Claims
- 1. A method for engaging and folding a plurality of strands of flexible material into a plurality of series of loops between first and second opposing surfaces, comprising the steps of:
- a. moving a first elongated member to engage said strands and move them against the first surface;
- b. moving the first elongated member out of the area of the loop that will be formed when the second elongated member moves the strands against the second surface;
- c. creating slack in said strands;
- d. moving the second elongated member to move the strands against the second surface to form a loop;
- e. moving the second elongated member out of the area of the loop that will be formed when the first elongated member moves the strands against the first surface;
- f. creating slack in said stands;
- g. moving the first elongated member to move the strands against the first surface to form a loop and
- h. for steps (a), (b), (d), (e) and (g), rotating said elongated members at the ends thereof and translating the rotational movement into non-rotational movement in the portion of the elongated members that engage the strands along at least a portion of the movement of the elongated members.
- 2. The method in claim 1, and further including the step of moving the second elongated member to engage the strands at a distance away from the second surface while the first elongated member holds the strands against the first surface, between steps (a) and (b).
- 3. The method in claim 1, and further including the step of moving the first elongated member to engage the strands at a distance away from the first surface while the second elongated member holds the strands against the second surface.
- 4. The method in claim 1, wherein steps (a), (d) and (g) include planting the strands in a layer of adhesive.
- 5. The method in claim 1, wherein steps (c) and (f) include clamping and lowering said strands a predetermined distance.
- 6. The method in claim 1, wherein steps (a), (d) and (g) include moving the elongated members horizontally.
- 7. A driving and guiding mechanism for moving two elongated flexible members along separate predetermined paths for alternately moving said members back and forth across a plurality of strands of flexible material for engaging and folding said strands to form a series of loops from each strand, comprising holding means for holding both ends of each elongated member so that the members will extend across the area covered by the strands, drive means for moving said holding means so that the portions of each member outside the area covered by the strand will be moved along first predetermined orbital paths, guide means for guiding the portion of each member extending across the area covered by the strands along second predetermined non-orbital paths through at least a part of the movement of the elongated members as they engage and fold the strands to form the series of loops.
- 8. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 7, wherein the non-orbital movement is linear.
- 9. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 7 wherein holding said means includes a rotatably movable member capable of being connected to each elongated member.
- 10. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 9, wherein said movable members are coaxial.
- 11. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 9, wherein said movable members are nested one in the other.
- 12. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 11, wherein said holding means includes bearing means disposed between said nested members for enabling them to rotate independently of each other.
- 13. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 12, whrein said bearing means includes a plurality of combined roller and thrust bearings.
- 14. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 9, wherein said means for holding includes spring means capable of being connected to each elongated member.
- 15. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 14, wherein said spring means includes a coil spring capable of being connected to each elongated member.
- 16. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 15, wherein each movable member includes a chamber therein each of said coil springs being located in a chamber.
- 17. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 16, wherein said means for holding includes a slider capable of being connected to the end of each elongated member, each slider being slidingly movable in a chamber and engaging the outer end of the coil spring located in said chamber.
- 18. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 17, wherein said chambers are coaxial.
- 19. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 17, wherein each of said sliders includes an opening therethrough, said elongated members being capable of being connected to a holder larger than said opening and positioned on the outer end of the corresponding slider.
- 20. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 9, wherein said elongated members are wires.
- 21. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 8, wherein said translating means includes a first cam surface between said movable members and said strands, said first cam surface being shaped and dimensioned to engage and guide the wires along their linear paths.
- 22. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 21, wherein said translating means includes a cam plate having an opening therein defined by said first cam surface.
- 23. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 22, wherein said first cam surface is rectangular in shape.
- 24. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 23, wherein said wires are connected to said movable members and extend parallel to each other, said first cam surface will be totally within the rotational path of each wire in the plane perpendicular to said wires.
- 25. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 9, wherein said means for moving includes a reversible stepping motor connected to each of said movable members.
- 26. The driving and guiding mechanism in claim 25, wherein a first gear is connected to each stepping motor and a second gear is connected to each movable member, said first and second gears meshing with each other.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 323,440 filed Jan. 15, 1973, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,789.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
323440 |
Jan 1973 |
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