US2018867A - Device for using heat plastic binder tape with rotary folders - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29, 1935. P. L. ODONNELL I DEVICE FOR USING HEAT PLASTIC BINDER TAPE WITH ROTARY FOLDERS Filed May 15, 1929 F/ziZ O Donnell Patented Oct. 29, 1935 PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR USING HEAT PLASTIC BINDER TAPE WITH ROTARY FOLDERS Philip L. ODonnell, Norwood, Ohio Application May 15, 1929, Serial No. 363,236

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to edge taping ortape folding machines commonly known as 'rotary folders which are used for folding a previously sewed tape about the cut edges of leather articles such as shoe uppers. The invention has for its principal object the provision of simple means for use with rotary folders so as to adapt them to the use of heat plastic adhesive tape to the end that such machines may be operated in a more cleanly fashion to avoid soiling and the necessity for subsequent cleaning of work performed thereby and also to enable such machines to operate with greater effectiveness.

Another object is to provide a method of operation to apply preheated heat plastic binding tape to material by means of a cold or non-heated folding machine.

Another object is to provide an effective localized heat applicator for machines of this and kindred types.

These and other objects are attained by the means and method described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental elevational view of a rotary folder having embodied therein one form of the device of the invention.

Fig, 2 is .a longitudinal section of a heater of the preferred form of this invention.

Heretofore the binding of cut edges of leather such as shoe uppers was efiected by sewing a longitudinal edge of a tape closely adjacent the edge of the material to be bound, then applying a liquid adhesive to the tape and folding it over the cut edge and adhesively securing it to the reverse face of the leather. The folding operation was performed by a rotary folder. In such practice the folding mechanism of the machine and the work guides thereof were greatly soiled with the cement which was transferred thereby to the work so that much of the work had to be cleaned. The mechanism of the folding machine employed herein is substantiallythe same as that heretofore used but with the provision of an added element which applies heat to the tape at the proper moment so that the tape does not become tacky until it is ready to be folded on to the face to which it must adhere.

Since the tape must be sewed to the leather before the folding or turning operation of the machine takes place, the several problems resulting from the relation of materials have-not been capable of the same solutions used in machines which apply tape adhesively to the leather without the preliminary sewing.

The present invention, however, has rendered the rotary folder adaptable to use with the socalled heat plastic adhesive tape by the provision of means hereinafter described in detail.

The structure and operation of the rotary folder is generally understood by those skilled in 5 the art so that, for the purposes of a clear understanding of the present invention, only a few structural details need be mentioned. Referring to Fig. 1, a suitable base and frame 6 carries a. power driven rotor I which has overlapping and 10 oppositely driven disks 8 disposed around its periphery. The disks exert a wiping action angularly across the relatively wide face of a driven roller 9. The roller has an upstanding shoulder or rib H). A guide block II has an angle way I2 15 provided therein extending tothe face of the roller 9 at the rib ID. A yieldingly mounted guide wheel 13 angularly contacts the roller immediately adjacent the edge of the guide block and cooperates with the rib H] ,as well, so that 20 when work with tape sewed thereto is entered between the guide and roll and the wheel I3, the action of the parts will be that of folding the tape around the edge of the material to which it is sewed and pressing it on to the work with a wiping and smoothing action. The tape is held in a substantially upright position against the vertical face of the guide block while the leather or work to which it is attached is directed along the sloping face of the guide block on to the roller 9 where the disks perform the folding operation.

. In carrying out the invention means are provided and so positioned relative to the usual operating parts of the machine as to soften the heat plastic adhesive on the tape just prior to the folding of the tape around the edge of the work as it is being fed to the machine, so that properly preheated tape on the work is fed to an unheated or cold machine.

The preferred form of heating the heat plastic 40 adhesive tape as it is being fed with the work into the folder will be best understood by the reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. This form of heater consists broadly of a tube or pipe M for connection with a source of air under pres- 45 sure (not shown), which is connected with a suitable heating cylinder l5 through which compressed air passes and is heated for discharge through a hot air tube l6. The tube IS in the present invention extends upwardly to a point above the rotor 1, then forwardly through a tube section I! and thence downwardly across the front of the rotor in a tube section I8 which terminates in a suitable restricted aperture l9 which may be conveniently provided by flattening the 68 discharge end of tube section l8 so that it will discharge a fiat ribbon-like blast of hot air. The discharge tube comprising portions l6, l1, and I8 may be of bendable metal so that the discharge end thereof may be adjusted to direct a stream of hot air to exactly the desired point. The section i8 may be held against accidental displacement by any suitable means such as a support bracket 20 suitably secured to the frame 6 of the machine. The heating cylinder H) has at its rear end a removable cap 2| into which the supply pipe l4 extends. This cap likewise has perforations 22 for receiving the conductors 23 which carry a supply of electricity to a cartridge type heating element 24. The element 24 is supported concentrically of the interior of the cylinder l5 by any suitable means, preferably by set screws 25. The forward end of the cylinder I5 is tapered as at 26 and discharges into the end of tube I6 which is screw threaded into it. A suitable metallic guard or enclosure indicated generally at 21 supports the forward and rear ends of the cylinder IS, the supply pipe I4 being threaded into the cap and extending through the wall of the guard 27 to support the rear end while a practically similar construction supports the front end. A dead air insulating space is pro- ,vided surrounding the cylinder l5 by enclosing said cylinder in a rectangular casing having walls I50. The housing 21 has a suitable metallic screen 28 forming the major portions of its walls to allow escape of heat radiated from the heating zone l5 and to prevent accidental contact of the hand of an operator with the casing. The guard housing 21 has an angle bracket 29 at its one end which receives a suitable screw or the like in a perforation 30 for mounting the entire heating structure.

7 While an electricair heater is shown, it will be'understood that this is a preferred form principally because an electric heating element can be selected to give off a uniform heat without necessity for adjustment. It will be readily understood bythose versed in the art, however, that a flame heated coil in the air supply pipe may be substituted for the heating cylinder and resistance unit. The aperture l9 may be positioned so as to direct the heat on to the coated face of the tape in such wise as to substantially avoid heating of the folding elements of the machine, and when positioned as shown, namely between the guide wheel I2 and the plane of the discs, the

tape, sewed to the work will remain cold and non-tacky until it reaches a place where the operators fingers will never reach. The heat plastic adhesive requires but a small amount of heat to render it tacky and, by the very nature of its preapplication to the tape, will not flow on to the work and adjoining parts of the machine as does applied liquid cement. Thus all opportunity for soiling and smudging both machine parts and the work is obviated.

The operation of the device is as follows: A length of prepared tape is sewed to the outer face of a shoe upper, or the like, with the edge of the work and the tape practically coincident, the tape extending over the outer face of the leather. The exposed face of the tape in this position is the one carrying the dry, non-tacky heat plastic adhesive. The cartridge type heating element is connected with a suitable source of electricity and compressed air is directed through pipe l4 into the cylinder l5 where it passes around all sides of the surface of the heating element where it becomes. heated to the proper temperature and is then directed through the pipes l6, l1, and I8 to the machine immediately adjacent the discs 8 and the guide block II. The outer face of the leather is then passed over the sloping face of the guide block and on to the face of roller 9. The 6 tape is caused to turn upon itself and stand substantially vertically against the vertical face of the guide block. The work is entered by lowering the guide block and raising the guide wheel and its associated parts l2, both of which are 10 yieldingly held in positions shown. With the leather between the guide block and guide wheel and with the several parts rotating as shown by the arrows, the leather is fed across roller 9 and all parts of a marginal edge portion are submit- 15 ted to a wiping and smoothing action of the successive discs 8. The adhesive substance is on the face of the tape extending toward the left end looking at the device as in Fig. 1. The localized heat blast form nozzle l9 renders the 20 adhesive tacky just prior to the folding of the tape over on to the reverse or upper face of the work so that immediately thereafter the tacky face is smoothed and pressed on to the reverse face of the leather. As is well understood by 25 those conversant with machines of this type, the immediate edge portion of the tape and leather rides along the right hand side or rib In so that no compression takes place directly upon the stitched portion, that portion being free to per- 0 mit the tape to be pressed and wiped smoothly and uniformly.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a rotary folder comprising a roller, a guide block, a guide wheel cooperat- 35 ing with the block and roller, folding discs cooperating with the roller, and means for applying localized heat to material as it passes over the guide block to the roller and folding discs.

2. In combination a rotary folder mechanism 40. comprising a guide, a roller and foldingv discs operating over the roller, a hot air tube having a discharge end adjacent said guide and means for supplying hot air under pressure to said tube.

3. In combination a rotary folding machine 46 operative to operate upon material having tape secured at its edge, and means for directing hot air under pressure to such tape at a point immediately adjacent the folding mechanism of said machine.

4. In a rotary folding machine the combination of cooperative folding means, a guide wheel and a guide block for directing the edge of a piece of material with tape secured to the edge thereof to said folding means and means for applying 55. heat to said tape as it passes over said guide block.

5. In a French folding machine the combination of a work supporting roller, a work retaining roller cooperating therewith, a series of rotary 0 discs operating in succession for folding an edge of the work and means to direct a heated gaseous blast to a point immediately adjacent the work retaining roller and said discs.

6. In a machine for folding the edge of a heat 05- plastic binding strip stitched to a piece of material, the combination of a rotatable work support, having a peripheral rib, a driven presser roll moving relative to said work support. folding means carried by said presser roll for operation 70 on the binding strip and means directing a heated gaseous blast to the strip immediately adjacent the point of operation thereon by the folding means.

7. In a machine for folding the edge of a; heat 7.5.

a. heated gaseous blast to the strip whereby the guide means and the presser roll and the machine elements remain practically unheated.

PHILIP L. O'DONNEIL.

strip is rendered tacky as it passes between the

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