Method and apparatus for high-speed lacing of a teabag

• US 6,216,620 B1
• Filed: 04/28/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel R. Shepard
• Original Assignee: Daniel R. Shepard
• Inventors: Shepard, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NERBUN, PETER P
• Application Number:
  US09/301,167
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 112/475.17, 112/475.08, 112/156, 531/342, 534/13, 426/77, 426/79, 289/1.2, 289/1.5, 289/16
• US Class Current: 112/475.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/2085 Catamenial tampons
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 29/04 Attaching, or forming and attaching, string handles or tags to tea bags
• CPC Class Codes: D04G 5/00 Knotting not otherwise provided for

Abstract

An apparatus for high speed attachment of a cord to a piece of receiving material is characterized by one or more pins which engage the cord, pierce the receiving material and draw the cord through the receiving material from the first side to a second side thereof so that open loops are formed in the cord on the second side of the receiving material. The pins may be implemented as a push pin and spreader pin pairs movably mounted relative to each other and each of which are adapted to grasp the cord and penetrate the receiving material. The loop(s) are formed as the push pin and spreader pin move relative to each other. The apparatus further comprises a floating shuttle, not attached to the frame of the apparatus but supported by a series of gear assemblies. The pins move relative to the shuttle in a single direction causing the shuttle to engage an end portion of the cord, drawing the cord through the open loops so as to complete the lacing stitch of the cord through the receiving material. The apparatus operates without any significant reciprocating motion, resulting in a process that can attach a cord to a piece of receiving material at extremely high speeds. The floating shuttle may be applied in any situation where a strand of material such as cord, thread, wire, or fiber is to be attached to a receiving piece of material.

Claims

1. A method for attaching a cord to a piece of receiving material comprising:

(a) engaging a portion of the cord;

(b) drawing the cord through the receiving material from a first side of the receiving material through to a second side of a receiving material and beyond to form an open loop at the second side of the receiving material;

(c) repeating (a) and (b) at least one time; and

(d) threading a first end portion of the cord through the open loops formed on the second side of the receiving material.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(d) eliminating any slack in the open loop.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein (c) further comprises:

(c.1) prior to threading a first end portion of the cord through the open loop, penetrating the receiving material with the first end portion of the cord at another location on the first side so that the first end portion of the cord extends from the first side to the second side thereof and into the open loop at the second side thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving material has an exterior surface extending between the first side and second sides and (c) further comprises:

(c.1) prior to threading the first end portion of the cord through the open loop, drawing the first end portion of the cord along the exterior surface of the receiving material and toward the open loop at the second side thereof.

5. A method for attaching a cord to a piece of receiving material comprising the steps of:

(a) engaging a portion of the cord;

(b) drawing the cord through the receiving material from a first side of the receiving material through to a second side of a receiving material and beyond to form an open loop at the second side of the receiving material;

(c) reheating (a) and (b) in sequence; and

(d) threading a first end portion of the cord through the open loops formed on the second side of the receiving material.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

(e) eliminating any slack in the open loop.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein (c) further comprises:

(c.1) prior to threading the first end portion of the cord through the open loop, penetrating the receiving material with the first end portion of the cord at another location on the first side so that the first end portion of the cord extends from the first side to the second side thereof and into the open loop at the second side thereof.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the receiving material has an exterior surface extending between the first side and second sides and (c) further comprises:

(c.1) prior to threading the first end portion of the cord through the open loop, drawing the first end portion of the cord along the exterior surface of the receiving material and towards the open loop at the second side thereof.

9. A method for attaching a cord to a piece of receiving material comprising:

(a) engaging the cord at a plurality of locations thereon;

(b) drawing the cord through the receiving material at a plurality of locations from a first side of the receiving material through to a second side of a receiving material and beyond to form a plurality of open loops at the second side of the receiving material; and

(c) threading a first end portion of the cord through the open loops formed on the second side of the receiving material.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

(e) eliminating any slack in the open loop.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein (c) further comprises:

(c.1) prior to threading the first end portion of the cord through the open loop, penetrating the receiving material with the first end portion of the cord at another location on the first side so that the first end portion of the cord extends from the first side to the second side thereof and into the open loop at the second side thereof.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the receiving material has an exterior surface extending between the first side and second sides and (c) further comprises:

(c.1) prior to threading the first end portion of the cord through the open loop, drawing the first end portion of the cord along the exterior surface of the receiving material and through the open loop at the second side thereof.