Elastic break brake apparatus and method for minimizing broken elastic rethreading

Abstract

A series of elastic break brakes are provided throughout a travel path of elastics in a machine operation. Elastic strands thread through each individual brake mechanism, and if an elastic strand breaks downstream, a natural snap back of the elastic, which ordinarily travels through the system under tension, drives an immediately upstream cam mechanism back, and holds the elastic thread in place at the elastic break brake immediately upstream of the break as to minimize rethreading required downstream of the elastic break brake.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling an elastic thread comprising the steps of:
 providing an elastic break brake, said elastic break brake comprising a base, a base back depending from said base, a pin coupled to said base back said pin having an axis of rotation, and a rotating cam weight carried by said pin and rotatable coaxially with said axis of rotation; a base elastic retaining surface spaced apart from said rotating cam weight; a nip point between said base elastic retaining surface and said rotating cam weight, said pin vertically aligned with said nip point;   moving said elastic thread in a downstream direction;   rotating said rotating cam weight in a downstream machine direction by elastic traveling under tension between said rotating cam weight and said base elastic retaining surface;   allowing passage of said elastic during machine operation;   rotating said rotating cam weight in an upstream direction upon breakage of said elastic thread; and   cinching said elastic thread between said rotating cam weight and said base elastic retaining surface thereby stopping said elastic.