frame 2 immediately above the base roll 4. The cutter roll 6 is supported on a rotating shaft 82 screwed into the bearings (not shown) on the walls 3 and 5. The shaft 82 has an end 88 that extends through the wall 3 on which a gear wheel 86 is mounted in contact with a gear wheel 80, which it is mounted on the shaft 104. A rotary drive source (not shown) is connected to the shaft 104. The rotary drive force is therefore provided to the cutter roller 6 by the shaft 104 through the gears 80, 86 and of the 82 axis.

The cutting roller 6 includes a cutting wheel 51 having the cutting blades 52 and 53 mounted thereon. The cutting wheel 51 is rotated in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure IA, bringing the blades 52 and 53 to contact, at the cutting station 58, with the tapes 16 and 18 and the outer surface 119 of the anvil 122 mounted on the plate 32. The discrete belt strips 54, 56 are therefore cut from the endless belt material 16 and 18 in the plate 32. As illustrated, each blade 52 or 53 preferably simultaneously cuts the two blades 16 and 18 during each movement through a cutter 58 to form the respective discrete length individual strips 54 and 56. Since the strips are cut on the anvil 122 which is mounted on the plate 32, any welding or other joining of the ends of the strips 54 and 56 to the anvil 122 as a result of the cutting impact does not cause the strips 54 and 56 to pull outwardly from the position laterally as the plate 32 rotates about the respective axis 112. After the cutting of the threads. 54, 56, the plate 32 carries the strips from the cutting station 58 to the transfer station 59.

The fabric supply 13, illustrated in Figure IA, includes a fabric supply roll 20, the support rolls 24 and 26 mounted on the frame 2, and the pull rolls 28 and 28 '. The rollers 28 and 28 'pull the fabric 22 to supply it through the transfer station 59 between the base roller 4 and the applicator 8 at a linear speed equal to that of the peripheral speed of the base roller 4 when applied to the grids 115. on the outer surfaces of the plates 32. The supply roll 20 and the fabric 22 move in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure IA. The fabric 22 is supported as it approaches the transfer station 59 by the support roller 24 and is held as it leaves the transfer station 59 and leaves the frame 2 for the support roller 26.

The applicator 8, illustrated in Figures IA, 2, and 3A, is positioned between the walls 3 and 5 of the frame 2 and is mounted on the rotating shaft 64. The shaft 64 is screwed into the bearings (not shown) on the walls. 3 and 5 and has one end 66 extending through the wall 3. A gear wheel 68 is fixed to the shaft 64 and is placed in contact with the gear wheel 80 mounted on the drive shaft 104. The connected drive source the shaft 104 therefore provides the rotational movement to the applicator 8 through the meshing wheels 80, 68 and the shaft 64. The rotation of the applicator 8 is in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. The applicator 8 includes a body 65 through which the shaft 64 passes and sticks with the members 60 and 61 comprising an elastic material such as rubber. The hit members 60 and 61 are rotated by the applicator 8 alternately in contact with the endless cloth 22 to press the fabric against the plates 32. Since the strips 54 and 56 have a coating of adhesive on their face sides out from the base roller 4 and thus outwardly from the fabric 22 in the station 59, compression of the fabric 22 against the plate causes "the strips 54 and 56 to be transferred from the plates and adhere to the sheet. due to the adhesive on the strips. The applicator 8 is shown in Figure 2 with its striker member 60 centered below a plate in the transfer station 59. In Figure 3A, the applicator 8 is shown to move outward from its striker member 60 of the transfer station. transfer 59 after the discrete strips 54 and 56 have been transferred to the sheet.

To summarize the operation of the apparatus described above, the endless stretches of the flexible material such as the belts 16 and 18 are fed continuously from the rolls 12 and 14 through the drive rollers 30 and 30 'in a non-extended condition and relatively relaxed in contact with the base roller 4. When engaging a segment of the tapes 16 and 18 with the base roller 4, these slide on a plate 98 and on a plate 32. The tapes are kept on the plate 98 preventing them from move laterally outwardly of a path in the direction of their supply movement to the base roller by the vacuum applied through the vacuum conduits 83 in the respective plate 98. As the ribbons move on the plate 32 in the supply station 57 , the vacuum of the notches 116, 118 in the plate 32 helps to keep the belts aligned with their delivery path. In the supply station 57 and in the cutting stations 58, the plate 32 is in its first orientation in which the plate body members 31A, 3IB are retracted toward each other, and the plate section, the grooves 120 and the notches 116A, 116B, 118A and 118B are aligned with the supply direction of the belts 16 and 18. The vacuum continues to be through the notches 116A, 116B, 118A and 118B to retain the cut strips 54 and 56. on the plate 32 while the plate rotates on the base wheel 4 about the axis 110 from the cutting station 58 to the transfer station 59.

As each plate with the base roller 4 moves to the cutting station 58, the cutting roller 6 rotates one of the blades 52 or 53 to make contact with and through the belts 16 and 18 and a contact with the anvil 122 to cut through both discrete strips of tape 54 and 56 of the continuous tapes 16 and 18.

By rotating the base roller 4, bringing the plate 32 out of the cutting station 58, the cam driver 37 begins to rotate the output assembly 126 to thereby apply the rotational force to the plate 32 through the pins 142. A partially rotated position of the plate is illustrated by the plate 32 in Figures 2 and 3A in the middle of the cutting station 58 and the transfer station 59. By continuing to rotate the base roller 4 towards the transfer station 59, the plate 32 also continues to rotate about the axis 112. By rotating the plate 32 about the axis 112, the cam followers 92 in the plate body members 31A, 31B follow the cam grooves 94 in the vacuum plate 78, thereby pushing the plate body members 31A, 31B outwardly from each other to the position extended shown in Figure 4A. As the plate body members 31A and 3IB are extended outwardly from one another while "the vacuum holds the strips 54 and 56 on the outer surface of the body members 31A, 3IB, the strips 54, and 56 are stretched. , activating the restorative elastic forces in strips 54 and 56.

When the plate 32 arrives at the transfer station 59, the cam driver 37 has rotated the plate 32 to its second orientation in which the plate body members have a position at a transverse angle of 90 degrees to the direction of movement of the fabric 22. Therefore, the strips 54, 56 have been rotated by the rotation of the plate 32 about the axis 112 and have been stretched by the combined action of the cam 92 and the cam follower 94 extending the plate body members. 31A and 31B outwardly from each other, prior to the transfer of the strips to the endless fabric 22. In the rotated and stretched condition, the strips are then transferred to the web 22 at the transfer station.

Due to the compression of the strips 54 and 56 against the fabric 22 caused by the contact of the fabric 22 by one of the striking members 60 and 61 of the applicator 8, the strips are adhered and transferred to the fabric. The transfer of the strips 54 and 56 to the fabric 22 is facilitated by the removal of the vacuum previously applied to the strips 54 and 56 through the notches 116A, 116B, 118A and 118B. Such a vacuum is terminated in the transfer station 59 upon reaching the respective vacuum conduits the end of the vacuum chamber in the plug 79 '.

After the strips 54 and 56 have been transferred to the endless cloth 22, the respective plate 32 moves from the transfer station 59 to the supply station 57. During such movement, the cam driver 37 applies the rotational force to the plate 32 through the force transfer apparatus 140 in a reverse direction to that of the force applied to the moved plate of the cutting station 58 to the transfer station 59. The plate 32 is therefore rotated, before reaching the supply station 57, back to its first orientation in which the vacuum grooves 116A, 116B, 118A and 118B and the grooves 120 are aligned with the supply path of the continuous belts 16 and 18. In this reverse rotation, the plate body members 31A, 3IB are retracted towards each other to the retracted position shown in Figure 4 by continuing the cam followers 92 following the cam slots 94 during the rotation of the plate n with respect to the corresponding vacuum plate 78.

Where the composite of the endless fabric 22 and of the strips 54, 56 will be used to make a disposable garment, after the endless fabric 22 leaves the transfer station 59, it can be cut through its full width at along the dotted lines 96 shown in Figure 10. This cutting operation produces separate stretches 97 for use in a disposable garment such as a disposable diaper. The ends of the sections 97 where the strips 54 and 56 are located, can finally become the front and back waist areas of the disposable garment. In such a configuration, a single strip of material can be stretched and applied according to the present invention and then subsequently used along the dotted lines 96 shown in Figure 10 to provide the strips 54 and 56. The fabric 22 in this Use of the apparatus may preferably include a layer of material such as a polyethylene film.

A transverse angle of 90 degrees of rotation about the axis 112 is preferred where the fabric 22 is to be used in the manufacture of disposable garments and the straps 54 and 56 will provide elastic properties in the waist areas of the garments. However, if it is desired to carry and transfer other types of materials using the apparatus of the invention, the transverse position of such materials in relation to their position when initially received on the plate or in relation to the direction of movement of the surface receiver on which these are transferred (for example fabric 22) may be at an angle other than 90 degrees. Therefore, the meaning of the term "transverse" as used in this context means any orientation of the rotated strip which is an angle relative to the position of the strip before its rotation about the axis 112. The angle of rotation is controlled of course by the structure of the notches 130 in the cam cylinder 128.

Even though the invention has been described in terms of rotating the strips 54, 56 no special significance is attributed to the dimensional placement of the elements being transferred. Thus, the term "strip" is illustrative only so that stretchable articles of a wide variety of lengths and widths, and of regular and irregular shapes, can be rotated, stretched and transferred using the apparatus as defined herein, subjecting only the routine modification to accommodate the respective placement of the items that are being transferred.

The apparatus and methods have been described in which a workpiece can be moved in a first working display on a rotating extendable plate mounted on a base roller by rotating around a first axis 110. The article is maintained on a plate by means of of vacuum while the plate rotates about a second axis 112 in combination with the outer surface of the base roller to which the plate is mounted «being rotated about the first axis. By rotating the plate about the shaft 112 with the workpiece held on the outer surface of the plate, the plate body members on which the workpiece is held move outward from each other to an extended configuration of the members. plate body members, thereby stretching the work piece in the machine direction of the workpiece as defined by the tapes 16 and 18 when received on the plate. The workpiece is therefore stretched, and rotated the moment it reaches a second workstation, such as a transfer station, where the workpiece is transferred onto the fabric or other receiving surface.

Where it is desired to transfer an endless section of material to the plate and cut discrete pieces of the material to be carried and transferred by the plate, an anvil is provided on the plate as part of the cutting means for cutting discrete pieces of the material on the plate. The discrete parts are held, rotated and stretched by the plate as it moves over the outer surface of the base roller to the transfer station.

The apparatus of the invention can be used to rotate and stretch one or multiple strips of material simultaneously and apply them to a fabric / receiving surface. Accordingly, two such strips are included in the illustrated embodiment, one adjacent to the other in a position transverse to the direction of movement of a fabric. A single strip or more than two strips, indeed several strips, may be used with the apparatus of the invention as well. In the manufacture of a garment such as a disposable diaper of the sheet, the ability to place two strips of elastic material on the sheet parallel and close to one another allows a simultaneous placement of elastics in the front and back waist areas of stretches of diaper contiguous.

The rotary impeller for the plate, such as the cam driver, is fully mounted and rotates on the rotating base roller. Therefore, there is no need to have part of the impeller extending from the roller and making contact with any stationary mechanism such as a stationary cam or a cam surface. The mounting of the cam driver completely on the rotating base roller eliminates the exposure of the material being handled by the roller apparatus in such drives.

Those of skill in the art will now see that various modifications to the apparatus and methods described herein can be made with respect to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. And even though the invention has been described above with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is adapted to numerous rearrangements, modifications and alterations all these rearrangements, modifications and alterations are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (26)

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N S

1. An apparatus for applying to a fabric of a first material, moving in a first direction, at least one discrete strip of a second material stretched in the machine direction of the second material, said apparatus comprises: (a) a base roller rotating about an axis; (b) a supply apparatus that provides the second material at a circumferential contact with said base roller; (c) at least one extendable plate placed on the base roller, rotating with said base roller about the axis, said delivery apparatus delivers the at least one discrete strip of the second material to said at least one extendable plate, said per at least one extendable plate holds the at least one discrete strip of the second material there, and extends from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration while rotating with the base roller about the axis, thereby stretching the at least one discrete strip of the second material from a first retracted condition to a second stretched condition; and (d) a transfer apparatus for transferring the at least one discrete strip of the second material, in the stretched condition, from the base roller to the fabric.

2. An apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized in that it includes the first retaining means for retaining the at least one discrete strip of the second material on the extendable plate until the at least one discrete strip of the second material is transferred to the fabric

3. An apparatus as claimed in clause 2 characterized in that it includes < second retaining means for retaining a section of the second material in circumferential contact with said base roller before "the section of material is placed and retained on said extendable plate.

4. An apparatus as claimed in clause 2 characterized in that said first retention means comprise a vacuum apparatus for providing a vacuum to a circumferential part of said base roller, and therefore to the plate extending in the respective circumferential part.

5. An apparatus as claimed in clause 4 characterized in that said extendable plate comprises a plate base mounted on a vacuum plate, the first and second opposed plate body members mounted for a sliding contact with respect to said plate base from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, said first and second plate body members further comprise the respective first and second receiving receptor surfaces for receiving the at least one discrete strip of the second material on the combination of said plate body members first and second, and vacuum communication conduits that communicate the vacuum from a vacuum source through said vacuum plate, and therefore through the plate base, to the first and second plate body members in the first and second receiving surfaces.

6. An apparatus as claimed in clause 2 characterized in that said extendable plate comprises a base plate, and the first and second opposed plate body members mounted for a sliding contact with respect to the base plate from the retracted configuration to the base plate. the extended configuration while holding the respective first and second portions of the at least one discrete strip of the second material in the respective first and second plate body members and thereby stretching the at least one discrete strip of the second material in the machine direction of the discrete strip as the plate body members move from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration.

7. An apparatus as claimed in clause 4 characterized in that the extendable plate comprises a plate base, the first and second opposite plate body members mounted for a sliding contact with respect to said plate base from the configuration retracted to the plate. extended configuration, said plate body members first and it <Furthermore, they comprise the respective first and second receiving receptor surfaces for receiving the at least one discrete strip of the second material on the combination of said first and second plate body members, the vacuum communication conduits communicating the vacuum from a source Vacuum through said plate base to said first and second plate body members in said first and second receiving surfaces, so that the first and second plate body members maintain the respective first and second portions of said plate body. at least one discrete strip of the second material on the respective first and second plate receiving surfaces with vacuum and therefore stretch the at least one discrete strip of the second material in the direction of the magneus of the discrete strip as the body members move of the conficjuration plate retracted to the extended configuration.

8. An apparatus as claimed in clause 1 characterized by said supply apparatus comprising the supply apparatus for providing a continuous section of the second material, a supply roll for supplying the second material circumferentially to said base roller, and a cutter for Cut the continuous section of the second material in discrete strips.

9. An apparatus as claimed in clause 5 characterized in that said apparatus comprises means for maintaining said first and second plate body members in the retracted configuration until the at least one discrete strip of the second material is received on the receiving surfaces first and second, means for extending said first and second plate body members from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, means for maintaining said first and second plate body members in the extended configuration until at least one strip Discrete of the second material is transferred to the fabric, and means for returning the first and second plate body members to the retracted configuration.

10. An apparatus as claimed in clause 4 characterized by said vacuum apparatus further comprises control means controlling the application and removal of the vacuum to and from the circumferential part of the base roller.

11. An apparatus for applying to a fabric of a first material, moving in a first direction, at least one discrete strip of a second material stretched in the machine direction of the second material, said apparatus comprises: (a) a rotating base roller about a first axis; (b) a supply apparatus feeding the second material to a circumferential contact with said base roller; (c) at least one rotatable extendable plate placed on the base roller, a second axis extending from the first axis and passing through said at least one rotatable extendable plate, said at least one rotatable extendable plate rotates with said base roller around the first axis, said supply apparatus delivers at least one discrete strip of the second material to the at least one rotatable extendable plate, said at least one rotatable extendable plate supports the at least one discrete strip of the second material therein, and extends from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration and rotates about the second axis of a first orientation to a second orientation while rotating with said base roller about the first axis, thereby stretching the at least one discrete strip of the second material from a first retracted condition to a second stretched condition and correspondingly rotating the at least one discrete strip of the second material to the second orientation; Y (d) the transfer apparatus for transferring the at least one discrete strip of the second material, in the condition stretched and rotated from the base roller to the fabric.

12. An apparatus as claimed in clause 11 characterized in that it includes the first retaining means for retaining the at least one discrete strip of the second material on the rotatable extendable plate until the at least one discrete strip of the second material is transferred to the cloth.

13. An apparatus as claimed in clause 12 characterized in that it includes the second retention means for retaining a section of the second material in circumferential contact with the base roller before the section of material is placed and retained on the respective rotating extendable plate .

14. An apparatus as claimed in clause 12 characterized in that said first retention means comprise a vacuum apparatus for providing a vacuum to a circumferential part of said base roller, and therefore to said rotatable extendable plate in the respective circumferential part.

15. An apparatus as claimed in clause 14 characterized in that said rotatable extendable plate comprises a plate base mounted on a vacuum plate, the first and second opposed plate body members mounted for a sliding contact with respect to said base plate from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, said first and second plate body members further comprise the respective first and second receiving receptor surfaces for receiving the at least one discrete strip of the second material on the combination of said body members. first and second plate, and the vacuum communication conduits communicating the vacuum from a vacuum source through said vacuum plate, and therefore through the plate base, to said first and second plate body members in said first and second receiving surfaces.

16. An apparatus as claimed in clause 12 characterized in that said rotatable extendable plate comprises a base plate, and the first and second opposed plate body members mounted for a sliding contact with respect to said base plate, from the configuration retracted to the extended configuration while retaining the respective first and second portions of the at least one discrete strip of the second material in the respective first and second plate body members and thereby stretching the at least one discrete strip of the second material in the machine direction of the discrete strip as the plate body members move from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration.

17. An apparatus as claimed in clause 14 characterized in that the rotatable extendable plate comprises a plate base, the first and second opposed plate body members mounted for a sliding contact with respect to said plate base from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, said first and second plate body members further comprise the respective first and second receiving receptor surfaces for receiving the at least one discrete strip of the second material on the combination of the first and second plate body members, Vacuum communication conduits communicating the vacuum from a vacuum source through said plate base to said first and second plate body members in said first and second receiving surfaces, so that the first and second plate body members. second hold the respective first and second parts of the at least one discrete strip of the second material in the respective first and second plate receiving surfaces with vacuum and thus stretching the at least one discrete strip of the second material in the machine direction of the discrete strip as the plate body members of the configuration move retracted to the extended configuration.

18. An apparatus as claimed in clause 11 characterized by said supply apparatus comprising a supply apparatus for providing a continuous section of the second material, a supply roll for providing the second material circumferentially to said base roller, and a cutter for Cut the continuous length of the second material into discrete strips.

19. An apparatus as claimed in clause 15 characterized in that said apparatus comprises means for maintaining said first and second plate body members in the retracted configuration and in the first orientation until the at least one discrete strip of the second material is receives on the first and second receiving surfaces, the means for extending said first and second plate body members from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration and rotating the plate body members first and moving from the first orientation to the first. second orientation, means for maintaining said first and second plate body members in the extended configuration in the second orientation until the at least one discrete strip of the second material is transferred to the fabric, and means for returning the body members of first and second plate to the configuration retracted in the first orientation.

20. An apparatus as claimed in clause 14 characterized by the vacuum apparatus further comprising control means controlling the application and removal of vacuum to and from the circumferential portion of the base roller.

21. An apparatus as claimed in clause 11 characterized in that the rotatable extendable plate is in surface-to-surface contact with a vacuum plate, said rotatable extendable plate comprises a plate base including a guide member, the body members first and second opposing plate including the first and second notches in said plate body members, said guide member receiving and thereby mounting said plate body members in the plate base for a sliding contact therewith, said plate of vacuum and said plate body members comprise the first and second cam surfaces and the respective first and second cam followers engaged therewith, effecting the extension of said first and second plate body members outwardly from each other with the rotation of the plate around the second axis, including the rotation of the first and second plate body members.

22. A method for applying a fabric of a first material, moving in a first direction, a discrete strip of a second material stretched in the direction of the machine of the second material, the method comprises the steps of: (a) rotating a base roller about a first axis; (b) feeding the second material in circumferential contact with the base roller, and on a rotating extendable plate placed on the base roller and rotating with the base roller about the axis, and thereby delivering the second material to the plate as a discrete strip; (c) holding the discrete strip of the second material on the plate; (d) While holding the discrete strip of the second material in the plate, spin the plate, with the base roller around the first axis and transmit the driving force to the plate and therefore (i) spin the plate with with respect to a second axis extending from the first axis and passing through the plate (ii) and extending the plate from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration, thereby transposing the discrete strip of the second material of a first retracted condition into a first direction of orientation with respect to the second axis to a second condition stretched in a second direction of orientation with respect to the second axis; Y (e) transferring the discrete strip of the second material, in the condition stretched and rotated from the base roller to the fabric.

23. A method as claimed in clause 22 characterized by including includes retaining the discrete strip of the second material on the rotatable extendable plate that the discrete strip of the second material is transferred to the fabric.

13. A method as claimed in clause 22 characterized in that the rotatable extendable plate comprises a plate base mounted on a vacuum plate, the first and second opposed plate body members mounted for a sliding contact with respect to the base of the plate. plate from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, the first and second plate body members further comprise the respective first and second receiving surfaces for receiving the discrete strip of the second material on the combination of the first and second plate body members, and the vacuum communication conduits communicating said vacuum from a vacuum source through the vacuum plate, and therefore through the plate base, to the first and second receiving surfaces, the method includes receiving the discrete strip of the second material on the first and second receiving surfaces, and holding the strip on the receiving surfaces As the receiving surfaces rotate, and therefore the discrete strip, rotate about the second axis and slide the plate body members first and move with respect to the plate base and therefore stretch the discrete strip in the direction of the machine of the discrete strip as the plate body members move from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration.

25. A method as claimed in clause 22 characterized in that the rotatable extendable plate comprises a plate base, the first and second opposed plate body members mounted for a sliding contact with respect to the plate base from the retracted configuration to the plate base. the extended configuration, the first and second plate body members further comprise the respective first and second receiving receptor surfaces for receiving the discrete strip of the second material on the combination of the plate body members first and second, the method includes maintaining the respective first and second portions of the discrete strip of the second material on the respective first and second plate receiving surfaces with vacuum and thereby stretching the discrete strip of the second material in the direction of the magneto of the discrete strip upon moving the plate body members from the configuration retracted to the configuration exten dida

26. A method as claimed in clause 22 characterized by the rotatable extendable plate comprises the first and second opposed plate body members mounted for a sliding contact of the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, the first and second plate body members. second comprise the respective first and second receiving receptor surfaces for receiving the discrete strip on the combination of the first and second plate body members, the method includes maintaining the first and second plate body members in the retracted configuration and in the first orientation until the discrete strip of the second material is received on the first and second receiving surfaces, the first and second plate body members of the retracted configuration extending to the extended configuration and rotating the first and second plate body members the first orientation to the second orientation, m facing the first and second plate body members in the extended configuration in the second orientation until the discrete strip of the second material is transferred to the fabric, and the first and second plate body members return to the retracted configuration in the first orientation. SUMMARY An apparatus including a rotary base roller for applying at least one drawn strip of a first material to a base fabric comprising a second material and continuously moving to a first direction. The discrete length strip is cut, on the rotating roller, from a continuous belt is rotated on the base roller to a desired orientation, and stretched to a desired length. The apparatus includes the rotating roller supply apparatus for feeding the continuous belt to a circumferential contact with the rotating roller, a cutter for cutting the strips of discrete length of the continuous belt, at least one rotatable extendable plate mounted on and rotating with the rotating roller and an applicator rotating in concert with the rotating base roller to apply the strips cut, rotated and stretched to the base fabric.