US2955730A

US2955730A - Buckle threading apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2955730A
Application number: US781069A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund G Sonntag; Fenn Benjamin; Karl F Sonntag
Original assignee: Scovill Inc
Current assignee: Scovill Inc
Priority date: 1958-12-17
Filing date: 1958-12-17
Publication date: 1960-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1977-10-11
Also published as: GB852269A

Description

5.0. SONNTAG ETAL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Oct. 11', 1960 Filed Dec. 17, 1958 13 sheets-sheet 2 FIG. 2

Oct. 11, 1960 E. G. SONNTAG ET AL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIGJB an w 664 Oct. 11, 1960 SONNTAG ETAL BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 2O

INVENTORS Edmund & 62/7/71 2 Oct. 11, 1960 E. ca. SQNNTAG ETAL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 94 M E K4! INVENTORS Oct. 11, 1960 E. G. SQNNTAG ET AL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1'7, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS ATTOR/VIXS Oct. 11, 1960 E. G. SONNTAG ETAL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 17, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 FIG.24

2 w W 8 Q 4&4 M. wnmw m l 4 l I v #2 w l l. iLirul 44 U 5 IO 7 IHI 2 a m [1. F W

Oct. 11, 1960 E. G. SONNTAG ETAL 2,955,730

BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 1'7, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 FIG.3O

Edmund BUCKLE THREADING APPARATUS Edmund G. Sonntag and Benjamin Fenn, Waterbury, and

Karl F. Sonntag, Watertown, Conn., assignors to Seovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 781,069

28 Claims. (Cl. 223-49) The present invention relates to apparatus for automatically inserting or threading straps or tapes through the apertures in buckles or similar articles.

The buckle threading apparatus of the present application is related to and is an improvement of the buckle threading apparatus described in Patent No. 2,848,147, assigned to the assignee of the present application. In said patent, there is described and claimed an apparatus for the automatic assembly of straps and buckles, wherein the buckles are automatically supplied from a feeding station and transferred to a threading station at which they are retained while the tape or strap is threaded therethrough, the threaded buckles being ejected from the threading station as the succeeding buckles arrive thereat from the feeding station.

An object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus of a generally improved type providing greater compactness and efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide abuckle threading apparatus having an improved buckle discharge mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus having improved means for supporting a buckle during the threading thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus having gripping jaw members which withdraw tape from a supply thereof and which provide means for clamping the tape during the threading of said tape through the buckles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus with gripping jaws having improved operating mechanisms therefor and including means for adjusting the movement and position of the gripper jaws to vary the length of tape withdrawn from a supply thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus having improved means for opening and closing the gripper jaw members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus having improved means for transferring the buckles from a feed station to a threading station and for adjusting the position of the buckle at the threading station.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus having a looper mechanism for withdrawing a predetermined length of tape from a supply thereof and the provision of means for varying the length of said withdrawn tape.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus having improved means for releasably securing, for ready removal, a threader member from a support for said member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus having an improved guide mechanism for a tape feed device.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a buckle threading apparatus having one main drive shaft on which all the actuating cams for the areas Patented Oct. 11,1960

ice

ently contemplated of carrying out the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a buckle threading apparatus pursuant to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the buckle threading appar-atus illustrated in Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6A is a fragmentary vertical view, of a portion of Fig. 6, showing the position of a buckle as it is transferred from the feed station to the threading station;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6A;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;-

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, on an'enlarged scale, taken along the line 10-10 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fregrnentary detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 12-12 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view on scale, taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view, with parts broken away, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 15-15 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 16 is a plan view, partly in section with portions cut away, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 1616 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 17 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 1717 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 18-18 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a partial vertical sectional view, taken along the line 19-19 of Fig. 16;

' Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 and illustrates a subsequent position of the parts of the mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 19 and shows the position of the parts of the mechanism during the second threading operation;

Fig. 22 is a partial sectional view, with parts broken away, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 22-22 of Fig. 2;

an enlarged Fig. 23 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 23-23 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a view, similar to Fig. 22, showing the third threader in a subsequent position of operation, and showing the discharge bin for the threaded buckles;

Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig. 24, showing the parts of the mechanism in a subsequent position and the buckle being discharged from the apparatus;

Fig. 26 is a partial vertical sectional view, with parts cut away, taken along the line 2626 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 27 is a partial vertical view, partly in section, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 27-27 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 28-34, inclusive, are partial views, similar to Fig. 27 and partly in section, illustrating various steps in the buckle threading operation;

Fig. 35 is a plan view, partly in section, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 3535 of Fig. 33, showing a subsequent position in the threading operation;

Fig. 36 is a view similar to Fig. 35 and illustrates the apparatus in a subsequent position wherein the threaded buckle is being discharged;

Fig. 37 is a perspective view of a buckle utilized in the present apparatus; and

Fig. 38 is a perspective view of a threaded buckle assembly delivered by the apparatus of the present invention.

Briefly described, the strap and buckle assembly apparatus of the present invention automatically provides a threaded buckle assembly 12 of the type illustrated in Fig. 38, which utilizes buckles 14 of the type illustrated in Fig. 37. The leading end 16 of a flexible tape or strap T (Fig. 1), preferably formed of a suitable fabric, is initially inserted into the apparatus 10, and during the course of the operation of said apparatus, a predetermined length of said tape is periodically withdrawn from the supply thereof, which is not shown. The tape supply may be any convenient source such as a roller. The withdrawn tape length is threaded through the buckle to provide a first loop L1 or tab portion (Fig. 38) and an adjustable loop L2 which forms the body portion of the tape. As is well known to those skilled in the art, the loop or tab portion L1 of the tape may be secured to a ladys undergarment, or the like, and one end of the loop L2 or body portion of the tape may also be secured to the garment, the other end thereof being free to permit the adjustment of the loop L2 for varying the strap length.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 in detail, the strap and buckle assembly apparatus 10 is supported on a bed plate 18 which may be provided with suitable supporting legs 20. Mounted to bed plate 18, along one side edge thereof, by securing elements 22 is a bracket 24 which supports a motor 26 and a reduction gear assembly 28 which comprises the drive mechanism for the apparatus, the drive mechanism being mounted to the bracket 24 by securing elements 30. Extending from reduction gear assembly 28 is an output drive shaft 32 to which is suitably mounted a sprocket drive wheel 34 which drives a sprocket wheel 36 through a sprocket chain 38. Sprocket wheel 36 is suitably fastened to a shaft 40 which extends across the length of bed plate 18 and constitutes the main drive shaft for the apparatus. Shaft 40 is journalled for support in four hearing brackets, 42, 44, 46, and 48, respectively, which are disposed at various positions along the length of the main drive shaft, as shown, each of the brackets being secured to bed plate 18 by securing elements 50, as best shown in Fig. 8. Suitably mounted on shaft 40, adjacent sprocket wheel 36, is a standard single revolution clutch 52 which permits the main drive shaft to "be disengaged from motor 26 and gear assembly 28 when it is desired to operate the apparatus by hand, hand wheel 54 being provided for this purpose, said hand wheel being mounted at one end of shaft 40. Also mounted on shaft 40 are a plurality of cams, generally designated by the numeral 56, of the internal or grooved type, which operate the various mechanisms of the apparatus to be described hereinafter.

A buckle transfer mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral 58 (Fig. 2), operates to automatically transfer buckles in timed relation from a supply stack thereof to a threading station 60 and to discharge threaded buckles therefrom. Referring to Fig. 37 is will be noted that the previously mentioned buckles 14- are of the type having enclosed outer and inner eyelets, 62 and 64, respectively, and a third eyelet 66 which is open between the confronting ribs 68 and 70 thereof. The outer and inner eyelets are enclosed by side rib members 72 and 74, respectively, outer rib member 76, and

inner rib members

78 and 80, respectively. The buckles 14 are supported and guided on a T-shaped bar 82 which is secured to an L -shaped holder 84. Holder 84 is provided with a vertically extending slot 86, at the lower portion thereof, which receives one leg 88 of bar 82 therein, said bar being secured to the holder by bolts 90. Securing elements 92 fasten holder 84 to a bracket 94 which is secured to bed plate 18 by securing elements 96, as best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 7.

Referring now to Figs. 3 through 7, the upper surface of bracket member 94 is provided with a transversely extending guideway 98 in which a slide holder 100 reciprocates. Fastened to the upper surface of the slide holder is a slide member or pusher 102, said pusher being held in adjustable abutting relation against slide holder 100 by adjusting member 104, and securing elements 106, said pusher being provided with an adjusting slot 108 therein and said adjusting member being provided with slots 110 through which said securing elements pass. From the foregoing it will be seen that the position of pusher 102 may thus be adjusted on slide holder 100 for varying the position of the buckles at the threading station 60 and for accommodating various sizes of buckles.

Disposed on either side of the guideway 98 are

side guide members

112 and 114, respectively, said guide members being secured to the top surface of bracket 94 by securing elements 116. As best seen in Fig. 7 the lower inner corners of said

guide members

112 and 114 are cut away to provide cutouts 1-18 to form a slideway for the passage of the buckles from the feed station 122 at T-shaped bar 82 to the previously mentioned threading station 60. Each of the guide members are provided with cutaway portions 124 in the area of the feed station to permit the buckles to fall into the slideway 120 from the T-shaped feed bar 82. It will be noted that the thickness of the pusher 102 is slightly less than the thickness of a buckle and that the depth of the cutouts 118 is only slightly greater than the thickness of a buckle so that as the pusher 102 is reci rocated back and forth only one buckle will be removed from the stack or buckles. It will also be noted, as best seen in Fig. 7, that the bottom edge 126 of leg 128 of bar 82 is slightly above the top surface of the bottom buckle in the stack thereby permitting the bottom buckle to be removed from the stack by pusher 102 while retaining the remaining buckles in the stack in position.

As best shown in Fig. 4, mounted at one end of guide member 112 is an extension member 130 which is secured in a recess in bracket 94 by securing elements 132, said member being provided with a slot 134 coextensive with slideway 120 for supporting the buckle at the outer rim member 76 when said buckle is at the threading station 60, as shown. As best seen in Figs. 6 and 36, a buckle support member 136 is secured to the undersurface of bracket 94 by securing elements 138. Support member 136 is provided with extending

support elements

140 and 142, which support the buckle at rib member 80 and confronting rib 70, respectively. In addition, a support 144 is provided for confronting rib 68, supporting said rib at the undersurface thereof by part 147, said support being an elongated rod-like member, as best seen in Fig. 22, said member being mounted on threader bracket 146 by securing elements 148. Bracket 146 is fastened to bed plate 18 by securing element's 145. A spring member 150 is secured to guide

members

112 and 114 by securing elements 152, said spring member engaging side rib member 74 of the buckle, thereby resiliently retaining said buckle at the threading station 60, as best seen in Fig. 4. Mounted on guide member 114 is an L-shaped tape guide 154 which is secured to guide member 114 by securing element 152. The tape guide has an upstanding leg 156 which helps keep the tape T in vertical elignment during the threading operation, as best seen in Fig. 32, and as will be more fully understood hereinafter.

Bracket 94 is provided, at the upper end thereof, with a guideway 158 in which is mounted a rod 160 having a nylon roller or tape guide member 162 suitably mounted at one end thereof. The tape guide member is adapted to be withdrawn into or out of guideway 158 as will be explained more clearly hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the actuating mechanism for the buckle transfer mechanism 58 comprises a buckle pusher cam 164, of the internal or grooved type, which is keyed to shaft 40 and drives a forked permitting ready removal of the forked levers from the follower lever arm 166, via roller 168, which is pivotally mounted on lever 166 and engages the cam groove 170 in cam 164. Pivotally mounted on shaft 40 is. a bronze shoe 172 on which the forked lever is adapted to slide in channel opening 174- in the forked lever, said channel opening being closed at one end of the forked lever by cap member 176 which is secured to the fork lever by bolts 178. The foregoing described forked lever arm and bronze shoe permits the use-of smaller linkage arms thereby resulting in a more compact driving mechanism. In addition, the sliding movement of the follower arm on the bronze shoe causes the follower roller to remain in proper alignment in the cam groove thereby preventing undue wear of the moving parts.

The other end of forked lever 166 is pivotally mounted,

at 180, to a lever 182, one end of which is journalled on a shaft 184 by bearing 186, set screw 188 being provided for fastening said bearing to the lever, as best seen in Fig. 5. The other end of lever 182 is pivotally mounted at 190 to link member 192 which is pivotally mounted to the previously mentioned slide holder 100 at 194. Shaft 184 is supported in journal bearings 196,

apparatus without the removal of any of the cams there from, as will be more fully understood hereinafter.

Provision is made for a tape gripping device generally designated by reference numeral 224, which withdraws tape from a tape feed device, generally designated by the reference numeral 226. Referring now to Figs. 1, 8 and 12, a gripper slide bracket 228 is mounted, by securing elements 230, on bed plate 18. Secured to bracket 228, by securing elements 232, are upper and lower

gripper slide members

234 and 236, respectively, which form a gripper slideway 238. Mounted for sliding movement within said slideway is a T-shaped gripper slide 240 which is provided, at one end thereof, with a recessed portion 242 in which is mounted, by securing elements 244, a lower gripping jaw member 246. Lower jaw member 246 is provided with an extending portion 248 in which is mounted a compression spring 250 for biasing upper jaw member 252 into a closed position, as best seen in Fig. 27. Upper jaw member 252 is provided with an extending portion 254 which fits into a slot 256 in the lower jaw member, the upper and lower jaw members being pivotally mounted to each other at thisposition by pivot pin 258.

Gripper slide 240 is actuated by a mechanism comprising a gripper slide cam 260 which drives a forked follower lever arm 262 which is provided with a forked end 264- which is pivotally mounted to yoke member 266 by pivot pin 268. Yoke member 266 is pivotally mounted to a bell crank 270 at connection 272, said connection comprising a pivot pin assembly 274 which passes through a slot 276 in one arm 278 of bell crank 270. Bell crank 270 is pivotally mounted at 280 on a bracket 282. Referring now to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the position of yoke member 266 at pivot pin assembly 274 may be adjusted toward or away from pivot 280. Pivot pin assembly 274 comprises a stud 284 having a bushing 286 mounted at one end thereof, said stud being mounted for pivotal movement on bearings 288 which are press fitted into the arms 290 of yoke member 266. Stud 284 is provided with flat portions, on

. the body thereof, in order to prevent the stud from roatv each end thereof, said bearings being mounted in a tating within slot 276. A nut 292 is provided on the threaded end of stud 284 to retain the assembly in the slot. .An adjusting screw 294 is provided, which screws intothe body portion of stud 284, said adjusting screw being retained in position by pin 296. Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that upon rotation of .adjusting screw 294, yoke member 266 may be moved toward or similar to forked lever 166, said lever being pivotally mounted, at 210, to lever 212 which is keyed, at 214, V

to shaft 184. Also keyed to shaft 184, at 216, is a link 218 which is pivotally connected, at 220, to a link 219 which is pivotally connected, at 221, to the tape guide roller rod 160, said rod being provided with a cut out portion 222 for this connection, as best seen in Fig. 4.

From the foregoing it will be understood that as buckle pusher cam 164 is caused to rotate by the rotation of shaft 40, pusher 102 will reciprocate in slideway 120 causing buckles to be removed from the feed station 122 lar to lever 166' and shoe 172, said lever and bronze shoe arrangement permitting the use of shorter levers, reducing maintenance costs, as indicated above, and

away from pivot 280 of bell crank 2'70. Movement of yoke member 266 away from pivot 280 results in a shorter stroke for gripper slide 240 whereas moving yoke member 266 toward pivot 280 results in a longer stroke for gripper slide 240.

Bell crank 270 is supported at pivot 280 on the previously mentioned bracket 282, said bracket being secured to bed plate 18 by securing elements 298, asbest seen in Figs. 2 and 8. As shown in Fig. 9 pivot 280 comprises a pivot pin 300 which is screwed into bracket 282 and is provided with a washer 302 and a bearing 304.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the other arm 306 of bell crank 270 is pivotally mounted, at 308, to a clevis 310 which is mounted to an adjusting screw 312 which is provided with a left hand thread portion 314 and a right hand thread portion 316 and is also provided with a Wrench gripping portion 318 for facilitating turning said adjusting screw. Adjusting screw 312 is also connected to another clevis 320 which is pivotally mounted to gripper slide 240, at 322. Actuation of adjusting screw 312 varies the position of the gripper slide 240 and the

gripper jaw members

246 and 252 with respect to the end 16 of the tape T. Thus, from the foregoing it will be seen that as gripper slide cam 260 rotates the gripper jaw members will be caused to reciprocate along slideway 238 for positioning the jaw members for gripping the 7 end 16 of the tape and withdrawing said tape from the tape feed device 226.

.a-Referring now to Figs.,10 and .11, it will be noted that reach of cams 56 is provided-with a cutout'portion 326 into which a plug 328 is secured by screws 330. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the apparatus is very compact with very little space provided between the follower arms and the cams mounted on shaft 40. To remove the follower arms from engagement with their, corresponding cams it is not necessary to move any of thecams on shaft 40. To remove the follower arm, plug 328 is removed from the cam and cap member 176 is removed from its corresponding follower arm when a forked follower arm is employed. Shaft 40 is then turned by hand ;until the roller attached to the follower arm, such as roller 332 in r Fig. 10, is aligned with cutout portion 326, which forms a passageway therefor leading from the cam groove 327, wherein in said position the follower arm may be easily disengaged from its corresponding cam.

Provision is made for opening and closing the gripper jaw members comprising a gripper jaw actuating cam 334 which is keyed to shaft 40 and drives a bell crank follower lever 336 which is pivotally supported, at 338, on the vertically extending portion 340 of bracket 282. Bell crank 336 is provided, at one end thereof, with a forked portion 342, as best seen in Fig. 8, which engages and supports a gripper jaw actuating member 344, said member being provided with upstanding ear portions 346, with a support pin 348 disposed therebetween, as best seen in Fig. 12. The actuating member 344 is pivotally supported by gripper slide bracket 228, at 345, as seen in Fig. 8. The gripper jaw actuating member 344 is provided with a depending portion 350 along its entire length which is adapted to engage a roller 352 which is mounted in one end of upper gripper jaw member 252 by pin 354. From the foregoing it will be seen that as gripper jaw actuating cam 334 is caused to rotate, member 344 will be actuated to engage roller 352 of upper jaw member 252 causing said member to pivot about pin 258 against the bias of compression spring 250 causing said jaw members to open, as best seen in Fig. 1, the normal position of the jaw members being closed.

Provision is made for a threading and tape looping mechanism, generally designated by the reference numeral 360, in Fig. 1. The mechanism comprises the previously mentioned threader bracket 146 to which is fastened, by securing elements 362, two threader guide members 364, as best seen in Fig. 14, which form a guideway 366 in which a threader slide 368 is mounted for Vertical reciprocating movement. Fastened to the threader slide, by securing elements 378, is a holder 372 which has an adjustable member 374 which is provided with an extending guide portion 376 that fits into a slot 378 in holder 372, for vertical adjustment of member 374 on holder 372, said member being provided with. slots 379 through which securing elements 382 pass, thereby permitting said vertical adjustment. Mounted to member 374 by securing elements 384 is a first threader 386.

The first threader is actuated, in vertical reciprocating movement, by a mechanism comprising, as best seen in Figs. 2, 13 and 14, a first threader cam 388 which drives a forked follower arm 398 which is pivotally mounted at 392 to a bell crank 394, said bell crank being journalled, at 396, between the upstanding parts 398 of a threader support bracket 480, as best seen in Fig. 13, said bracket being secured to bed plate 18 by securing elements 401. Bell crank 394 is also pivotally mounted, at 402, to a short link 404 which is pivotally mounted to the threader slide 368, at 406. From the foregoing it will be seen that as first threader cam 388 is caused to rotate the first threader 386 will be caused to reciprocate in a vertical direction.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 17 there is secured to the bottom of threaderbracket 146, by securing elements 408, an L -shap,ed.bracket 410. which .is provided with'a slot 412 therein, which forms a slideway for a T-shaped slide 414 to which is fastened, by securing elements 416, a threader-support member 418. Said'support member is provided with a slot 420 in which the end of a second threader 422 is Secured by securing elements 424.

Referring to Figs. 2, 13, 15 and 22, the mechanism for actuating the second threader 422 comprises a second threader cam 426 which drives a forked follower arm 427 which is pivotally mounted, at 428, to a link 430 which is keyed, at 432, to a shaft 434 which is journalled in bearings 436 mounted in a support bracket 438, said bracket being fastened to bed plate 18 by securing elements 440. Shaft 434 extends out from bracket 438 and has keyed thereto, at said extending portion, a link 442 which is pivotally connected, at 444, to a link 446 which is pivotally connected, at 448, to the previously mentioned threader support member 418. It will be understood from the foregoingthat as second threader cam 426 is caused to rotate the second threader 422 will be caused to reciprocate in a vertical direction as slide 414 moves in slot 412. With reference to Fig. 17 it will be noted that when the second threader is in its lowermost position the support member 418 will be below the top surface 450 of bed plate 18, said bed plate being cut away at 452.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 15 and 22, provision is made for a third threader 454 which is removably secured to the lower end of a circular rod 456 which is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in the slideway 458 provided in the previously mentioned threader bracket 146. Referring now to Figs. 22 and 23 it will be noted that the lower end of rod 456 is provided with two slots 460, at right angles to each other, the threader 454 being inserted in one of said slots. The upper end of the threader is slotted at 462 for receiving a pin 464 which resists any twisting forces being applied to the threader 454 during the threading operation. The outer surface of rod 456 is threaded to receive a nut 466. Upon tightening nut 466 on rod 456, slots 46% will be compressed for tightly securing the threader to the rod. Upon loosening of nut 466 the threader may be easily removed from the rod.

The mechanism for operating the third threader 454 comprises a third threader cam 468 which drives a forked follower arm 470 which is pivotally connected, at one end 472 thereof, to a bell crank 474 which is pivotally supported, at 476, on an upstanding portion 478 of the previously mentioned bearing bracket 46. The other end of hell crank 474 is pivotally connected, at 480, to a link 482 which is pivotally connected, at 484, to a clamp 486 which is provided with a hole 488 to receive the upper end of rod 456, as best seen in Fig. 2. Clamp 486 is provided with a tightening screw 49) for adjustably securing rod 456 to the clamp 486. From the foregoing it will be seen that as third threader cam 468 is caused to rotate the third threader 454 will be caused to reciprocate in a vertical direction as rod 456 reciprocates in slideway 458.

For withdrawing and varying the length of the loop L2 or body portion of the tape a looper mechanism, generally designated by the reference numeral 492, is provided. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 15, the previously mentioned threader bracket 146 is provided with a slot 494 which is enclosed by a cover plate 496, said cover plate being fastened to bracket 146 by securing elements 498, to form a slideway 500 in which a forked looper rod 502 is adapted to slide. Between the forked portions of rod 502 there is provided a roller 504 supported on a pin 506, said roller being adapted to engage the upper surface of the tape T, as best seen in Fig. 29.

The actuating mechanism for looper 492 comprises a looper cam 508 which drives a forked follower arm 510 which is pivotally mounted, at 512, in a slot 514 formed in one end of a bell crank 516, said bell crank being pivotally supported, at 518, in bracket 46. The position of pivot 5.12 in-,slot. 514 may be adjusted by actuating screw 520 in the same manner as the previously discussed connection shown in Fig. 9. This adjustment permits the length of the stroke of the looper to be adjusted as desired to vary the length of tape withdrawn by the looper. Bell crank 516 is pivotally connected, at 522, to a link 524 which is pivotally connected to a pivot pin 526 which is mounted on an adjusting block 530 which holds the upper end of looper rod 502, as .best seen in Fig. 2. Adjusting block 530 comprises a U-shaped member having a slot 532 therein which is covered by a plate 534 which, is secured to block 530 by securing elements 536, the upper end of rod 502 being secured in saidslot by plate 534. Upon loosening securing elements 536 the position of rod 502 may be adjusted in slot 532, whereby the position of looper 492 in slideway 500 may be varied. From the foregoing it will be seen that as looper cam 508 rotates looper 492 will be reciprocated in a vertical direction for withdrawing varying lengths of tape for loop L2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 13, 14, 16, 19 and 29, there is provided an inside cutter and slide mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral 538,.which provides means for separating the loops L1 and L2 of the tape from each other. The mechanism comprises a knife slide bracket 540 which is provided with flange members 542 through which pass securing elements 544 for mounting the knife slide bracket 54010 threader bracket 146. Knife slide bracket 540 is provided with a slideway 546 in which the knife slide 548 is mounted, said knife slide having a T-shaped member 550 secured to it by securing elements 552, said T-shaped member 550 being mounted in said slideway. Suitably fastened along the upper edge of knife slide 548 is a carbide insert 554 which provides self-sharpening means for the knife. Also secured at the upper edge of knife slide 548, by securing elements 556, is a pilot holder 558 which is provided with a slot 560 therein which mounts a pilot or pointed spreader 562, the point of said pilot being positioned ahead of the tip of the inside knife 564. A cutout 563 is provided in bracket 94 to provide clearance for the pilot and the knife. The knife is pivotally mounted on the slide at 566. The knife slide 548 is provided with a shearing edge 565 which cooperates with the knife during the tape cutting operation.

The actuating mechanism for the knife slide 548 comprises a knife slide cam 568 which drives a forked follower arm 570 which is pivotally connected, at 572,

to a knife bell crank lever 574, at one arm 575 thereof,

said lever being supported in the journal bearings 576 which are mounted on shaft 578, said shaft being supported in journal bearings 580 in the previously mentioned threader support bracket 400. Pivotally mounted to lever 574, at the other arm 581, at 582, is a link 584 which is pivotally connected to knife slide 548, at 586. The actuating mechanism for inside knife 564 comprises an inside knife cam 588 which drives a forked follower arm 590 which is pivotally connected, at 592, to a link 594 which is keyed, at 596, to shaft 578. Also keyed to shaft 578, at 598, is a link 600 which is pivotally mounted, at 602, in a slot 604 formed in one end of a link 606 which is pivotally connected to the inside knife 564, at 608. Slot 604 provides lost motion means permitting the slide 548 to move forward carrying knife 564 without causing said knife to be actuated as best shown in Figs. 19 and 20. From the foregoing it will be clear that as knife slide cam 568 is actuated knife slide 548 will be moved forward into position for the cutting operation carrying inside knife 564 forward into position and then upon actuation of inside knife 564 by cam 588 and the operating linkage therefor described above, the tape will be cut, as best shown in Fig. 20. In order to prevent interference between link 606 and knife 564 with threader bracket 410, in the position shown in Fig. 20, a cutout portion 609 is provided therein, as shown.

of the gripper jaws.

an outside knife mechanism comprising a stationary outside knife member 610 which is secured, by securing elements 612, in a slot 614 formed in bracket 94. Suitably secured along the upper edge of knife member 610 is a carbide insert 616 which provides self-sharpening means for the outside knife 618. Said knife is pivotally mounted on knife member 610, at 620, and a shearing edge 621 is provided on said knife member that 00- operates with the outside knife during the tape shearing operation.

The actuating mechanism for outside knife 618 comprises an outside knife cam 622 which drives a forked follower arm 624 which is pivotally connected, at 626, to an arm 627 of a bell crank 628 which is journalled on bearing 630 which is mounted on shaft 434. Bell 'crank628 is also pivotally connected, at its other am 629, to a link 632, at 634, said link being pivotally connected to the outside knife, at 636. From the foregoing it will be seen that as outside knife cam 622 is actuated, outside knife 618 will be caused to pivot about its pivot support 620 to cut the tape and separate said tape from the supply thereof. It will also be noted that as the knife is actuated the carbide insert 616 will rub against a side of the knife thereby automatically sharpening said knife during the operation thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1, l6, l8 and 27, the previously mentioned tape feed device 226 comprises a tape feed plate 638 which is pivotally mounted at 640 on the upper part of a rib portion 642 formed on bracket 94. Tape feed plate 638 has a cutout portion 644 which provides clearance for the serrated ends, 646 and 648, of the upper and lower jaw members, 252 and 246, respectively. Pivotally mounted at 650, on an upstanding portion 652 of slide bracket 94, is an upper tape guide member 654 which is also provided, at the forward end thereof, with a cutout portion 656 which provides a clearance space for the ends Disposed between tape feed plate 638 and upper guide member 654, to form a tape guideway 658, are

guide members

660 and 662, said guide members being provided with slots, 66 4 and 666, respectively, through which pass securing elements 668, for adjustably securing the guide members to the tape feed plate 638 whereby the width of tape gaiideway 658 may be varied to accommodate varying widths of tape. Secured to the undersurface of upper guide member 654 is a bowed spring member 670 which is provided with a serrated end 672 for resiliently holding the tape against the upper surface of the tape feed plate 638. A spring member 674 is secured to guide member 662 by securing element 668 and is in engagement with the top surface of upper guide member 654 to provide means for biasing spring member 670 against the tape. The tape feed device 226 is resiliently supported on a pin 676, which engages the undersurface of tape feed plate 638, said pin being actuated by a compression spring 678 mounted on the top surface of part 680 of bracket 94, pin 676 being slidably mounted in a hole 682 formed in bracket 94. From the foregoing it will be seen that as the tape is gripped by the gripping jaws and withdrawn from the tape feed device 226, the biasing force of pin 676 against the tape feed device will tension the tape.

For guiding the tape to the tape feed device 226 there is provided a bracket 684 which is suitably fastened to ally mounted on thefront upper portion of slide bracket 94.

- 1 Referring to Figs; 1, 24 and 36, there is provided a discharge slide wire 696 which is secured at one end thereof to buckle support element 140, as best seen in Fig. 36, I said slide wire being curved to guide the completed buckle buckles, the extendingtape portions of the buckles and the position of the buckle on the wire 696 create a balanced condition for said buckles during the discharge thereof.

In operating the apparatus of the present invention to thread the tape through the buckles so as to provide the finished assemblies illustrated in Fig. 38, the buckles are mounted on the T-shaped bar 82 with the buckle pusher 102 in its retracted position. It will be apparent that the lowermost buckle in the stack of the T-bar 8 2, will move off the T-bar directly into the slideway 120, immediately in front of and in registry with the pusher 102. As said pusher is caused to move forward by the operation of buckle pusher cam 164 and the linkage mechanism therefor, previously described, the buckle will be transferred from the feed station 122 to the threading station 60. As seen in Fig. 6A, a buckle 14 is shownin an intermediate position between the feed station and the threading station.

The tape T is furnished from a suitable supply roller (not illustrated) and the leading end 16 of said tape is inserted between the

guide members

688 and 690 into the tape feed device 226, said tape being disposed in guideway 658 of said device, as shown in Fig. 27, the end 16 of the tape extending slightly from said device. In the position shown in Fig. 27, the buckle has been moved into the threading station and the gripping

jaws

252 and 246 have moved to the extreme right under the actuation of gripper slide cam 260 and its associated linkage mechainsm, previously described. The gripper jaws have moved into the position shown simultaneously with the movement of the buckle into the threading station from the feed station. During this movement the gripper jaws are open, said opening being caused by the action of gripper jaw actuating cam 334 and its associated mechanism, previously described. As best seen in Figs. 6 and 36 the buckle at the threading station is fully supported, the outer rib member 76 of the buckle lying within the slot 134 in extension member 1130, inner rib member 80 being supported on its undersurface by support element 140 of support member 136, confronting rib 70 being supported on its undersurface by support element 142 of support member 136, confronting rib 68 being supported on its undersurface by support member 144, and side rib member 74 being engaged at its upper surface by the overlying spring member 150. In the position of the gripping jaws shown in Fig. 27, it will be noted that the tape feed device 226 has moved into its uppermost position under the biasing force of pin 676, said tape feed device pivoting about

piovts

640 and 650. The serrated end 648 of lower jaw member 246 is disposed within the cutout portion 644 of tape feed plate 638.

As soon as the jaw members have reached the position shown in Fig. 27, the upper jaw member 252 will be actuated upon release of said jaw by gripper jaw actuating member 344 under the control of gripper jaw actuating cam 334 and its associated mechanism, previously described, resulting in said jaw member pivoting about pivot pin 258, under the biasing force of spring 250, causing the upper jaw member to close upon the lower jaw member and grasp the end 16 of the tape between the serrated portions of the jaw-members. The closed jaw members now begin to retract under the control of gripper slide cam 260 and its associated mechanism, previously described, to the position shown in Fig. 28, wherein said jaw members remain stationary while holding the withdrawn end of the tape during the entire threading operation. It will be noted that during the retracting movement of the jaw members, tape feed device 226 rotated downwardly about

pivots

640 and 650 against pin 676 thereby compressing spring 678 and tensioning the tape.

Simultaneously with the retraction of the jaw members and the withdrawing of the tape from the tape feed device, the first threader 386 moves downwardly under the control of the first threader cam 388 and its associated mechanism previously described, and the looper 492 also moves downwardly under the control of the looper cam 508 and its associated mechanism, previously described. During this movement, and simultaneously therewith, the pusher 102 retracts from its position at the threading station 60 under the control of the buckle pusher cam 164 to return to the feed station 122 in preparation for feeding a successive buckle into the threading station. Continuous movement of the first threader 382 causes the tape to be threaded through the outer eyelet 62, as best seen in Fig. 29, to form the tab portion or loop L1 of the buckle and tape assembly. In this regard it will be noted that the length of the tab portion of the tape may be adjusted by adjusting the length of the stroke of the gripper jaws, as well as the position of the gripper jaws, by adjusting the gripper slide actuating mechanism and adjusting screw 312, as previously described. Simultaneously with the threading of the tape through eyelet 62 by first threader 386, the looper 492 will engage the upper surface of the tape and withdraw said tape from the feed device 226 to form a loop L2 for the body portion of the tape and buckle assembly, said portion of the tape being supported on the nylon roller 694 and the tape guide roller 162 which is in its projected position. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that in its extended position looper 492 is below bed plate 18 at the cut away portion 452 of the bed plate, said portion providing a clear area for loop L2.

After completing the first threading operation, the first threader 386 begins to move into its retracted position under the control of cam 388 and its associated mechanism and, simultaneously with said movement, the pilot or pointed spreader 562 enters the loop formed by the first threader to spread the loop for the succeeding entry therein of the inside knife 564, as best seen in Fig. 30. The movement of the pilot 562 is under the control of the inside knife slide cam 568 and its associated mechanism, previously described, and the movement of the inside knife 564 is under the control of the inside knife cam 588 and its associated mechanism, previously described. It will be noted from Fig. 30 that the pilot and knife are within the confines of the loop formed by the first threader before the first threader has entirely retracted from the loop.

As previously described and, as best shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the knife slide 548 first moves forwardly into position carrying the pilot 562 and the inside knife 564, which are mounted to the slide, into position, the pilot 562 entering the loop ahead of the knife 564. After the pilot and knife are in position the knife will cut the loop, as shown in Figs. 20 and 31, the cutting action through the loop causing the severed ends 706 and 708 of the tape to move apart from each other. Simultaneously with this cutting operation the second threader 422 begins to move up under the control of the second threader cam 426 and its associated mechanism, previously described, to engage the severed end 708 of the tape before it can swing all the way back to its original position. It will be seen from Fig. 31 that the tape end 708, when severed, swings out across the path of upward movement of the second threader and the latter engages the severed tape ,on its return swing, in the broken line position of the. tape, as shown.

and final threading operation.

Simultaneously with continued upward movement of the second threader the knife slide 548' retracts into its initial position under the control of cam 568, as shown in Fig. 21.

The second threader 422 continues to move upwardly, carrying the engaged end 708 of the tape up through the overlying buckle eyelet 64, as shown in Fig. 32, and into abutment with the main tape strip or body portion of the tape, as shown. It will be noted from Fig. 32 that the upstanding leg 156 of tape guide 154 engages the side edges of the tape thereby preventing said tape from moving off to the side of the buckle to misalign said tape with the eyelets of the buckle.

As second threader 422 performs the second threading operation, looper 492 begins to move upwardly under the control of cam 508, to relieve the tension in the tape, causing the tape feed device 226 to move upwardly about

pivots

640 and 650 under thebiasing force of pin 676. Simultaneously with this movement the outside knife 618 is actuated, under the control of outside knife cam 622 and its associated mechanism, previously described, to sever the withdrawn tape from the supply thereof. It will be noted that this cutting operation occurs when there is little tension in the tape resulting in a straight cut rather than a slanting cut which occurs when the tape is severed when under tension. At this time the succeeding buckle from the feed station 122 is approaching the threading station 60, said buckle being pushed into position by slide member. or pusher 102. During the foregoing movements, the tape guide roller 162 is retracted under the control of cam 206 and its associated mechanism, previously described, so that the severed end 710 of the tape will fall downwardly past the previously projected position of tape guide roller 162, as best seen in 7 Figs. 24 and 33, the cut end projecting into bin 698 through the cut away portion 452 of the bed plate 18. Simultaneously with this movement of the tape the second threader 422 will begin to move downwardly, under the control of cam 426, thereby permitting the abutting tape portions to fall downwardly and overlie the third eyelet 66 to position said tape with respect to the buckle in preparation for the third threading operation, as seen in Fig. 33

The third threader 454 then moves downwardly, under the control of third threader cam 468 and its associated mechanism, previously described, to perform the third The third threader 454 is provided with a narrow neck portion 712, as best seen in Fig. 22, to facilitate drawing the double layer tape through the narrow opening between confronting ribs 68 and 70 of the buckle, as shown in Figs. 34 and 35. 'Upon completion of this third threading operation the third threader 454 moves upwardly under the control of cam 468, as shown in Fig. 24, and the gripper jaws open under the control of cam 334 for releasing the threaded" buckle. Simultaneously with this movement the various threaders and the looper return to their completely retracted position. Then the slide member or pusher 102 pushes a succeeding buckle 14 into the threading station 60, saidsucceeding buckle pushing the completed buckle and tape assembly therefrom, as best seen in Figs. 25 and 36, wherein said buckle assembly is discharged into bin 698, the tab L1 and the body portion L2 of the tape balancing the buckle assembly, on the discharge slide wire 696, as the buckle assembly slides down the wire into the discharge bin. 7

As the succeeding buckle is moved into the threading station, the tape guide roller 162 moves into its projected position under the control of cam 206 and the gripper jaws start to move forward again to repeat the operating cycle just described.

While we have shown and described the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be underas herein specifically illustrated or described and that in stood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than I,

the'illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of the invention. Accordingly, we do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown or described herein, except as may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thu desonibed our invention, What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Buckle threading apparatus, comprising means for releasably holding an apertured buckle in position for the threading thereof, and means for advancing a length of tape from :a supply thereof to a position at one side of said buckle comprising a pair of gripper jaws mounted for reciprocating movement to withdraw a predetermined length of tape from said supply, means for operating said gripper jaws for causing said movement, and means for adjusting the length of movement of said jaws to vary the length of said withdrawn tape comprising a first link member provided with a slot therein, a second link member connected to said first link member at said slot, said connection comprising a pivot pin connected to said second link member, said pivot pin being mounted in said slot, and means for adjustably connecting said pivot pin to said first link for adjusting the position of said pin in said slot to vary the relative movement of said link members with respect to each other so as to vary the length of movement of said reciprocating gripper jaws.

2. Buckle threading apparatus, comprising means for releasably holding an apertured buckle in position for the threading thereof, and means for advancing a length of tape from a supply thereof to a position at one side of said buckle comprising gripping means for clamping the end of said tape, means for operating said gripping means in a horizontal reciprocating direction to withdraw said tape from a supply thereof, said operating means including means for adjusting the length of movement of said gripping means to vary the length of tape withdrawn from said supply, and means for adjustably positioning said gripping means with respect to said end of said tape.

3. Buckle threading apparatus, comprising means for releasably holding an apertured buckle in position for the threading thereof, and means for advancing a length of tape from a supply thereof to a position at one side of said buckle comprising gripping means for clamping the end of said tape, means for operating said gripping means in a horizontal reciprocating direction to withdraw said tape from a supply thereof, said operating means including means for adjusting the length of movement of said gripping means to vary the length of tape withdrawn from said supply comprising a first link member provided with a slot therein, a second link member connected to said first link member at said slot, said connection comprising a pivot pin connected to said second link member, said pivot pin being mounted in said slot, and means for adjustably connecting said pivot pin to said first link for adjusting the position of. said pin in said slot to vary the relative movement of said link members with respect toeach other so as to vary the length of movement of said reciprocating gripper means.

4. Buckle threading apparatus, comprising means for releasably holding an apertured buckle in position for the threading thereof, and means for advancing a length of tape from a supply thereof to a position at one side of said buckle comprising gripping means for clamping the end of said tape, means for operating said gripping means in a reciprocating direction to withdraw said tape from a supply thereof, and means for adjustably positioning said gripping means with respect to said end of said tape comprising an adjusting screw connected at one end thereof to said gripping means, the other end of said adjusting screw being connected to said operating means