US2315804A - Regenerated cellulose tubing and method for making the same - Google Patents

Description

April 1943- P. D. MASSOLINE 2,315,804

REGENERAT ED CELLULOS E TUBING, AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME Filed Aug. 9, 1941 INVENTOR PETE/E 0. M75500:

ATTORNEYS t Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PAT EN ornca asomaa-rsn'f omunosn 'ruanvo AND ms rnon roa sumo rna samn Peter D. Massoline, Jersey our, N. 1.

Application August 9,1941, Serial No. man? scum. (Cl.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in decorative regenerated cellulose tubing. as for example "Cellophane" tubing, and

an improved method for making the same.

It is to be .understood whenever. in describing and claiming the present invention, the word "tubing" -is used herein it is not to be read'in the commonly accepted sense thereof but is meant to indicate the. product resulting. from twisting or curling each'of-the side edges of a length of regenerated cellulose tap'e until the rolled edges meet.

"Cellophane tubing is employed in many and varied decorative schemesand in the manufac- .ture of ornamental novelties such for example as Christmas wreaths, miniature Christmas trees, as a background for food displays, as a packing medium in gift boxes and the like. Heretofore.

plain smooth surface unscored "Cellophane tubing has been employed for such purposes.

The principal object of the present invention is to produce "Cellophane? tubing having an irregularly crimped surface which is highly ornamental and decorative and whose light reflecting properties are superior to that of plain smooth surface tubing. vided which in forming the tubing-produces permanent, irregular, obliquely disposed crimping or scoring along the length thereof, resultingin the attainment of a tubing with a novel and striking surface having unique light reflecting To this end a method is proproperties similar to the light reflection given by the facets of a diamond.

In the annexed drawing of a bodiment of the invention: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete apparatus employed in making the improved decorative regenerated cellulose tubing of the prespreferred ement invention;

Fig. 2 is a'sectional view showing in detail the forming and crimping device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the small end of the forming and crimping device of Fig. 2,

showing the front end of its crimping flange;

Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of two forms which a length of the novel, crease-marked tubing may take; and s Fig. 6 illustrates the appearance of a section of the finished tubing of Fig. 4 unrolled and returned to substantially its initial ribbon form to show the irregular scoring or crimping.

In general, the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is.

a modified conventional tubing machine such as is employed in the manufacture of cloth tub-f ing for artificial flower stems and the like and it feeder reels '2 rotatably mounted in spaced relationship upon a common shaft 6, a plurality of guide pins 3, aheated die 4 havinga plurality of equidistant, transverse, funnel-like, openings ll therethrough, in each of which is located one of the conical forming and crimping devices 8, a source of heat for die 4 such as a gas flame I land a drum I to receive the. finished tubing,-all supported on a base -I and having appropriate drum driving mechanism, not shown, such as an electric motor, adapted to slowly rotate the winding drum. If desired, the feeder reels 2 may, ofcourse, be supported on a base separate from that supp rting the rest of the apparatus.

In the method of the present invention, the free end I of each of the Ce1lophane ribbon reels 2 is drawn between a'pair of guide pins 3 into one 'of novel, heated, conical-shaped. i'ormh ing and crimpingdevices 8 shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 8 and which hereinafter will be referred to.asacrimper.

Thelarge end'of crimper 8 is provided with *a hooked portion 8 adapted to slide over and enjust sufilcient space between its loweredge and the lower-inner surface of the crimper to snugly receive therebetween the particular thickness of "Cellophane tape or ribbon which is being fabricated into tubing.

As will be evident from examination of Figs. 2 and 3, the horizontal distance between either side of flange l2 and the adjacent inner surface of crimper 8 gradually decreases as the small or apex end of the crimper is approached.

'Now,'as the flat Cellophane" ribbon I is drawnthrough heated crimper 8 by the finished tubing to which it is attached (and which itself is being slowly wound on the rotating drum IS) the gradually decreasing diameter of the inside of the crimper causes each of the side edges of the ribbon to continuously curl or twist upwardly against the inside of the'crimper wall and then downwardly against the side of the flange l 2 (as shown in Fig. 3) until the full width of the initially flat ribbon or tape has been accommodated in the confined spaces on either side of the flange I! by comprises a plurality of Cellophane ribbon the twisting or curling action. As a result, a more or less tubular form is acquired by the tape.

As the tape is drawn past that portion of heated ilange H which is adjacent the small or apex end of crimper 8, the friction therebetween, while not great enough to cut the tape or ribbon or to cause it to break from the finished tubing being wound on the drum 5, is suillcient to cause a surface strain along the length oi the ribbon at the line of contact with heated flange I2 resulting in the formation, oi irregular crease markings or crimping I 4 extending diagonally, out from and v on either side of said line of contact. These irregular striations or crimps H are shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. a

After the tubing has emerged from the small end of crimper 8, it is pulled through the smaller diametered end I 5 of heated die 4 where it is further decreased in diameter and where the action of the heat eliminates any tendency which the tubing might have to unroll and spring back to its initial ribbon form. -;Subsequent exposure to the .air as it emerges from heated die 4 permanently sets or fixes the form and surface markings which the tubing has acquired in passing through crimpers I and die I I.

2. Decorative tubing comprising regenerated cellulose tape having its edges curled until the rolled edgesmeet'and having its surface. pennanently, irregularly diagonally crimped.

' 3. The method of manufacturing decorative crimped tubing from a length of regenerative cellulose tape which comprises. simultaneously curling in the presence of heat, each or the edges of said tape until said curled edges meetwhile producing a continuous lengthwise strain along and within the central area of said tape of such a nature that the surface of said tape acquires permane'nt irregular and oppositely disposed diagonal crimps', and then permitting said tubing to cool. v

PE'I'ER' D. MASSOLINE.

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