US1202270A - Signature-opening device. - Google Patents

Description

C. D. CURRY & F. W. EWALD.

SIGNATURE OPENING DEVICE,

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1914.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

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SIGNATURE OPENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 19 14.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

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C. D. CURRY & F. W. EWALD.

SIGNATURE OPENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2'4. 1914.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

C. D. CURRY & F. W. EWALD.

SIGNATURE OPENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1914.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

E1) S mar m OFFICE.

eLAun n. CURRY, or MAssILLoN, onto, AND rnEnnnIcK w. EWALD, on NEW YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MEs E ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN ASSEM- BLING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPOBATION or DELAWARE.

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Application filed July 24, 1914. Serial Nb. 852,780.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CLAUD D. CURRY and FREDERICK W. EWALD, both citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Massillon, county of Stark, and State of Ohio, and of the borough of Brooklyn, New York city, county of Kings, and State. of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signature- Opening Devices, of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in opening devices for folded paper sections and is particularly adapted for use in connection with paper associating machines of the type shown in the patent to Claud D. Qurry, #1,117,000, Nov. 10, 1914. In the device shown in the patent, opening or spreading devices were employed which consisted principally of two parallel endless chains carrying spreader members arranged to travel between the plies of a partially opened paper section. This structure was found in practice to be more or less cumbersome, and an object ofthis invention is to provide paper section opening or spreading means which will be more simple in construction and capable of more rapid operation.

A feature of the invention is the provision of opening mechanism including needle boxes for initially opening the paper section, a separating finger for further opening the section, and a pivoted spreading device arranged to be swung into the partially opened section to complete the opening thereof for the reception of an insert.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the opening mechanism taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan View showing one of the needle boxes carried by the opening members; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a needle box looking in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 4.

In- Figs. 1 and 2 the numerals 1 and 2 represent the inside lines of a framework in which the mechanism about to be described is mounted. Mounted on the framework 2 is a fixed bracket 3 to which is pivoted at 4 a paper section guiding and spreading device 5. The device 5'is made up of two parallel members between which the paper sections pass in their progress from a hopper or feeding device overhead into the paper section opening or separating mechanism. When a paper section A passes downwardly through the guiding device 5 it comes to rest preliminary to the operation of the opening mechanism, upon the paper supports 6, carried by shafts 7 and 8 journaled in the frame 1 and 2. The paper supports 6 are in the form of depending blades and are arranged in pairs, the lower edges of which curve inwardly to meet each other as is shown at 9 in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

In dropping onto the supporting members Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

6 the paper section will enter between two devices 10 and 11 which may be termed needle boxes and whose function it is to perform the initial opening of the folded paper section. The needle boxes are so located as to engage the paper section near one-end and the free edge, while the remaining end is caught and held between two rotating cone shaped tension rollers .12 and 13L The needle boxes are carried by the opening members or frames 14 and 15 which are mounted on hubs 16 and 17 adapted to rock or oscillate about shafts 18 and 19. On the hubs 16 and 17 are provided toothed segments 20 which intermesh and by means of which the members 14 and 15 can be operated in unison. An arm 21, integral with hub 16, is connected through the links 22 with a lateral extension 23 of the vertically reciprocating slide 24. A cam roll 25, carried by the slide, is adapted to be engaged motion to the slide and thence to the opening members and needle boxes carried thereby. 1 A bracket 28 mounted on the frame piece 1 is provided with a slideway inwhich the slide 24 reciprocates.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 in which the specific construction of the needle blocks is illustrated, there is shown at 29 by the cam 26 on the drive shaft 27 to give 4 a. needle box supporting member which is bolted to the corresponding opening member. Extending laterally from the supporting member are two arms 30 and 31 provided with guideways 32 and 33. Arranged to in yielding engagement with the stationary to reciprocate between the arms and 31 and to engage the guideways 32 therein, is the needle box, or carrier," 34 on which the needles 35 are mounted. The needle carrier is reciprocated between the arms 30 through the action of a cam 36 carried on'shaft 19 which operates a lever 37 which in turn transmits motion to the carrier 34 through the eye bolt 38 which is secured to the needle-carrier by the pin 39. The other needle carrier is driven from a corresponding cam on the shaft 18.

In order to regulate the effective length of the needles necessary for piercing the plies of the paper section, there is provided a face plate 40 adapted to be adjusted with relation to the supporting member 29 on which it is mounted. The face plate 40 is provided 'witha' boss 41 which is..arranged to engage the threaded portion of a bolt 42. The bolt '42 has an unthreaded portion which passes through the supporting member 29 so that the bolt can be turned freely within the support. A nut 43 at one end prevents longitudinal movement of the bolt. A micrometer head 44 fixed to the bolt has a scale adapted to be read in relation to a 'mark'45 on the supporting member 29.

When the micrometer head is turned the bolt 42 is rotated, and the face plate is moved laterally with respect to the needle carrier support. This, as will be obvious, will affect the length of the portions of the needles which project through the face plate and a means is thus provided for adjusting the length of the needle projections to accord with the thickness of the paper sections which are to be operated upon. The face plate slides on the needle block support and is secured by screws 46 which pass through slots 47 in the guide plate.

The cone-shaped tension rollers 12 and 13, which have been already referred to, serve to pull the paper section taut and facilitate the opening of the section. The tension roller 18 is journaled in a bearing formed in the end of a fixed bracket 48 carried by the framework 2. A bevel gear 49 meshing with a bevel gear 50 mounted on the shaft 19 is adapted to give rotation to the' tension roller 13 through the shaft 13. The fixed bracket 48-also forms a support at 51 for one end of one of two shafts-52 which will 48 already referred toprovides a bearing for the other of the two shafts 52.

The tension roller 12 is mounted on a bracket 53 pivotally mounted on the shaft 18. The swinging tension roll 12 is held roller 13 by means of a spring 54 mounted on a rod' 55 pivoted to the bracket 48 at 56. An adjustable yielding stop 57 mounted on the fixed bracket 48 limits the inward movement of the swinging bracket 53. The tension roller 12 is driven from the shaft 18 through shaft 12' and a bevel gear connection corresponding to the driving connection for the roller 13.

Carriedby the bracket 56' on the frame 1 is a rock shaft 57 on which is mounted the separating finger, or'blade, 58 adapted to be swung inwardly between the plies of the paper section just after they have been initially separated by the operation of the needle blocks. The action of the separating finger brings about a further separation of the plies preparatory to the final spreading operation of the'member 5 which will hereinafter be referred to. Motion is transmitted to the rock shaft 57 at the proper moment in the sequence of operations, by

means of the arm 59 carried by the rock shaft 57, the link 60, and rock arm 61 pivoted at 62 on bracket 63 which is attached to the frame 1. A rod 64 pivoted to rock arm 61 is adapted to be reciprocated. by cams 64 on the drive shaft 27 already referred to.

The construction of the member 5 by which the paper section opening function is obtained is as follows: At the end remote from the pivot point 4 the device 5 has a pivotal connection with a link 65 which is in turn connected to an arm 66 mounted on a rock shaft 67, journaled in the bracket 56 on the framework 1. Through another arm 68, mounted on the rock shaft, a link 69 and a rod 70 adapted to be reciprocated by the operation of a cam 71 on drive shaft 27, motion can be transmitted to rock shaft 67 and thence to the spreading device 5 thereby causing the spreader to rock downwardly about the pivot 4 to spread apart the already partially separated plies of a. paper section. Carried by the spreader 5 are the fingers 72 which assist in the spreading. or separating operation, and are arranged in progressively, increasing lengths from the pivot point in order to spread the paper section evenly and prevent buckling.

In the o eration of the device so far described a olded paper section passes from the hopper, or feeder, down through the guiding device 5 and drops onto the paper supports 6 which at this point in the operation are closed as shown in Fig. 3, the opening members, or frames, 14 and 15 being at this moment'in their separated position and the cut-away portion of the tension rollers 12'and 13 being innermost, or adjacent each o-therto permit the paper to pass into position on the paper supports. When this has taken place the opening members are swung to their closed position and the folded paper section is caught by the yieldable stops, or holding devices, 73 mounted in the needle blocks themselves, and the stops, 74 mounted hubs 16 and 17. The paper stops hold the.

through the action of the cams 36 to cause" the needles to pierce the respective plies of the paper section while the tension rollers at the other end of the paper section at the same time seize the section and pull it taut. The next step in the operation of the device is the moving apart of the opening members whereupon the two plies of the folded paper section, which are held by the needles, are initially separated. This operation is immediately followed by the swinging forward of the separating blade 58 to further separate the plies and prepare them for the operation of the spreader members 5 which now swing downwardly to move the plies to their extreme limit of separation. At this point in the operation a paper section, which is to be inserted within the opened section, passes down through the spreader member 5 into place within the opened paper section. The cams 36 are so timed as to withdraw the needles and release the paper section as soon as the insert has been deposited. At the same time the paper supports 6 are opened to release the paper section by the rocking of the shafts and 8 on which 'the paper supporting members are mounted. An arm 76 mounted on the shaft 8 is adapted to be oscillated to rock the shaft 8 by the reciprocating movement. of the rod 77 which may be driven in any suitable manner from the drive shaft 27 as by means of the arm 93 operated by cam 94 on said shaft. Intermeshing gear segments 78 carried by the shafts 7 and 8 serve to bring about the operation of the shafts 7 and 8 and consequentlythe supporting members 6 in unison. The rocking of the shafts 7 and 8 opens the paper supports 6 and allows the stuffed'paper section to pass downwardly therethrough and through guiding members to the final ejecting rolls 79 mounted on the shaft 95.

To assist in the downward movement of the shafts 52 is adapted to be oscillated by the reciprocating movement of the rod 82 through the gears 85, 86, and 87, and thence through a flexible shaft 88 from the driving gear 89 meshing with the gear 90 on shaft 27. When the shafts 52 are rocked to bring the rolls 80 into engagement with the intervening paper section the rotation of the 'rolls, which are driven from the shaft 88. will eject the paper section, the movement of the paper rotating the remaining and idle rolls by frictional engagement there with.

The moving parts are so related and timed that the passage of a paper section through the apparatus is immediately followed by the restoration of the mechanism to a position in readiness to receive and stuff another section as will be evident.

What is claimed, is

1. A signature opening device including: means for partially opening a folded paper section, and swinging means having a movement in a plane substantially parallel to the folds of the section for further opening the section.

2. A signature opening device including: means for supporting a folded paper section in an upright position, means for partially separating the folds ofthe section, means for further separating said folds, and a vertically moving member cooperating with 'said separating' means for still further separating said folds of the section.

3. A signature opening device including: means for partially opening a folded paper section, and swinging means moving in a plane substantially parallel to the folds of the section and toward and from the folded edge thereof for further opening the section.

4. A signature opening device including: means for partially separating the plies of a folded signature, oscillating means moving in a plane substantially parallel to thefolds of the signature for further separating said plies, and oscillating means cooperating with the separating means for still further separating said plies.

5. A signature opening device including: means for supporting a folded signature in an upright position with the folded edge lowermost, means for partially opening the signature, and means comprising a separa tor blade for further separating the folds of the signature and spreader bars for still. further separating said folds.

6-. A signature opening device including: means for supporting a paper section in an upright position, means for partially opening the section while so supported, means moving upwardly and between the partially separated folds of the section for further separating the same, and means moving downwardly to cooperate with the upwardly moving means for completing the opening of the section. 7. A signature opening device including:

means for initially and partially opening a folded paper section at a corner thereof, swinging means moving between the partially separated folds of said section to separate further the folds thereof, and a second swinging means to still further separate said folds of the section.

8. A signature opening device including: means to support a folded signature, means to guide the signature to the support, means to initially and partially open the signature while being supported, means to further separate the folds of the signature, and means to operate said guiding .means to more completely open the signature.

9. A signature opening device comprising: means for supporting a folded signature in an...upright position with its fold lowermost, guides in spaced relation to each other above, said supporting means, means for partly opening said folded signature, and means for causing said guides to descend to complete the opening of the folded signature.

10. A signature opening device including: means for opening a folded paper section at one corner means to enter between the separated folds at said corner for further separating the folds of the section, and means arranged to move on opposite sides of said separating means for still further spreading said separated folds of the section.

11. A signature opening device including: means for supporting a folded paper section in an upright position, means partially opening said section while so supported, a

separating blade adapted to swing between the partially separated folds of the section, means to operate the blade, a pair, ofspaced and parallel bars to normally lie above the opened edge of the section, and means for swinging said bars for further separating the folds of the section.

12. In a signature opening device, means to partially open a folded paper section at a corner thereof, and swinging means movable substantially parallel with the folds of the section and toward and from the folded edge thereof to progressively spread the folds of the section from the point of initial separation and thereby increase the opening of the section. I s

13. A signature opening device including: a pair of opening devices, means to support a folded signature between said opening devices in an upright position-with its folded edge lowermost, means to operate said opening means to partially separate the folds of the signature at a corner thereof, means for further separating the folds of the signature, and means movable vertically to progressively spread the separated folds; of the signature from the point of initial separation and thereby still further open the signature.

14. In a signature opening device, means for supporting a folded signature in an upright position with its fold lowermost, guides in spaced relation to each other above said supporting means, means for partly opening said folded signature at one corner thereof, means for causing said guides to descend to progressively spread the folds of the signature from the corner thereof initially opened and thereby increase the opening of the signature.

15. In a signature opening device, two relatively movable opener frames, means for operating said frames, means for supporting a folded paper section between the frames, means carried by the frames and cooperating with each other for partially opening the section, a pivoted separating blade arranged to move between said frames to further separate the folds of said partially opened paper section, means for operating the blade,and

means for still further separating the folds of said section.

16. In a signature opening device, two relatively movable opener frames, means for operating said frames, means for supporting a folded paper section between the frames, means carried by the frames above said supporting means and cooperating to partially open the section, a pivoted separating blade arranged to move between said frames and the folds of said partially opened paper section, means for operating the blade, and pivoted spreading bars arranged in spaced relation to move on opposite sides of the separating blade and between the separated folds of the section for further opening the opened paper section, a second support,

spaced and parallel bars pivoted to the second support to swing between the folds for increasing the degree of opening of the section, and means to operate said blade and bars.

18. In a signature opening device, two relatively movable opener frames, means to support a folded paper section between the frames, means on the frames for partially opening the. section, a support, a blade pivoted to the support and arranged to move inwardly and upwardly between the folds of the partially opened paper section for separating the folds thereof, means to operate the blade, a second support, spaced and parallel bars pivoted to said second support to swing between the folds of the section, and means for operating the bars for moving the same downwardly in cooperation with said blade so that the section will be more completely opened.

19. A signature opening device including: movable opener frames, pairs of movable guides adapted to form a support for a folded paper section between the opener frames, intermeshing sectors for swinging the guides in unison and in opposite directions, means carried by the frames for partially opening the section, means for more completely opening the section, and means to impart motion to one of said sectors whereby said guides will open so as to deliver the section.

20. In a signature opening device, means to support 'a folded signature, pivoted frames arranged on opposite sides of the supporting means, ejecting rollers for ejecting the signature from the support, and

means for moving said frames toward and away from each other to engage and open the paper section. I

21., In a signature opening device, a movable support for a folded signature, means for moving the support to release the signature, frames arranged to move on opposite sides of the support, ejecting rollers journaled in the frames to engage said signature for ejecting the same, means for imparting motion to the rollers, and means for swinging said frames toward and away from each other to bring the rollers into engagement with the signature so as to eject the signature when the support has released the same.

22. In a signature opening device, relatively movable opener frames, relatively movable means for supporting a folded signature between said opener frames, means on said frames for partially opening the signature, means for more completely opening the signature, means for moving'the support to release the signature, a second pair of frames arranged to swing on opposite sides of the supporting means, ejecting rollers journaled in the secon frames, means to rotate the rollers, and means for swinging said second frames to move the rollers into and out of engagement with the signature for ejecting the same when released by said supporting means.

23. A si nature opening device comprisable frames arranged on opposite sides of the supporting means, ejecting rollers journaled in said frames, means for rotating the rollers, means for imparting motion to one of said frames, and means for moving the other of said frames from said first frame in unison and in an opposite direction for moving the ejecting rollers together so as to eject the signature when said support is opened.

25. A signature opening device includ-- ing: a pair of spaced apart pivoted arms adapted to'swing toward and from each other, inwardly extending overhanging portions formed on the upper ends of the arms, spaced and relatively movable means disposed between said arms for supporting folded signaturestherebetween in an upright position, means mounted on said overhanging portions of the arms for partially opening the signatures while being supported, means movable between said arms for more completely opening the signatures, and spaced and relatively movable means disposed between said arms for ejecting the signatures from between said arms.

26. In a signature opening device, swinging members adapted to be brought together to form a support for a folded paper section, swinging means to partly open the section while supported, swinging means for more completely opening the section, means to separate said supporting members, and swinging means carrying e ecting rollers to be brought together for ejecting the section when said supporting members are separated.

Signed 'at Massillon, in the county of Starkand State of Ohio, this fifteenth day of July 191%.

CLAUD D. CURRY. Witnesses:

ELLIS W. COOPER, CHAs. Bum). Signed at New York in the county of and State of New York, this 22nd dayof July, 1914.

FREDERICK W. EWALD.

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