Method of and apparatus for making bonded belt loops

Claim 2

Apparatus for making bonded belt loops which comprises: means for directing a strip of interfacing material having a thermally responsive adhesive layer on one side only thereof and a strip of belt loop material along a predetermined path with the reverse side of the belt loop material engaging the side of the interfacing material opposite the adhesive layer; means positioned on opposite sides of the predetermined path for trimming the strip of belt loop material to a predetermined width; means positioned on the path beyond the trimming means for folding the strip of belt loop material around the strip of interfacing material such that the belt loop material extends outwardly beyond the edges of the interfacing material and such that edges of the belt loop material are positioned in a spaced apart relationship in engagement with the thermally responsive adhesive layer on the interfacing material; and rotating bonding drum means comprising a portion of the path extending beyond the folding means for applying heat to the adhesive layer in sufficient quantity to effect activation thereof and for simultaneously pressing the strip of belt loop material into engagement with the adhesive layer and thereby permanently bonding the strip of belt loop material to the strip of interfacing material; the strip directing means includes an endless belt extending along the predetermined path for transporting both the strip of interfacing material and the strip of belt loop material through the trimming means, through the folding means, and around the bonding drum means.

Claim 3

The apparatus for making bonded belt loops according to claim 1 wherein the trimming means comprises rotating knives disposed on opposite sides of the path and each comprising a non-circular periphery.

Claim 4

The apparatus for making bonded belt loops according to claim 2 wherein the folding means comprises a member disposed along the predetermined path for supporting the strip of interfacing material, the center portion of the strip of belt loop material, and the endless belt and slot means disposed under the predetermined path for receiving the opposite edges of the strip of belt loop material and thereby folding the strip of belt loop material around the strip of interfacing material.

Claim 5

The apparatus for making bonded belt loops according to claim 3 wherein the bonding drum means includes a revolving drum having heating means disposed therein, and wherein the endless belt functions to press the strip of belt loop material and the strip of interfacing material against the drum with the folded edges of the strip of belt loop material in engagement with the adhesive layer.

Claim 6

Apparatus for making bonded belt loops which comprises: structure defining a predetermined path; endless belt means for transporting a strip of interfacing material having a thermally responsive adhesive layer formed on one side only thereof and a strip of belt loop material along the predetermined path with the belt loop material engaging the side of the interfacing material opposite the adhesive layer; a pair of rotating knives disposed on opposite sides of the predetermined path for trimming the belt loop material to a predetermined width; folding means disposed along the predetermined path beyond the rotating knives and comprising structure for supporting the strip of interfacing material, the center portion of the strip of belt loop material, and the endless belt means and slot means disposed under the support means for receiving the opposite edges of the strip of belt loop material and thereby folding the strip of belt loop material around the strip of interfacing material; said knives and folding means for trimming and folding the belt loop material such that the edges of the belt loop material extend beyond the edges of the interfacing material in the finished belt loop and such that the opposed edges of the belt loop material are positioned in a spaced apart relationship so as to prevent overlapping of the edges in the finished belt loop; and bonding means disposed along the predetermined path beyond the folding means for cooperation with the endless belt means to simultaneously heat the adhesive layer sufficiently to effect activation thereof and press the opposite edges of the strip of belt loop material into engagement with the activated adhesive layer and thereby permanently bonding the strip of belt loop material to the strip of interfacing material.

Claim 7

Apparatus for making bonded belt loops which comprises: structure defining a predetermined path; endless belt means for transporting a strip of interfacing material having a thermally responsive adhesive layer formed on one side only thereof and a strip of belt loop material along the predetermined path with the belt loop material engaging the side of the interfacing material opposite the adhesive layer; a pair of rotating knives disposed on opposite sides of the predetermined path for trimming the belt loop material to a predetermined width; folding means disposed along the predetermined path beyond the rotating knives and comprising structure for supporting the strip of interfacing material, the center portion of the strip of belt loop material, and the endless belt means and slot means disposed under the support means for receiving the opposite edges of the strip of belt loop material and thereby folding the strip of belt loop material around the strip of interfacing material; said knives and folding means for trimming and folding the belt loop material such that the edges of the belt loop material extend beyond the edges of the interfacing material in the finished belt loop and such that the opposed edges of the belt loop material are positioned in a spaced apart relationship so as to prevent overlapping of the edges in the finished belt loop; and bonding means disposed along the predetermined path beyond the folding means for cooperation with the endless belt means to simultaneously heat the adhesive layer sufficiently to effect activation thereof and press the opposite edges of the strip of belt loop material into engagement with the activated adhesive layer and thereby permanently bonding the strip of belt loop material to the strip of interfacing material.

Claim 8

The apparatus fo making bonded belt loops according to claim 5 wherein the bonding means comprises a revolving drum having heating means disposed therein for receiving the strip of interfacing material having the strip of belt loop material folded therearound from the folding means with the opposed edges of the strip of belt loop material engaging the drum.

Claim 9

The apparatus for making bonded belt loops according to claim 5 wherein the rotating knives each comprise the non-circular periphery.

Claim 10

The apparatus for making bonded belt loops according to claim 5 further including vacuum means for receiving the trimmed edges of the strip of belt loop material from the rotating knives.

Claim 11

Apparatus for making bonded belt loops which comprises: a revolving drum having heating means disposed therein; support means extending to a point adjacent the rotating drum; endless belt means mounted for rotation around the course including a portion extending along the support means and a portion extending around a substantial portion of the periphery of the revolving drum; said endless belt means for transporting a strip of interfacing material having a thermally responsive adhesive layer formed on one side only thereof and a strip of belt loop material along a predetermined path extending along the support means and around a substantial portion of the periphery of the drum with the reverse side of the strip of belt loop material engaging the side of the strip of interfacing material opposite the adhesive layer and with the opposed edges of the strip of belt loop material engaging the drum; means disposed on opposite sides of the predetermined path and at the end of the support means remote from the rotating drum for trimming the strip of belt loop material to a predetermined width; and folding means disposed along the predetermined path between the trimming means and the revolving drum and comprising structure defining an extension of the support means for supporting the strip of interfacing material, the center portion of the strip of belt loop material, and the endless belt means and slot means disposed under the support structure for receiving the opposite edges of the strip of belt loop material and thereby folding the strip of belt loop material around the strip of interfacing material; said revolving drum means for heating the adhesive layer on the strip of interfacing material sufficiently to effect activation thereof and for simultaneously pressing the opposed edges of the strip of belt loop material into engagement with the activated adhesive layer and thereby permanently bonding the strip of belt loop material to the strip of interfacing material.

Claim 12

Apparatus for making bonded belt loops which comprises: a revolving drum having heating means disposed therein; support means extending to a point adjacent the rotating drum; endless belt means mounted for rotation around the course including a portion extending along the support means and a portion extending around a substantial portion of the periphery of the revolving drum; said endless belt means for transporting a strip of interfacing material having a thermally responsive adhesive layer formed on one side only thereof and a strip of belt loop material along a predetermined path extending along the support means and around a substantial portion of the periphery of the drum with the reverse side of the strip of belt loop material engaging the side of the strip of interfacing material opposite the adhesive layer and with the opposed edges of the strip of belt loop material engaging the drum; means disposed on opposite sides of the predetermined path and at the end of the support means remote from the rotating drum for trimming the strip of belt loop material to a predetermined width; and folding means disposed along the predetermined path between the trimming means and the revolving drum and comprising structure defining an extension of the support means for supporting the strip of interfacing material, the center portion of the strip of belt loop material, and the endless belt means and slot means disposed under the support structure for receiving the opposite edges of the strip of belt loop material and thereby folding the strip of belt loop material around the strip of interfacing material; said revolving drum means for heating the adhesive layer on the strip of interfacing material sufficiently to effect activation thereof and for simultaneously pressing the opposed edges of the strip of belt loop material into engagement with the activated adhesive layer and thereby permanently bonding the strip of belt loop material to the strip of interfacing material.

Claim 13

The apparatus for making bonded belt loops according to claim 9 wherein the trimming means comprises opposed rotating knives each having a non-circular periphery.

Claim 14

The apparatus for making bonded belt loops according to claim 9 wherein the rotating knives trim the strip of belt loop material to a width such that the edges of the belt loop material extend beyond the edges of the interfacing material in the finished belt loop.

Claim 15

The apparatus for making bonded belt loops according to claim 9 wherein the folding means positions the opposed edges of the strip of belt loop material in a spaced Apart relationship so as to prevent overlapping of the edges in the finished belt loop.