Apparatus for applying an elastic waistband transversely of a longitudinally moving web

Abstract From the Canadian patent

An elastic ribbon is fed over a vacuum drum. Rotating cutter blades use the drum as an anvil to cut the ribbon into spaced apart segments. A sheet comprising a diaper web runs over a roll that is spaced from the drum. A segment transferring and stretching device is arranged between the drum and roll. One embodiment of the transferring device has grippers rotating together about the axes that are not coaxial but are at opposite acute angles relative to the roll and drum axes. The gripper engage an unstretched elastic segment on the drum when the grippers are close together but as they rotate they spread apart and stretch the segment which is then pressed onto the glue treated sheet. In …