US1147873A - Stapling-machine. - Google Patents

Description

F. KOHNLE.

STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. H, 1912. 1,H7,873. Patented July 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F. KOHNLE.

I STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1912.

il igfi II- i t Jim lm human F. KOHNLE.

STAPLING MACHINE.

APPLJCATION FILED MAR-11. 1912.

Patented July 27, 1915.

amine/sow crcia FREDERICK KOHNLE, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGrN'lVIIElN'IS, TO THE MONARCH TAG COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

STAPLING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented duly at, 1915..

Application filed March 11, 1912. Serial No. 683,162.

The primary object of the invention is to produce a machine adapted to conform'to a new system of usage of price tags.

In previous systems and machines commercially in vogue, a complicated, expensive and elaborate machine was required, which, formed tags from a continuous tape, printed them, severed the tape into tags, formed wire staples, and inserted and clenched them through the tags and cloth.

This was expensive, liable to injure the goods, and involved a mechanism rapidly wearing out and requiring constant attention and skilled manipulation.

In my new conception of tag system, I propose to manufacture gangs of stapled tags as an article of manufacture, and to place in the hands of users, the simple machine herein disclosed, designed to operate upon the staple supplies, which machine need only be equipped with devices to sever the gang into suitable tag units, to insert the staples through the goods and to bend the prongs of the staples into an adequate condition of tag securance, without any danger of injuring the goods and without requiring the driving force or impact incident to the old staple clenching mechanisms.

The tickets in passing through the machine are printed and severed from the strip, and attached upon the goods brought to the machine, but the machine is, however, provided with means for allowing printed tickets to be issued with straight unclenched staples if desired.

The strip form of tickets, as illustrated, in the drawings, is presented to the machine with the tickets in a partially severed condition at the staple end of the ticket, offering an abutment between each ticket to be engaged by the feeding mechanism for consecutive step feeding of the tickets, an which partial severance is also beneficial in effecting a complete severance, as no provision in the machine is required to provide relief for the cutter mechanism from the prongs of the staple.

Another object of my invention relates to mechan sm for clenching a ticketed staple, comprislng a main reciprocating member movable toward the goods to be ticketed, and p voted fingers oppositely and angularly disposed to engage between the prongs of the staple in a clenching operation and arranged so that the free ends of the fingers move from a vertical to a horizontal position to impart a spreading action to the prongs of the staple to aline them with the bow of the staple. The staple clenching or bending elements moving in a direction toward which it is desired to bend the prongs of a staple, prevents'any buckling or dis tortment of the prongs or upturning of the points of the prongs into the fabric, which renders the removal of the tag diflicult, and also insures satisfactory successive operations and vastly superior over the well known methods commonly provided in clenching devices by forcing the prongs into grooves formed in a rigid clenching block.

Another object of my invention is to provide a staple guiding plunger yieldingly mounted and disposed relatively to clenchmg mechanism to offer resistance thereto during a clenching operation and insuring the alinement of the prongs of a staple relatively to the clenching mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to pro-' vide track facilities for .guiding the tag strip toward the clenching or severing devices, by feeding the strip upon a table or plate along a raised guiding edge, and against which the strip is yieldingly urged.

Another object of my invention is to provide a printed ticket and staple clenching machine, with clenching mechanism actuated by the main actuating mechanism of the machine, with means adapted to be swung into and out of the path of the main reciprocating member, to be engaged thereby, for operating the clenching mechanism in one instance and for throwing the same out of commission in a second instance.

The features of the invention are more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete upper part of the machine with part of the base in section to show interior parts.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation'of Fig. 1 from the left hand thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 from the opposite side of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view from below of the base of the machine. Fig. is a sectional detail view of the clenching mecha nism. Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 7 a section on line 77 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the strip guiding means, and Figs. 9 and are respectively a section and plan view of a portion of'the ticket strip provided with staples.

The machine illustrated in the drawings may be mounted on a pedestal (not shown) and operated as by a treadle connected to a rod 1 extending upward through the hollow standard 2, and connected above to a hollow sleeve 3 which extends atits upper end from said standard and forms what may be termed the main slide of the machine, from which all the moving parts thereof are actuated.

The standard 2 carries near its upper end a table 4 for supporting .the strip of tickets to be attached to the fabric, a space 5 being left between the edge of the table and a face plate 6 on the standard to form achannel or guide into which the prongs of the staples extend. At a slightly higher level than the upper surface of the table 4 there is attachedto the standard a plate 7 having a projection or lip 8 projecting slightly over the table at one side thereof to prevent rising of the strip on the table during feeding, thereof and at the opposite side 'of the table there is pivoted a guide plate 9 under the action of a spring 10 and aving inits inner edge a groove 11, adapted to engage the edge of the strip, part of the plate 9 being'disposed'in a slot below the surface of the table in order to bring the groove 11 at'the proper level to receive the strip. The said plate being under pressure of spring 10 eflects an easy resilient grip on the edge .of the strip during feed thereof .to keep the opposite edge in proper alinement against the face late 6an'd insure the rectilinear feed of t e strip.

The strip a is fed by means of a spring pressed finger 12 which engages slits 1) formed in the edge of the strip, said finger being pivotally mounted on an arm 13 extending from a bell crank lever 14: pivoted at 15 to the standard 2 and having a depression or recess 16 into which engages a pin 17 one bar 18 guided as at 19 in the standard 2 and mounted at its upper end in a bracket 20 connected to the slide 3. t

It will be obvious that as the slide is depressed the finger 12 will be drawn backward over the ticket and on continued downward movement of the slide disengagement of the pin 17 with the recess 16 takes place leaving the finger 12 loose. On return movement of the slide the pin 17 again'enga'ges the recess 16 and positively moves the finger forward to feed the strip for the desired distance by saidfinger engaging a slit b in the edge of the strip. A spring 21 is provided for maintaining'a constant tension on the feed finger. I

It will be observed that in a feeding movement of the finger .12, its ticket engaging end, due to the arc of movement of the lever 14:, causing the tension of the spring to be increased upon the finger 12-,

producing an accentuated downward ten-- sion thereby insuring the engagement of the finger with the strip, maintains a positive feed. This positive feed is essential, as all of the tickets are of a predetermined .length and each must be directly positioned beneath the type chase for accurate printing. The ticket is then detached from the stri between the staples c by means of a kni e 22 mounted on a block or frame 23 carried by a part 23 of the bracket 20 extending transversely of the path ofmovement of the strip, this knife preferably having an inclined cutting edge and being of the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3. I may conveniently mount the knife in a detachable manner by providing the frame 23 with two pins 24 adapted to enter holes in the knife and secure to the knife a strong leaf spring 24 adapted to be engaged and strongly gripped by a catch 25 pivoted to the bracket 20.

The staple clenching and holding devices will now be described. The former comprises a tubular member or sleeve 26 slidably mounted in a hollow extension 27 of the standard 2 but prevented from rotation therein. The sleeve 26 incloses at its lower end a pin 28 having a head 29 between which and the lower end of the sleeve is a spring 30 and above the pin28 is another spring 31 which Supports the lower end ofa block 32,-having its upper surface provided with a recess 33 in which are pivoted fingers 34, provided in their upper surfaces with shallow grooves34. The block 32 is so shaped as to straddle the upper end of the sleeve 26 which is cut away at each side leaving a central part 35, having a curved upper edge 36. Below the lower end of the .sleeve is pivoted a double'armed lever 37,

one arm 38 of which normally extends be low the head 29 of the pin 28 and the other arm 39 extends into thepath-cf the lower edge of the slide 3 so that on depression of the slide the pin 28 and consequently the sleeve. 26 with the block 32 are lifted tothe under surface of a portion of the plate 7 7 previously mentioned, its movement will be arrested but further movement of the sleeve 26 is permitted owing to the presence of the 1,14as7s spring 31 and this continued movement of said sleeve causes the curved edge 36 thereof to engage and force upward the lower edges of the fingers 34, whereupon the grooved under surfaces thereof engage the prongs of the staple and force same outward in the direction indicated by the broken lines on the right hand side of Fig. 9 to clench the staple and secure the ticket to the fabric. Y v

There is attached to the guide 6"a spring 6 the function of which is to engage the.

edge of and support the "last ticket of a strip and prevent same dropping off "the tableimmediately before the clenching operation.

Previous to and-during the actual clenchingoperation the staple prongs are held,

against lateral distortion by means of a plunger 40 having a curved lower edge 41, adapted to abut against the backs of the prongsand mounted in a housing 41*carried by the plate 7 a spring 42 acting on said plunger in such a manner as to keep it normally extended below the plate 7 but, on operation of the clenching mechanism the said plunger can retire still supporting the staple prongs until the clenchingoperation is completed. When it is' desired to throw the clenching mechanism out of operation so that tickets with straight unclenched staples are delivered by the machine all that is necessary is to shift the arm 39 of lever 37 out of the path of movement of the sleeve 3 so that the lever remains unoperated on depression of said sleeve, this being accomplished.

from the exterior'of the machine by means of a lever 43, connected to a bifurcated bracket 44., in which said lever is pivotally mounted at 45. The movement of said lever in both directions is limited by means of stops 46.

The printing devices are carried by the transverse part 23 of the bracket 20 and include a suitable type chase 50 detachably and slidably mounted in guides in the aforesaid frame 23 and above said chase are mounted spools 51 about which passes an inking ribbon 52 extending under the type chase, and a tensioning roller 53 loosely mounted in slots in a spring pressed arm 54, which is shaped to form a shield or cover for the spools. One of the latter is driven by means of a ratchet wheel 55 mounted thereon with which engages a pawl 56, piv

otally mounted on an upright 57 secured to the plate 7, sq that on each upward movementof the sl de 3 theratchet wheel is rotated through the distance of one tooth to bring a fresh part of the ribbon intouse, the pivotal mounting of the pawl permitting the same to trip past the teeth of the ratchet on reverse movement of the slide.

I do not limit myself to the particular construction and arrangement of'parts described and illustrated since the same may be 'variedwithin limits determined by the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. Supporting the type chase and knife upon the rigid extension of the slide aifords rigidity to these elements, simplifies the construction, increases the life and efficiencythereof and prevents .mally disposed in a plane coincident with the plane of the staple prongs, means arranged to engage therewith to swing the fingers to a prong bending position, and a guiding plunger arranged to normally engage the prongsof a staple and to retire in accordance with the advancing movement of the clenching mechanism.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination with. staple clenching mechanism, a stationary head plate against which the tag and the bow of the staple engage, and 'a yieldingly mounted guide plunger having a projecting staple prong engaging end to hold the prongs against lateral distortion, said plunger being arranged to retire with the advancing movementof' the clenching:

mechanism in a direction away from the edge of the tag to. avoid engagement therewith.

3. Ina machine of the class described, staple clenching mechanism, a stationary head plate beneath which the staple tags are fed and engagedduring' a clenching operation, and aguide plunger yieldingly mounted and projected below the plane of the head to engage the staple prongs, said plunger being arranged to retire ,in a direction away from the edge of the tag with the advancing movement of the clenching mechanism.

' 4. In a machine of the class described, having stapling mechanism comprising a supporting frame, a sleeve slidably mounted therein, a clenching member slidably mounted within said sleeve and having a bifurcated head with the bifurcation in salinementwith the feed of the staple, a pair of oppositely disposed fingers pivotally mounted within said bifurcation, cam projections upon said sleeve arranged to engage said fingers and move the same from a normal to a horizontal position, an actuating member for movingsaid sleeve and clenching memher, and tension means interposed between said sleeve and clenching member whereby the sleeve and clenching member move simultaneously during a clenching operation until the clenching member clamps the sta ple after which the sleeve is moved independently to operate the fingers and effect a staple clenching operation.

5. In a machine of the class described, clenching mechanism comprising a slidable sleeve, a head resiliently supported thereon, clenching fingers mounted on said head, said sleeve arranged to be moved relatively to said head to move the fingers to clenching position, actuating means forsaid sleeve and head, and springs interposed between said sleeve and head, and between said sleeve and said actuating means, whereby when the head is moved to a stapling position of rest the sleeve can advance independently.

6. A machine of the class described, having staple clenching mechanism comprising a stationary head plate and staple clenching members supportedbelow said head plate, a guiding edge for a strip of paper arranged to project from said head plate in line with the direction of feed of the strip, tensional means for directing the strip toward said guiding edge, and means for holding a severed tag in engagement with said head late above the clenching mechanism.

7. Iii a machine of the class described, a stationary member beneath which the ticketed staples are fed, a member movable toward said stationary member and comprising a tubular cam element, a head element concentric with said tubular element and having oppositely disposed staple prong bending fingers arranged to be engaged by the cam of said tubular element, an actuator element concentric with said tubular element and located opposite said head element, a compression vspring between said tubular element and actuator element and a second compression spring between said head element and actuator element.

8. In a machine of the class described, a stationary member beneath which the staples are fed, staple prong bending mechanism movable toward said stationary member and comprising a head element arranged to engage said stationary member and hav? ing fingers movable to bend the staple prongs parallel with the material to be stapled, a

tubular element coaxial with said head ele I ment, supportingthe same, and arranged to engage and move said fingers, and an actuator element arranged coaxially with said tubular element and yieldingly engaged with said tubular element and head element.

9. A device of the nature disclosed comprisinga stationary member, a movable staple bending member arranged to engage with said stationary member in a staple bending operation, a reciprocating member in parallelism with said staple bending member, and a lever member for connecting said reciprocating and staple bending members and movable on its fulcrum to disconnect the same.

10. A device of the nature disclosed comprising two movable supports mounted in parallelism, and a lever member connecting said members to move one in a direction opposite to that in which the other member is moved and having its fulcrum rotatable about an axis to disconnect the lever member from one of said movable members.

11. A device of the nature disclosed comprising staple bending mechanism, a stationary member beneath which the ticketed staples are fed and against which the staple bending mechanism engages, a table in advance of said stationary member having'a strip guiding shoulder, and a hingedly mounted yielding member operating to urge the strip against said shoulder and provided with a longitudinal groove to receive the strip.

12. A device of the nature disclosed comprising staple bending mechanism, a stationary member beneath which the ticketed staples are fed and against which the staple bending mechanism engages, a table arranged in advance of said stationary member and at a lower elevation and having a projecting shoulder parallel with the direction of feed ofthe ticketed staples toward said stationary member, and a yielding member spaced from said shoulder to urge the ticketed staples toward said shoulder.

13. In a machine of the class described, a stationary head plate, staple-clenching mechanism supported below said head plate and movable into engagement therewith, a table in advance of said head plate having its table surface at a slightly lower elevation than said head plate and having a shoulder arranged to project therefrom parallel with the direction of the feed of the ticketed staple to properly guide the same beneath the head plate, means for maintaining said ticketed staples in engagement with said shoulder, means yieldingly urged toward said head plate to hold the ticketed staples against said head plate, and a guide plunger arranged to project below the plane of said head plate to engage the staple prongs and to retire therefrom with the advancing movement of the clenching mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK KOHNLE.

Witnesses OLIVER B. KAISER, CLARENCE B. Fos'rns.

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