Importance

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Abstract

A machine is provided for forming a decorative twisted spiral garland from at least one continuous ribbon web, and a pair of continuous wires. One or more ribbon webs are guided to the outside of a pair of elongated threaded rods which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of and generally parallel to a main axis. The rods form part of a loop frame which is rotated about the main axis to wind the ribbon webs around the rods in a series of continuous loops and draw the webs from supply reels, while the rods are simultaneously rotated about their own axes to advance the ribbon loops along the main axis. A wire supply rotates in synchronism with the loop frame, guiding a pair of wires into paths respectively on opposite sides of the ribbon loops and thence along the main axis between pinch rollers for pulling the wires longitudinally along the axis. The rotation of the wire supply twists the wires and the ribbon loops to form the garland. The final shape of the garland is determined by the amount of twist imparted to it, which can be controlled, in part, by collecting the garland in a rotating drum to partially 'untwist' the garland. Filaments may also be guided from supply reels rotating with the loop frame into paths inside the loops, so as to be twisted with the ribbon loops, the twisting drawing the filaments to the axis in the finished garland.

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First Claim