US2887767A - Elastic band transferring apparatus - Google Patents

Description

c, w. MQTT ELASTIC BAND TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 20, 1948 llllllllllil.

mmvroa, C222! 1% Kai United States Patent- O 2,887,767 ELASTIC BAND TRANSFERRJNG APPARATUS Carl W. Mott, Lake Ozark, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, toThe Kendall Company,-Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts a Original application November 20, 1948, Serial No. 61,224, now Patent No. 2,709,836, dated June 7, 1955. Divided and this application October 11, 1954, Serial No. 461,587

11 Claims. c1. 29208) This invention concerns apparatus for transferring elas tie bands and more particularly concerns such an apparatus and method employing an instrumentality inserted into a rubber band in the form of a loop, expanding the rubber band by means of such instrumentality to form oppositely disposed taut flights of the bandwhile moving such band transversely of and toward an end portion of a receiving structure upon whichthe band is to be. deposited in gripping embracing relation, and effecting the deposit of the band upon the receiving structure end por-. tion by first carrying one of the taut flights against a side of the structure and continuing the motion of the other Fig. 2 is an elevational view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 through 8 fragmentarily illustrate the lower end portion of an elastic band receiving tube of a tampon assembling mechanism, together with elastic band transfen-ing fingers of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at-respective successive stages in their operation in depositing an elastic band onto such tube.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view showing an end portion of a shaft which support one of two rubber band picker fingers of the rubber band transferring mechanism.

Fig. 10' is a view looking upwardly on the shaft portion of Fig. 9 and also showing a slideable sleeve and a second elastic .band picker finger on such sleeve for operating complementally with the picker finger on said shaft portion.

Referring. now to Figs. Land 2, the elastic band transferring apparatus is arranged about a vertical shaft structure 175 through which power is transmitted to the apparatus. Shaft 175 extends upwardly through a sleeve 177 in which said shaft is journalled, the sleeve being .1 mounted within holes 178 of frame cross members 179 flight across and beyond the end of such structure and 1948, now Patent No. 2,709,836, dated June 7, 1955, for H Machine for and Method of Making Surgical Sponges,

discloses a subcombination of said machine. The entire machine disclosed in said parent application is operable to produce surgical sponges comprising a jacket of moisture pervious gauze having a central portion formed into a globular sack-like formation encasinga body of moisture absorbing material, and the edge portions ofthe gauze piece being gathered together at the neck of the sack and inverted thereinto through the loopof an elastic band disposed within the sack and contracted at such neck onto the gathered edge portions for retainingthe' sponge assembled with the gathered edge portions of the gauze and the filling material contained within the sack like jacket. Said machine includes an elastic band-forming mechanism having a proifering section and also includes a sponge assembling sectionwhere thegauze, filling material and the elastic band are assembledintofthe finished product. The general object of this invention is the provision of a novel apparatus and method fforextracting the rubber bands from the profiering section of the rubber band forming mechanism and transferring these bands to the sponge assembling section where the bands are deposited in a gripping embracing relation about an end portion of a receiving member therefor constituting a partof the spongeassembling section of the machine.

The above and more specific objects inherent in and encompassed by the invention are elucidated in theljim suing description, the appended claims and the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of elastic band transferring anism constituting a preferred embodiment of thls'mvention and showing in association therewith'a cross sec tional view, taken at the line 1--1 of Fig. la, of a delivery station containing a rubber band which the mechanism is adapted to pick up and transfer. M v

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary elevational view at the plane indicated by the line 1a- -1a in Fig l showing elementslof the elastic band deliveryl statlon.

which are supported upon frame uprights 181 and 182, Fig. .2." nconstant' rotation is imparted to the vertical shaft structure by companion beveled gears 183 and 184 .which arerespectively constrained for rotation with a constantly rotated cross shaft 83 and said shaft structure. i i

A proifering or delivery station D, Figs. 1 and 1a, is part of an elastic band'forming and delivery apparatus disclosed in the parent application. It is from this delivery station D that the present apparatus picks up an elastic band 39. and transfers the same to and onto an end portioniof a tubular member 64 of a surgical sponge forming device which is unnecessary to illustrate in the present specification. Elements of the delivery station D include backand front plates 212 and 217 spaced laterally to receive a flat plunger 216 which is end-wise reciprocated for successively delivering elastic hands into the proffered position. illustrated in Figs. 1 and 1a. Upper and lower plates 218 and 219 cooperate with the plates 212 and 217 to enclose and form a passage in which the plunger 216 reciprocates and through which the plunger pushes the elastic bands into the proffering position. Projections 223 and 224 respectively at the right end of the lower edge of'plate 218 and at the right end of the upper edges of the plate 219 constitute stop means against which theelastic band are abuttable to assure the plunger pushing them no further than the position thereof illustrated in Figs. 1 and 1a. A leaf spring S has its upper end anchored to an extension X of the upper plate 218 by a cap screw Y whereas a similar leaf spring S has its lower end anchored to an extensionZ of the plate 219 by a second' cap screw Y. These leaf springs prevent accidental dislodgement of the profferred bands 39 from the delivery section D. Registering notches 222 in the rear and front plates 212 and 217 and notche 225 in the pushing end of the ,plungerf216 provide clearance for parts associated with elastic band picking fingers 291 and 292 of the band transferring apparatus.

The present apparatus, as just mentioned, includes the paired picking fingers 291--292 which are separable, but while moved together as illustrated in Fig. 1, enter into the rubber "band at thedeliv'ery station D of the rubber band forming and feeding apparatus. In this manner the picking fingers hook such rubber band (the term rubber ban ybeing used herein and in the appended claims to denote a band of any elastic material) and sweep it from the delivery section D. After thus picking the rubber band, the. fingers are spread apart while moving in a circular path about the axis ofthe shaft 175. This path is represented by the dot-dash line 293 in Fig. l.

Spreading of the fingers 291292 stretches the rubber band, and while it is in the stretched condition these fingers are operated in a manner presently described and as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 8 to deposit the rubber band on the lower end of the tube 64 of the tampon assembling mechanism. After depositing the rubber band on the tube 64 the picking fingers continue their movement about the circular path 293 and are again closed together preparatory to picking up another rubber band at the delivery station D.

The outer picking finger 291, projects laterally from a plate 294 mounted on a fiat face 295, Fig. 9, upon an end portion of a shaft 296 by a pair of screws 297. A shoulder 298 is formed at the root portion of the finger 291 to limit the distance a rubber band may be inserted thereonto. A fin-like projection 299 projects endwise from the plate 294 to assure removal of the rubber bands from the delivery station. The face 295 on the shaft 296 is so disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft that such axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the plate 294. The picking fingers 291292 are, of course, disposed eccentrically of such axis and project radially therefrom. Shaft 296 is carried rotatively and endwise movably within a bearing 301 passing diametrically of the upright shaft 175 and through a metal block 303 welded to and interposed between upper and. lower coaxial portions of said shaft for rotation therewith. A squared section 304 of the shaft 296, Figs. 9'and 10, reciprocally carries a sleeve 305 to rotate therewith, whereas a collar 307, Fig. 1, which is constrained against rotation is disposed in a shifter groove 306 encircling the sleeve 305 and is operable for shifting the sleeve endwise upon the shaft 296.

An axial slot 308 in a flange 309 at one side of the groove 306 receives an end portion of a plate 310 which has the finger 292 formed integrally therewith. That portion of the finger-carrying plate 310 disposed in the slot 308 is connected to the flange 309 by brazing.

Intermittent rotative movement is imparted to the shaft 296 by a pinion 311 slidably mounted upon a squared right end portion of the shaft as viewed in Fig. 2. This pinion is constrained against endwise movement by arms 316-317 which project laterally from a metal bar 318 projecting endwise from the block 303 upon which it is suitably mounted. Pinion 311 cooperates with the toothed portion 319 of mutilated ring gear 321 which has a hub 322, Fig. 2, secured non-rotatively upon the nonrotatable bearing sleeve 177. Said hub 322 has an axial split, not shown, passing between apertured ears 323. i

Axially aligned apertures 324 in these ears are adapted to receive a bolt 320 which together with a threaded nut, not shown, on the end thereof is adapted to draw the two apertured ears together into clamped relation onto the nonrotatable bearing sleeve 177. The shank of said bolt registers tangentially with and extends into a circumferential groove 325 in the sleeve 177' to key the hub 322 against endwise movement on such sleeve.

A cam groove 326 formed in the upper face of the body of the gear 321 circumscribes the vertical axis of such stationary gear as shown in Fig. 1. This cam groove has a rise portion 327 extending between a low portion 328 and a high portion 329. A fall portion 331 of decreasing radius extends between the high and low portions.

Cam groove 326 receives a cam follower'roller 332 depending from the under side of aplate-like lever 333 which is pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot in the form of a pin 334 anchored in and projecting upwardly from the metal block 303. Oneend of the lever 333 is'pivotally connected at 335 with a link structure 336 which is adjustable in length. The opposite end of. this link structure is pivotally connected at 337 with a collar. 338 which is.

journaled upon the cylindrical intermediate section. of the rotatable and endwise shiftable shaft 296. The collar 4 338 is journaled in a groove 339 of a sleeve 341 having flanges 342 and 343 on opposite sides of said groove. A rigid connection between the sleeve 341 and the shaft 296 is attained by means of a pin 344 extending diametrically through these parts.

The adjustable link 336 comprises a pair of end members 345346 having threaded sockets 347348 for respectively receiving threaded end portions of a rod 349. Lock nuts 351 prevent rotation of the rod 349. A corresponding link structure 352 has its end portions respectively pivotally connected at 353 with the collar 307 and at 354 with the plate-like lever 333. The pivotal connection 335 of the link structure 336 with the lever 333 is adjustable lengthwise of the lever (radially of its fixed pivot 334) within an arcuate slot 355 having the pivot connection 337 coincident with the center of generation of such slot. Adjustment of the pivot connection 335 lengthwise of the slot 355 will change the distance the collar 338, and consequently the shaft 296, are axially moved pursuant to a given pivotal movement of the lever 333. A slot 356 corresponding to the slot 355 provides adjustment for the pivot connection 354 radially of the fixed pivot for the lever 333, wherefore the link structure 352 can be caused to impart a different amount of axial movement to the collar 307 per unit of pivotal movement of said lever. The arcuate slot 356 has its center of generation coincident with the axis of the pivotal connection 353 while the lever 333 is in the Fig. 1 position. This facilitates adjustment of the pivotal connection 354 endwise of the slot 356 without disturbing the position of the lever 333 or the collar 307. Also the disposition of the arcuate slot 355 enables the pivotal connection 335 to be adjusted lengthwise of this slot without disturbing lever 333 or the axial position of the collar 338 while the lever is in the Fig. 1 position.

In the operation of the rubber band transferring mechanism for successively picking up rubber bands from the station D in Fig. 1 and depositing these rubber bands upon the lower end portion of the tube 64 of the tampon assembling mechanism, the cam follower. 332, Fig. 1, will be traversing the cam groove 326 in a counter-clockwise direction, and this cam follower will be in the low portion 328 of the cam slot for a period prior to and during registration of the picking fingers 291-292 with a rubber band 39 at station D. While the cam follower is in the low portion of the cam slot the plate-like lever 333 will be at a clockwise limit of oscillative movement about the pivot 334. This lever will therefore have exerted endwise thrust through the link structures 336 and 352 for moving the collar 338 to the right into the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and for moving the collar 307 to the left into the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Such movement of the collar 338 causes endwise movement of the shaft 296 and of the picking finger 291. Such endwise movement of the collar 307 causes like movement of the sleeve 305 and of the picking finger 292 whereby these two picking fingers 291292 are disposed in their contiguous closed position illustrated in Fig. 1. As the thus closed fingers 291292 arrive at the delivery station D, these fingers will enter the loop configured rubber band in an axial direction. The spring fingers S, Fig. 111 at the delivery station D are engaged by diametrically opposite sides of the rubber band as it is being entered by the picking fingers, and these springs are effective for first pushing the rubber band entirely onto the fingers so that it will finally be lodged upon root portions thereof immediately adjacently to shoulders 298 and 357. The springs S allow the picking fingers 291292 and the band thereon to pass therebetween and then spring back against the plates 218 and 219.

As the picking fingers follow along the circular path 293 toward the tampon assembling mechanism (see tube 64 of such. mechanism in Figs. 3-8) the cam. follower 332 will transverse the rise portion 327' of the closed cam groove 326 and will eventually reach the beginning of the high" portion 329. During traversal of the rise portion the lever 333 will be pivoted counterclockwise, thereby pulling upon the two link structures 336352 causing the fingers 291--292 to move respectively radially outwardly and radially inwardly from the circular path 293 equal distances. When the cam follower 332 reaches the high portion of the cam, the fingers 291-292 will be spread sufliciently to pass upon opposite sides of the tampon assembling apparatus tilbe-64.

Immediately prior to the tips of the pickingfingers 291292 reaching registration of the tampon assembling apparatus tube 64 the pinion 311 will commence to mesh with one end of the row of teeth 319 of the mutilated gear 321. Prior to the pinion 311 reaching the gear teeth 319, a flat face 358 of this pinion, which is'also mutilated, Fig. 2, was being carried in sliding'relation with the semi-circular flat face portion 359 of the' 'fixed mutilated rack or gear 321. In this manner the complementally engaged faces 358 and 359 maintain the picking fingers 291292 in a horizontal plane and pointing in the direction of their movement along the path 293. The row of gear or rack teeth 319 has just enough teeth to impart a single complete revolution to the pinion 311 and consequently to the shaft 296 and the parts constrained for rotation therewith including the' picking fingers 291--292. Swinging motion thus imparted to -the picking fingers about the axis of the shaft 296 causes these fingers to be manipulated with respect to the lower end of the tube 64 in the manner illustratedin the successive stages of movement illustrated in Figs. 3 to '8;

In Fig. 3 it can be seen that asthe fingers 291--292 approach the tube 64 (only the finger 291 being visible in Figs. 3 to 8) these fiingers will be at the same stage of elevation as a lower end portion of such tube, whereby the upper flight of the rubber band 39 upon these fingers will be disposed a short distance above the lower endof the tube. Rotation of the pinion 311 and the j'consequent swinging of the fingers 291-292 will be clockwise as viewed in Figs. 3 to 8. This clockwise swinging of the fingers commences in time that, the tips thereof will be projected upwardly along opposite sides of the tube at the time the upper flight of the rubber band engages the approach side of the tube. This position is illustrated in Fig. 4. At a subsequent stage in the operation the fingers will be swung sufiiciently far to elevate the lower flight of the rubber band for projecting it upwardly on to the opposite side of the tube as illustrated in Fig: 5. Later, the swinging fingers are carried beyond registration with the tube while holding the previous lower flight of the rubber band above the lower edge of the tube as accommodated by the elasticity of the rubber band which is then stretched as illustrated in Fig. 6. Immediately thereafter the fingers are swung sufliciently far to -release the stretched band and guide the former lower flight thereof onto said opposite side of the tube incident to the band contracting on to the tube, Fig. 7. By the time the pimon 311 has been rotated 180 and the picking fingers swung through 180 these fingers will occupy the position 11- lustrated in Fig. 8 with respect to the tube 64. By the time the pinion 311 traverses the row of gear (rack) teeth 319 this pinion and the fingers will have moved through 360 and will be maintained in this position the slidably contacting faces 358359. At thistime the cam follower 332 will be caused to traverse the fall port on 331 of the cam groove 326 and thereby cause pivot ng of the lever plate 333 for exerting thrust through the hnk structures 336-352 for bringing the fingers 291292 together preparatory to commencing another cycle nvolving picking up a succeeding rubber band which will have been placed at the delivery station D, 7

It is contemplated that the present apparatus will be employed in a machine for making different size tampons and in some instances will accomplish this by the substitution of tubes 64 of diiferent diameter. This would spread apart correspondingly different distances while straddling these ditferent tubes. This is whythe picking fingers are moved in opposite radial directions with respect to the axis of the shaft 175 when being spread, so that when an adjustment is made in the distance of their spreading, the median point between these fingers will register with each of the tubes; that is, the fingers 291-292 will always pass equal distances from diametrically opposite sides of any of the difierent diameter tubes as 64. Selective predetermined spread of the fingers 291--292 is attainable by adjusting the pivot connections 335 and 354 in their respective associated arcuate slots 355356 of the plate-like lever 233.

Having described a single preferred embodiment of the invention with the view of clearly and concisely'illustrating the same, I claim:

1. Elastic band assembling apparatus comprising a frame; a rotatable carrier journalled in said frame; a rubber band feeding mechanism spaced radially from said carrier, said mechanism having a rubber band delivery section wherein rubber bands are successively presented in a plane substantially parallel with and projecting generally radially of the axis about which the carrier rotates; a rubber band transferring instrumentality mounted in said carrier and having contiguous rubber band picker fingers spaced in the same radial direction from the carrier axis and projecting substantially perpendicularly'to said axis'and in the direction of movement of such fingers by the rotating carrier, said fingers being so disposed radially and axially of the carrier as to project into a band at the delivery section for causing deposit thereof onto said fingers and removal thereof from said delivery section pursuant to rotation of the carrier, said picker fingers being separable radially of the carrier to stretch the rubber band and create taut flights thereof spaced apart axially of the'carrier, means for so separating the fingers, and means for rotating said picker fingers about an axis extending substantially radially of the carrier; a rubber band receiving tube disposed in substantial parallelism with the carrier axis and spaced circumferentially of such axis from the rubber hand delivery section to be approached by the picker fingers subsequent to their picking up a band, said receiving'tube having a side of an end portion disposed for intercepting one of the stretched rubber band flights while the other flight of such band is swept transversely past the end of such tube, said means for separating the picker fingers being operable prior to their reaching said receiving tube, said finger rotating means being operable concurrently with the one flight of the band colliding with said side of the tube end portion, said fingers straddling the tube during such rotation, and the rate of rotation thereof being suflicient to reverse the direction in which such fingers are pointed in time to release said band and deposit the other flight thereof upon the opposite side of said tube end portion.

2. Elastic band transferring apparatus comprising a frame, a rotatable carrier journalled in said frame, a rubber band transferring instrumentality mounted in said carrier and comprising contiguous rubber band picker fingers spaced radially from the carrier axis and projecting substantially perpendicular thereto in the direction of movement thereof by the rotating carrier, said picker fingers having band carrying portions receivable of a rubber band mutually circumscribing the fingers, rubber band feeding means adapted to hold a rubber band in position to be entered by said fingers pursuant to depositing such hand onto the band carrying portions thereof and withdrawing the band from said feeding means during rotation of the carrier, a rubber band receiving member spaced from said feeding means circumferentially of the carrier axis, said member being disposed'adjacently to a circular path transversed by the band-carrying fingers during rotation of the carrier, said fingers being separable radially of the carrier, means for separating the fingers prior to their reaching regmake it dmirable forthe picking fingers 291- 292 to be istration with said member, and means for rotating said fingers about an axis extending radially of the carrier to place them in position for straddling the member while in registration therewith circumferentially of the carrier axis pursuant to depositing the rubber band thereunto.

3. Elastic band transferring apparatus comprising a frame, a rotatable carrier journalled in said frame for rotation about an axis, means for rotating the carrier, a rubber band transferring instrumentality mounted in said carrier for translation thereby about said axis when the carrier is rotated and having contiguous rubber band picker fingers spaced in the same direction radially from the carrier axis and projecting substantially perpendicularly thereto in the direction of movement thereof by the rotating carrier, said picker fingers having root portions and band carrying portions receivable of a rubber band mutually circumscribing the fingers, said fingers being separable radially of the carrier to stretch a rubber band thus mounted thereon to create taut flights of such band spaced apart axially of the carrier, means for so separating the fingers, and means for rotating said separated fingers about an axis adjacently to the roots thereof and directed radially of the carrier during rotation of the carrier, said finger rotating means being operable to rotate the fingers with continuous movement to project oppositely to the direction of translation thereof by the carrier.

4. Elastic band transferring apparatus comprising a frame, a rotatable carrier journalled in said frame, a rubber band transferring instrumentality mounted in said carrier for translation thereby pursuant to rotation thereof and having contiguous rubber band picker fingers spaced in the same direction radially from the carrier axis and projecting substantially perpendicularly thereto in the direction of movement thereof by the rotating carrier, said picker fingers having root portions and band carrying portions receivable of a rubber band mutually circumscribing the fingers, said fingers being'separable radially of the carrier to stretch a rubber band thus mounted thereon to create taut flights of such band, a cam follower connected with one of said fingers for separating it from the other finger when the cam follower is displaced radially of the rotating carrier, a cam having a profile circumscribing the carrier axis, the cam profile being in control of said cam follower to change its position radially of such axis pursuant to rotation of the carrier and means for rotating said separated fingers about an axis adjacently to the roots thereof and directed radially of the carrier during rotation of the carrier, said finger rotating means being operable to rotate the fingers with continuous movement to project oppositely to the direction of translation thereof by the carrier.

5. Elastic band transferring apparatus comprising a frame, a rotatable carrier journalled in said frame, a rubber band transferring instrumentality mounted in said carrier for rotation therewith and having contiguous rubber band picker fingers spaced in the same direction radially from the carrier axis and projecting substantially perpendicularly thereto in the direction of movement thereof by the rotating carrier, said picker fingers having band carrying portions receivable of a rubber band mutually circumscribing the fingers, a finger carrying rod mounted in and extending radially of said carrier for rotation and for endwise movement therein, a picker finger carrying collar slidable endwise on said rod and constrained for rotation therewith, said picker fingers being respectfully connected with said rod and said collar for movement therewith, a cam profile extending circumferentially of the rotational axis of the rotatable carrier, a lever pivotally mounted on said carrier, a cam follower mounted on said lever and disposed into cooperative relation with the cam profile for causing pivoting of the lever alternately in opposite directions, and links respectively connecting said lever with said rod and with said collar for causing concurrent movement thereof in opposite directions axially of the rod to cause said fingers to be alternately separated and returned to their contiguous relation,

said fingers being operable when separated to stretch a rubber band mounted thereon to create taut flights of such band andmeans operable while the fingers are separated for rotating the rod, the collar and the fingers about the rodaxis to rotate the fingers with continuous movement from the status of projecting somewhat in the direction of translation thereof by the carrier to the status of projecting somewhat in the opposite direction of such translation;

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for rotating the fingers comprises a mutilated pinion constrained for rotation with said rod, and a mutilated gear circumscribing the carrier axis, said gear being cooperable with said pinion for imparting a complete revolution thereto during a portion of each revolution of the carrier.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said cam and said mutilated gear are so relatively oriented circumferentially of the carrier axis that said rod and said fingers are rotated subsequent to the separation of said fingers and while said fingers are separated, and said fingers are moved to their contiguous relation subsequent to rotation thereof and of the rod during each revolution of the carrier.

8. An elastic band transferring instrumentality comprising a carrier, finger supporting parts mounted on said carrier, elastic band carrying fingers respectively upon said parts, means for periodically displacing said fingers from a position of contiguity into laterally-spaced parallelism for stretching the band and subsequently restoring them to said contiguity, said carrier being movable for translating said fingers, means for so moving the carrier, said parts supporting said fingers for rotating from a first position wherein they point at least partially in the direction of their translation by the carrier to a second position; wherein they point at least partially oppositely to the direction of such translation, and means for rotating the fingers in timed relation with the means for moving the carrier and with the finger displacing means to effect an uninterrupted rotation of the fingers from the first position to the second position while separated and during translation thereof by the carrier.

9. An elastic band transferring instrumentality comprising a carrier, finger supporting means rotatably supported on said carrier, elastic band supporting fingers disposed upon such supporting means and projecting therefrom in substantially the same direction radially of the rotational axis of such supporting means while spaced apart axially of such axis, said carrier being movable for imparting translatory motion to said fingers, transversely of the rotational axis of said supporting means, means for rotating the finger supporting means to determine the position of said fingers circumferentially of the supporting means axis, said rotating means being operable during initial translation of the fingers to point them in the direction of such translation and being operable to swing the fingers at least in excess of with a continuous movement during ensuing translation thereof.

10. Elastic band transferring apparatus comprising a frame, elastic band feeding means mounted on said frame, an elastic band receiving structure mounted on said frame in spaced relation from said feeding means, and an elastic band transferring instrumentality comprising separable elastic band picking fingers and mounted in said frame for movement to carry said fingers successively past said feeding means and said receiving structure, means for so moving said instrumentality, said fingers being adapted to enter a band in said feeding means while being moved therepast to pick the band from said feeding means, means for separating said fingers to expand and create taut flights of such band thereon during their ensuing movement to the receiving structure, the separated fingers being disposed for straddling a projecting end portion of said receiving structure to catch a flight of such band thereon while moving therepast, and means for rotating the fingers with continuous movement while straddling said structure, from a position wherein they project at least partially in the direction of their path from said feeding means to said structure, to a position wherein they project at least partially in the opposite direction, to thereby release the second flight of such band and direct contraction of such band onto said structure.

11. An instrumentality adapted to transfer an elastic band to, and assemble it over, a projecting receiving body, comprising a carrier, finger supporting parts mounted on said carrier, elastic band carrying fingers respectively upon said parts, said carrier being movable for translating said fingers, means for so moving the carrier, said parts being relatively movable to alternatively juxtapose and separate said fingers and supporting said fingers for rotating in laterally-spaced parallelism from a first position straddling such a receiving body wherein they point at least partially in the direction of their translation by the carrier to a second position straddling the body wherein they point at least partially oppositely to the direction of such translation, means for so relatively moving said parts, and means for uninterruptedly rotating the fingers from the first position to the second position while they are separated and during the translation of said parts from one side of such a body to the other whereby an elastic band carried by said fingers is assembled over said projecting receiving body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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