US1610191A

US1610191A - Automatic blank-feeding apparatus for cup-forming machines

Info

Publication number: US1610191A
Application number: US575341A
Authority: US
Inventors: Barbieri Cesare
Original assignee: VORTEX Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: VORTEX Manufacturing CO
Priority date: 1922-07-15
Filing date: 1922-07-15
Publication date: 1926-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1943-12-07

Description

Dec; 7 1926.- 1,610,191" 4 c. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Filed July-15, 1 22 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 90. 707 jii/ Dec. 7,1926. 1,610,191

c. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANKFEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Filed July 15 1922 1O Sheets-Sht 2 1,610,191 (3. BARBIERI Fi 1e ly 1922 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 w MM A, MW N g AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS .FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES m A A Q RN H QM QM Mn w um i A x A J 1% A w NM mm Q NM... mm H w W Dec. 7 1926.

Dec. 7 I

c. BARBIERI AuToMATIc BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MAcHiNES Filed July 15-. 1922 10 Sheets-Shet 4 NQ kfiw SQ. my V R. ms QQW 3 R Q mkmQ m H .e i I m r v k QNT u 1 J 1 @N f .WNKN i 3K E d 1 Ni V \N\ f M 0 Dec. 7, 1926. 1, 10,191

c. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Filed July 15, 1922 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm 1 Hi I iml mmm Q III! 1,6 10,191 C; BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Filed July 15, 1922 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 3 w W F Dec. 7 1926.

EEEEE Dec. 7 1926. r c. BARBIERI AUTOMATICB LANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES File July 5. 1922 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Dec. 7 1926. 1,610,191

C. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES";'.'

File y 1922 10 heet 's Sheta Dec. 7 1926. 1,610,191

5 c. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING-APPARATUS FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Filed July 15, 1922 -l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 i 4" 7 /I I 61 22 Z I 72 I I 62 2b 5- :E [i121 I desarefian mrz Dec. 7,1926. 1,610,191

C. BARBIERI AUTOMATIC BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS/FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Fi e l 1922 10 Sheets-Shet 1o zze m {09 '1 //2 //3 /02 05 v Iv "v 7c?! 41 mm l WI VEEEi-IIIR Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES CESARE BARBIERI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOR TO THE VORTEX MFG. (10., OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC BLANK-FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CUP-FORMING MACHINES.

Application filed July 15.

This invention relates to automatic paper.

cup forming machines and more particularly to an automatic apparatus for use in connection with paper cup forming machines '5 for the purpose of automatically feeding roperly formed paper cup blanks singly into thefield of operation of rotating forming dies at predetermined intervals to permit the blanks to be formed into cups.

Heretofore, the cup blanks have been manually removed from a stack of blanks and placed, or pushed upon a reciprocating table to be delivered to the forming machine dies.

It is an object of this invention to pro- 5 vide an automatic blank feeding mechanism for an automatic-paper cup forming machine.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an attachment for a cup forming machine whereby a stack of cup blanks is adapted to be automatically raised a predetermined amount each time a blank is removed from the stack and automatically delivered into the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a blank feed mechanism wherein a blank supporting carriage is adapted to be automatically elevated each time a blank is automatically removed therefrom' and delivered upon a feed table by a suction means provided for'the purpose.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cup forming machine with a mechanism adapted to separate a cup blank .by means of an air blast from a stack oi blanks as said blank is buckled and lifted by a suction apparatus which delivers the blank to a feed table.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to provide a cup making machine with .a blank feed mechanism adapted to first I remove a blank from a vertically adjustable blank supply carriage and then transfer the blank to a table from which it is adapted to be automatically removed and transferred onto a reciprocating feed table provided with suitable stops for holding the blank in proper position to be fed into the field of operation of cup forming dies forming a part of'the machine.

7 Still another object of theinvention is to provide a cup forming machine with a blank feed carriage adapted when ablank is removed therefrom to be elevated by a feed deviceoperable' by a mechanism auto- 1922. Serial No. 575,341.

matically governed by the level of the uppermost blank on the carriage.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cup forming machine with a cam controlled arm having a suction mechanism thereon adapted to engage and remove the uppermost cup blank from a stack of blanks an transfer the blank into a position wherein the suction mechanism is automatically released to permit the elevated blank to be deposited upon a table into a position to be engaged by a gripping means and transferred thereby onto a reciprocating plate adapted to advance the blank into the field of operation of cup forming dies at a predetermined time to permit the blank to be gripped by said dies and formed into a cup.

It is anotherobject of this invention to provide a cup-formin machine having a reciprocating feed mec ianism adapted'to be operated from the machine to carry a blank from a stationary table onto a reciprocating table at a predetermined time to permit said blank to be fed between cup forming dies at a proper time in a cup forming operation.

It is an important object of this invention to dprovide an improved automatic blank fee ing mechanism for a cup forming machine, said mechanism being operable from the machine and timed to coact with forming dies of said machine.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a cup forming machine showing the automatic blank feeding mechanism embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine and the feed mechanism.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the machine and the blank feed mechanism with parts broken away.

Figure 4 is a detail top plan view of the 105 feed mechanism illustrating the different positions of a cup blank during its progress into the machine.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevational view of the blank feed mechanism taken on line 110 -5 of Figure 4 showing the parts in starting position.

Figure 6 is a similar View illustrating the second operation in the feeding of a blank.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure (i illustrating the positions of the mechanisms as a blank is delivered upon the stationary table.

Figure 8 is a. reduced top plan view of the machine supporting frame illustrating the driving mechanisms for transmitting a drive to the automatic blank feeding mechanisms.

Figure 9 is a vertical detail section of the feed mechanism taken on line 99 of Figure 2 with parts in elevation.

Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical detail section taken on line 1010'of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary detail view of the feed release mechanism taken on line 1111 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail section of the blank carrying carriage taken on line 1212 of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 1313 of Figure 5 with parts omitted.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 1414 of Figure 5.

Figure 15 is a detail view taken on line 1515 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a detail view taken on line 1616 of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View taken on line 1717 of Figure 4.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 18--18 of Figure 1.

Figure 19 is a detail section taken through the table on line 1919 of Figure 4.

Figure 20 is a detail View taken on line 2020 of Figure 18.

Figure 21 1s a side elevation of the detail shown in Figure 20.

Figure 22 isv a detail view taken on line 22-22 of Figure 10 with parts omitted.

Figure 23 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 23-23 of Figure 10.

Figure 24 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section of the blank transferring mechanism taken on line 24-24 of Figure 3.

Figure 25 is ,a detail section taken on line 2525 of Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a detail view taken on line 2626 of Figure 14.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a machine frame having supported thereon a head 2. Mounted in suitable bearings in the machine head 2 is a main driving shaft adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power. Secured on the driving shaft is a driving gear 3 meshing with a larger gear 4 supported on a shaft 5 held in bearings in the head 2. Also fixed on the to the machine frame 1.

.ing fixed on its lower end a;. cup pressing cone or die 14 for coaction with the cone 8. A cone scraping mechanism 15 is positioned to coact with the pressing cone 14 and is supported by means of a bracket 16 forming a part of the pivoted sleeve 11. Fixed on the shaft 13 is a beveled gear 17 which meshes at all times with a beveled gear 18 mounted on the shaft 7.

The cup forming machine hereinbefore described is similar in construction and operation to the paper cup forming machine shown and described in my co-pending application for patent for an automatic cup forming machine, filed October 28th, 1918, Serial No. 259,986, the entire interest in which has been assigned to The Vortex Mfg. (70.. of-Chicago, Illinois.

The cup forming machine has attached thereto an automatic cup blank feed mechanism which covers this invention. A'st-a- 'tionary inclined table 19 is rigidly mounted upon a bracket 20 of the frame 1. A

slide table 21 is mounted beneatlrthe table,

19 upon

suitable guides

22 and 23, the ends of which are supported on the bracket 20. An arm or lever 24 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 25 supported on bearings 32 secured The free endof the lever 24 is connected by means of a link -to one of the supporting brackets 26 of the slide table 21 so that with each oscillation of the lever 24 Wlll cause a corresponding longitudinal movement of the slide table 21 substantially in the plane. of themeeting surfaces of the cup forming dies 8 and 14 of the cup forming machine.

Any suitable means may be provided for oscillating the lever 24. In the form shown, a plate or arm 27 is mounted upon the pivot shaft 25 withthe free end of said arm 27 connected by a spring 28 to the lever 24. A boss 29 is provided on the lever 24 with an adjustable screw 30 extending therethrough and arranged to normally contact with an extension 31 formed on the arm 27. The spring 28 acts to resiliently maintain the screw 30 in contact with the extension 31 of the arm 27 Secured to shaft 25 is acrank arm 33 to the upper end of which is pivotally .connected one end of a. link 34, the other end being pivotally connected eccentrically to the gear 4 to receive a drive therefrom. Also pivotally connected to the crank arm 33 below the link 34 is one end of a connecting rod or link 35, the other end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a crank arm 36 fixed on a shaft 37. The shaft 37 is disposed parallel to the shaft on the opposlte side of the machine frame 1 and is supported by bearing brackets 38 secured to the machine frame. Also secured to the oposite end of the shaft 37 is a crank arm 39.

ivotally connected to the free end of the crank arm 39 is the upper end of an operating bar or red 40, the lower end of which is pivotally connected intermediate the ends of a lever 41 to a support 59 adjustable by means of a screw 60 (see Figure 1). The

lever 41 has the lower end thereof pivotally supported on a stub shaft 42 supported in a bearing 43 formed integrally on a bracket 44 secured to the machine frame 1.

Mounted upon the stationary table 19 is a blank retaining spring or arm 45 beneath which cup blanks slide when being advanced to the reciprocating table 21. Secured upon the upper surface of the movable table 21 is a blank guide block 46 and a blank guide flange 47. The shiftable table 21 is provided with an opening or notch 48 in U which the bent end or projection 49 of' a blank supporting bar 50 is adapted to be engaged when the table 21 is in its advanced feeding position. The bar 50 is slidably supported on the underside of the reciproeating table 21. The bar 50 serves to hold the advance projecting ends of the cup blanks in an elevated position when the shiftable table 21 is advanced. Secured to the bottom of the stationary table 19 and projecting out over the top of the reciprocating table 21 is a blank stop 51. Secured to the slidable table 21 is a guide' bar or rod 52.

Attached to the slidable table 21 is one end of a bar 53 having a rack 54 formed or secured thereon. Fixed on the machine frame 1 is one end of a horizontal beam or bar'55, the outer end of which is supported by means of upright parallel guide rails 56, the lower ends of which are supported on the bracket 44. Slidably engaged on the bar 53 is a block 57 having a boss or projection 58 formed on one side thereof and projecting through a slot in the upper end of the lever 41 to permit the lever 41 when operating to slide the block 57 back and forth on the rack bar extension 53. Fastened to the block 57 is one arm 61 of an angle member,

the other arm 62 of which is disposed to slide against the outer surface of the stationary bar 55. The angle member arm 61 is bent upwardly to afford an inclined finger or blank grip 63 which projects upwardly over the lower margins ofthe tables 19 and 21 as shown in Figure 18. Secured to the angle member arm 61 is an upwardly direct-ed channel bracket 64 carrying a pivot pin 65. Fulcrumed on the pin 65 is an arm 66 one end of which is disposed above the finger 63 and has a gripping shoe 67 pivotthe fulcrume ally supported thereon to e-oact with the .end of a link or toggle 72 having the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of a toggle or link 73. The lower toggle member 73 is pivoted to the angle memher arm 62 and is provided with notches 74 for receiving a cross piece 75 on the to 'gle 72. Fixed on the stationary bar 55 is a oss 76 having a set screw 77 adjustably engaged therethrough and disposed in the path of the cross piece 7 5of the toggle 72 to break the straight line toggle connection between the

toggles

72 and 73 as illustrated in Fig ure 1 when the bloek57 is at one end of its movement. Also fixed on the stationary bar 55 is a boss 78 having a set screw 79 adjustably engaged therethrough and also disposed in the path of the

toggles

72 and 73 to move saidtoggles in alignment as shown in Figure 20. The operation of the

toggles

72 and 73 when in alignment causes the bolt 70 to slide upwardly against the screw 69 thereby causing the arm 66 to swing the gripping shoe 67 into gripping contact with the finger 63. When the toggle alignment is broken, the spring 68 acts on the arm 66 and lifts the gripping shoe 67 away from the finger 63 to release a cup blank.

Bolted or otherwise secured upon the horizontal bar 55 is a plate or casting 80 having a long upright arm 81 and a short upright arm 82 integrally formed thereon. Also integrally formed on the late 80 is. a

bearing sleeve 83 through whici the upper plain end of a feed screw 84 projects. The lower end of the feed screw 84 is journalled in a bearing sleeve 85 integrally formed on the bracket 44. A handle 86 is secured on the upper end of'the feed screw 84 for manual rotation of the feed screw when desired.

A vertically movable carriage 87 is provided having an inclined top plate for carrying a stack of cup blanks 88. Mounted on the carriage 87 are

rollers

89 and 90 which are positioned to track on opposite sides of the guide rails 56 to hold the earriagein apredetermined path. Formed on the carriage 87 is an arm 91 having an opening therein through which the feed screw 84 projects. Pivotally mounted on the carriage arm 91 by means of pins 92 is a pair of gripping handles 93 each having a half nut 94 integrally formed thereon for engagement with the feed screw 84. The handles 93 are separated by means of a coiled spring 95 which acts to hold the two half nuts 94 engaged against opposite sides of the carria e feed screw to permit the carriage to e raised or lowered when the feed screw 84 is rotated.

The mechanism for automatically rotating the feed screw 84 to move the carriage comprises a ratchet 96 which is fixed on tie feed screw 84 by means of a hub 97. A pawl 98 coacts with the ratchet 96 and is supported on a p'n 99 which projects downwardly 1 through an opening provided in one arm of a bell-crank 100. The bell-crank 100 is pivotally engaged on the upper portion of the feed screw 84: between the ratchet 96 and the hearing 83. Attached to the bell-crank 100 is-one end of a spring 101 which is formed to engage against a flattened surface on the lower projecting end of the pin. 99 to hold the pawl in resilient contact with the ratchet 96. Connected to the long arm of the bellcrank 100 is one end of a coiled spring 102, the other end of which is attached to the stationary upright arm 81. The spring 102 acts to normally hold the long arm of the bell-crank 100 against the end of a stop pin or rod 103 which is fastened to one side of the stationary upright arm 81 to limit the throw of the bell-crank by the spring 102.

Projecting through the stationary upright arm 81 is an upper horizontal stationary rod or shaft 104 provided with a longitudinal slot 105. An arm 106 is rigidly secured near the slotted end of said shaft 104. A short rod 107 is secured to the outer end of the arm 106 and is disposed parallel to the upper shaft 104. Also supported on the upright arm 81 is a lower horizontal stationary rod or shaft108 parallel and disposed below the upper shaft 104. Slidably engaged on both of the shafts 10 1 and 108 to the outside of the upright arm 81 is a sliding yoke or bracket 109 having an arm 110 integrally formed thereon. Fulcrumed on the yoke arm 110 is a member 111 to which one end of a bar 112 is secured. The bar 112 is positioned to slide on a shoulder 113 provided on the stationary upright arm 81 to permit said bar to coact with the bell-crank 100 to cause rotation of the feed screw 84 by the pawl 98 acting on the ratchet 96. Pivotally connected to one end of the member 111 is one end of a link 114, the other end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a beam 115 fulcrumed on a pin 116 on the slidable yoke 109. A roller 117 is rotatably mounted on the second end of the fulcrumed beam 115 and is positioned to track upon'the uppermost cup blank 88 .when the upper level of the stack of cup blanks reaches or passes a predetermined level. In case the cup blank carrying carriage has been fed upwardly to dispose the level of the uppermost cup blank above a proper feeding position, the roller 117 riding on the uppermost blank will cause the beam 115 to be tilted so that the bar- 112 will be tipped upwardly above the level of the bell-crank 100 to prevent the bar 112 from operating said bell-crank, thus temporarily discontinuing the upward feed of the carriage 87 by the feed screw 84.

Rot-atably supported on the short upr1ght arm 82 of the casting 80 is a gear 118 which is in mesh with the lower rack 54 and with an upper rack 119. The upper ck 119 is horizontally disposed and is secured to the lower end of an intermediate bracket or yoke 120 which is slidably mounted on both of the

stationary shafts

104 and 108. The rack 119 is provided with a shoulder 121 adapted to coact with the yoke 109 to slide the same in one direction on the shafts 10 1 and 108. A cylindrical extension rod 122 is integrally formed on the rack 119 and slidably projects through an opening provided in the lower portion of the yoke 109. A head 123 is formed on the end of the rack extension rod 122 to slide the yoke 109 in the opposite direction on the shafts 104i and 108,

Integrally formed on the upright arm 81 is a boss 124 in whichone end of a stationary stub shaft- 125 is rigidly secured. Fastened to the stub shaft 125 is a bracket 126 which projects outwardly and downwardly and has a stop arm 127 secured thereto in position to serve as a stop against which the uppermost cup blanks 88 are adapted to engage to hold the cup blanks properly stacked on the carriage 87.

Rigidly secured on the end of the stub shaft 125 is a casting or block 128 having an opening therein through which a rod or shaft 129 slidably projects. A head 130 is fixed on the outer end of the shaft 129 to limit the inward movement of said shaft when said head 130 contacts the block 128. Secured on the inner end of the shaft 129 is a plate 131 having a cam edge 132. A projection or stop 133 is formed on the cam plate 131.- VVound around the shaft 129 is a coiled spring 134, one end of which bears against the block 128 while the other end engages against the cam plate 131. The cam.

plate 131 is positioned to slidably project through a guide block 135 integrally formed on the yoke 120 and against which the projection 133 is adapted to be engaged. A retaining plate .136 is removably secured'to the block 135 by screws orother suitablemeans to form a suitable guide for the cam plate 131. Slidably projecting through an opening in the block 135 is a rod 137 having stop collars 138 secured on one end thereof. A coiled spring 139 is engaged aroundthe rod 137 between the block 135 and the stop collars 138.' Rigidly secured or integrally formed on the other end of the slidable rod 137 is a gr'iide earn 140 having a cam edge 14]. which together with the cam edge 132 of the cam plate 131 afl'ords a guide passage for a roller 142 which is'adapted to roll on the cam edge 132 of the cam plate 131 as hereinafter described.

A cup blank buckling mechanism is provided and comprises a bracket 143 which is supported on the shaft 125 and has pivotally supported in the bifurcated end thereof the reduced end 144 of bar 145. A rod 1461s secured in the end of the bar projection 144 and has a counterweight 147 adjustably engaged thereon to normally hold the bar 145 in an elevated position. The end of the bar 145 is bifurcated or notched to permit a handle 148 to be pivotally supported therein. Fastened on the lower end of the handle 148 is a cup blank pusher or head 149 made of Ill rubber or other suitable material. One end of aplate spring 150 is secured to the top of the bar 145 while the free end of said spring bears against the upper end of the pusher mounted therein. The valve 163 is handle 148 to normally hold the pusher 149 swung underneath the bar 145 as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Secured to one side of the bar 145 is a downwardly directed arm 151 having a tapered finger or extension 152 integrally formed thereon. Fastened to the bottom of the block 135 is a bracket 153 to which an arm 154 is secured at right angles as shown in Figure 15 for coaction with the tapered finger 152 on the arm 151. A lug 155 is bent upwardly from the bracket 153 and has a screw 156 threaded therethrough and held in an adjusted set position by a lock nut 157. The screw 156 is disposed in the path of the pusher handle 148 to coact with said handle to operate the pusher at a predetermined time. For the purpose of limiting the swing of the pusher handle 148 by the spring 150, a screw 158 is engaged through the handle 148 to coact with a stop 159 formed on the bottom of the bar 145 as illustrated in Figure 15.

Slidably engaged on the

stationary shafts

104 and 108 is a block or yoke 160 connected to the slidable yoke 120 by means of a coiled spring 161. The yoke 160 is provided with a key which slides in the groove 105 of the shaft 104. Formed upon the yoke 160 is a valve casing 162 having a valve 163 rotatably rovided with a uadrant groove 164 into WlllCll a pin 165 in t e casing projects to limit the movement of the valve within said casing to a quarter of a revolution (see Figure 23). The

' valve 163 is also provided with a diametrical passage 166 and with .an air inlet passage or groove/167. An air intake opening 168 is provided in the valve casing 162. Connected in an outlet assage of the valve casing 162 is one-end o at flrxible hose or pipe 169, the other end ofwhich is connected to an air exhaust-or suction mechanism of any desired type (not shown). Connected in an intake passage of the. valve casing 162 is one end of tween a pair of parallel bent arms 177 by.

means of a bolt 178 or similar means. 1 The two arms 177 are provided with curved slots 179 through which pins 180 on the block 17 6 project to limit the swinging of the 'block about the bolt 17 8. The two arms 177 are secured to opposite sides of a U-shaped casting 181 having an integral extension or arm 182 which is pivoted on a in 183 supported on the lower end of a brac st 184 secured to the slidable yoke 160. Integrally formed on the U-shaped casting 181 is a projection 185 on which the roller 142 is rotatably mounted for coaction with the cam plate 131. Also fixed on the nozzle containin block 17 6 is a pin 186 adapted to coact with the hooked bracket 187 integrally formed on the plate 136 secured to the block 135 of the slidable yoke 120.

Integrally formed on the valve 163 is a valve stem 188 which projects through a sleeve 189 of the valve casing 162 and has a lever 190 fixed on the outer end thereof and disposed between the spaced ends of the rod 107 and a rod 191 secured to thesta'tionary upright arm 81 in alignment with the rod 107.

Mounted on themachine frame is an air nozzle 192 connected with an air supply pipe 193 having a control valve 194 therein. As shown in Figure 5, the air nozzle 192 is positioned to blow air between the upper cup blanks 88 on the feed carriage 87 to separate said blanks to permit proper automatic feeding of the same into the machine. To hold the cup blanks 88 in a stack one above the other on the carriage 87, guide bars or rods 195 are supported on the machine bracket 44 and extend upwardly at one side of the carriage 87.

The operation is as follows:

The cup forming machine is adapted to be.

operated through a driving shaft connected with any suitable source of power and having the gears 3 and 6 mounted thereon. The gear 6 is adapted'to impart a drive to the shaft 7 on which the main cup forming die 8 is supported. The beveled gear 18 on the shaft 7 being in mesh with the beveled gear 17 acts to rotate the auxiliary shaft 13 a d he resser die 14 mounted on the end thereof. The cup forming dies 14 and 8 are separated at the beginning of a cup forming ing, a reciprocating motion is iven to the slidable table 21 by. means of e lever 24. The lever 24 is oscillated from the shaft 25 which is rocked back and forth by the crank arm 33 connected eccentrically by the link 34 to the gear 4 to receive a drive therefrom.

This invention relates to a cup forming machine attachment adapted to feed cup blanks into the cup forming machme automatically at predetermined intervals. Be-

.fore the cupforming machine is started, the

handles 93 are gripped manually and forced toward one another thereby compressing the spring 95 and moving the half nut members 94 out of engagement with the carriage feed screw 84. The carriage 87 is thus released and is permitted to slide downwardly with the guide'

rollers

89 and 90 thereof tracking on opposite sides of the guide rails 56. The carriage 87 is thus lowered to the lower end of the feed screw or to any desired elevation. The handles 93 are then released and the spring 95 acts'to force said handles apart thereby again moving the half nuts 94 into threaded engagement with the feed screw 84. A stack ofcup blanks of the required shape are now placed upon the inclined top plate of the carriage 87 and against the guide bars 195 and the guide 127 which act to holdthe cup blanks properly stacked upon the feed carriage.

When the machine is started, the table 21 is reciprocated as already described. As shown in Figure 22, the spring 102 acts to hold the long arm of the bell-crank 100 against the end of the stop pin 103 and the spring 101 holds the pawl 98 in engagement with the ratchet 96 to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet and the feed screw 84. As the table 21 is moved from its innermost position, illustrated in Figure 3, outwardly beneath the stationary table 19, the rack 54 attached to the slidable table .21 is moved outwardly thereby rotating the gear 118 which being in mesh with the rack 119 pulls said rack inwardly thereby sliding the yoke 120 and at the same time pulling the rack extension 122 through the yoke 109 until the head 123 on said extension contacts said yoke 109 and forces the same inwardly on the

shafts

104 and 108 toward the stationary arm 81. As the yoke 109 slides inwardly,

the bar 112 connected with said yoke slides inwardly over the shoulder 113 of the arm 81 and is forced against the bell-crank 100 operating the same and thereby causing the pawl 98 to rotate the ratchet 96 and the feed screw 84. It will thus be noted that as the table 21 continues to be reciprocated, the

- feed screw 84 is rotated, thereby causing the carriage 87 to be gradually elevated to raise the stack of cup blanks a predetermined amount with each reciprocation of the slide table.

It is desired to keep the level of the uppermost blank of the stack at a certain height to permit proper feeding of the cup blanks into the machine. Should theblank carryingcarriage 87 be elevated too high, the roller 117 is adapted to track over the top of the stack of cup blanks and causes the beam 115 to pivot thereby forcing the link 114 downwardly to cause the bar .112 to swing upwardly out of the plane of thebells,

crank 100. Th bar will thus pa -s over the bell-crank 100 and will not actuate the same so that no further feeding of the blank carrying carriage 87 will take place until thelevel of the stack of cup blanks has been reduced to the required level.

It will thus be noted that the feed carriage 87 is adapted to be automatically fed upwardly as cup blanks are taken therefrom and that the feeding of the carria e is automatically stopped when the cup lanks are elevated above a predetermined level. When the machine is in operation, the air valve 194 is opened to permit air to be blown through the nozzle 192 against one side of the upper portion of the stack of cup blanks. 'This is done to separate the fiat cup blanks so that only one blank at a time will he removed from the stack.

With the slidable table 21 in its innermost osition, the roller 142 is positioned at the ower end of the cam 1.31 holding the blank raising arm 177 in its lowered position with the plate 173 of the suction nozzle 171 resting upon the uppermost cup blank 88 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5.. At the time that the table 21 reaches its innermost position, the valve control lever 190 contacts the stop rod 191, thereby causing the valve 163 to be moved into the open positidn of Figure 23 wherein the valve passage 166 is in register with the

pipes

169 and 170. The suction in the pipe 169 causesair to be drawn inwardly through the nozzle passages 172 and the pipe 170 then through the valve passage 166 and out through the air exhaust pi e 169. The suction thus produced at t e nozzle 171 acts Ito automatically draw the uppermost cu Ian: .88 u wardl a ainst the plate 173. p y g 7 As the above operation takes place, the yoke 120 moving on the

shafts

104 and 108 approaches the stationary upright arm 81 thereby carrying the bracket 153 towards the blank pusher mechanism disclosed in detail in Figure l5. The arm 154 is thus moved into engagement with the tapered end .of

the finger 152 thereby causing the fulcrumed' bar 145 to swing downwardly raising the counterweight 147. As this operation occurs, the screw 156 carried by the lug 155 on the bracket 153 is brought into contact with the upper end of the pusher handle 148 thereby swinging the handle against the action of the control spring 150 and at the same time causing the lowered pusher head 149 now in contact with the uppermost cup blank 88 to push said uppermost blank and buckle the same as shown in Figure. 5 to separate it from the blank immediately therebelow. The uppermost blank is thus attracted to the lifter plate 173 by suction and buckled by the pusher head 149 ready to be lifted from the stack and transferred,

I onto the stationary table 19.

As the slide table 21 reaches its innermost position, the

toggle mechanisms

72 and 73 are in the straight line position otFigure 20 and are thus carried by the sliding member 6162 which is actuated by the pivoted lever 41. The toggle mechanisms are thus advanced into engagement with the set screw 77 as shown in Figure 1 which acts to break the straight line toggle connection therebypulling the plunger downwardly permitting the spring 68 to release the gripping shoe 67 moving the same away from the finger 63 into the position shown in Figure 18.

As the table 21 is retracted by the lever 24, the rack 54 operates the gear 118 and the rack 119 thereby causin the-rack 119 to move the yoke 120 away from the stationary arm 81 carrying the guide cam 140 therewith. The control spring 134 on the rod 129 having been compressed by the block 135 moving against the stop 133 on the cam 131 now acts automatically to push the cam 131 inwardly from the position illustrated in Figure 5 into the position shown in Figure 6.. The cam 131 is thus pushed beneath the roller 142 which rolls upwardly on the cam edgc 132 thereby automatically causing the arm 177 to swing upwardly about the pivot 183. The top cupblank 88 is thus lifted. away from the stack into the position shown in Figure 6 and the block 17 6 swings downwardly about the pivot 178 with the guide pins 180 tracking in the .curved grooves 179. I

- With the continued retraction of the table 21, the yoke 120 is graduallyImOVed into contact with the slidableyoke 160 and the hooked bracket 187 is moved into position beneath the pin 186 on the block 176 of the suction blank lift mechanism. The yoke 160 is thus pushed by the yoke 120 away from the stationary arm 81 and toward the position illustrated in Figure 7. With the retraction of the yoke 120, the spring 134 V continues to act on the cam 131 and its rod 129 until the head 130 contacts the block 128 which limits the further movement of said cam. As the yoke 160 is pushed away from the arm 81, the roller 142 rolls downwardly on the cam edge 132 of the-cam 131 thereby gradually lowering the arm 177 and the.

suction block mechanism carrying the cup blank 88 as said cup blank is carried over one end of the stationary table 19 from the position A of Figure 4 into position B. As the arm,177 is lowered, the pin 186 on the block 17 6 is seated on the hook member 187 thereby causing the block 17 6 to swing 7 the bar 145 at thesame time that the counterweight 147 swings the bar 145 upwardly in normal position ready for the next operation.

As the cup blank is moved into the position shown in Figure 7 over one end of the stationary table 19, the lever 41 operated by the rod 40 moved the bracket 61 -62 longitudinally over the stationary bar 55 into a position wherein the toggle members 72-73 are brought into engagement with the set screw 79. This operation causesthe toggle members 727 3 to be moved into the straight line position of Figure 20 thereby pushing the plunger 70 upwardly "against the screw 69 on the fulcru'med arm 66. The gripping shoe 67 is thus moved toward the gripping finger 63 clamping one margin of stop "rod 107 supported by the. member 106 on the shaft 104. The valve lever 190 is thus actuated to cause the valve 163 to rotate through a quarter of a turn thereby shutting ofi the connection'between the suctionpipe 169 and the pipe 170 and moving the groove 167 to connect the pipe 170 with the air intake opening 168 thereby breaking the suction action on the raised cup-blank. 88 which is consequently automatically released. y Y

At this stage in the operation, the lever 24 starts to advance the reciprocating table 21' inwardly toward the'cup t'orming' dies 8 and 14. As the-table 21 moves inwardly, the lever 41 also .f s'wii'i'gs back toward the position shown in Figure '1, thereby sliding the cup blank gripping mechanisms on the bracket 61-62 inwardly'to advance oi" pull .the cup blank 88 from the position B of Figure 4 over the stationary table 19 an d befront of the

stops

46 and 51. The

toggle members

72 and 7 3 are also advanced toward the rack 54 acting on the gear 118- causes the upper rack 119 to slide outwardly thereby moving the yoke 120 outwardly toward the stationary arm 81. As the yoke 120 advances, the spring 161 connecting the

yokes

120 and 160 acts to pull the yoke 160 out-- wardly in the

shafts

104 and 108 with the key in the yoke 160 sliding in the slot 105 of the upper shaft 104. The roller 142 on the arm 177 is thus again brought into engagement with the lower end of the cam 131 and advances up the cam edge 132 to elevate the arm 177 and the suction cup blank lifting mechanismso that the pin 186 and the block 176 is elevated, out of the hook member 187.

When the key on the yoke 160 reaches the end of the slot 105, the yoke 160 is held stationary while the yoke 120 continues to ad- Vance toward the arm 81 thereby moving the hooked arm 187' away from beneath the in 186 and at the same time advancing the guide 140 toward the cam 131. When the yoke block 135 reaches the stop 133 on the cam 131, the cam is pushed a ainst the action of the spring 134 towar the arm 81 thereby moving the stop head 130 outwardly away from the stationary block 128. As the cam 131 is moved away from the now stationary yoke 160, the roller 142' rolls down the cam edge 132 thereby automatically lowering the arm 177 and the suction mechanism into the lowered position of Fig- .-ure 5 into contact with the top cup blank on the carriage 87 When the yoke 120 starts to move away from the yoke 160, thespring 161 is tensioned.

.When a cup blank 88 is deposited upon the advancing table 21 into position C of Figure 4, a ortion of the blank projects beyond the a vance edge of the table 21 and is supported upon the supporting bar 50. The cup blank 88 is thus supported upon the' table 21 against the stops 46 and 47 with the projecting portion of the blank resting on the bar projection 49 to hold the advance portion of the cup blank at an elevation substantially in the plane of the meeting surfaces of the cup forming dies 8 and 14- of the machine.

As the advance end of the cup blank 88 is projected between the forming dies 8 and I 14, the raised portion of the cam 9 rotates away from the roller 10 thereby permitting ing dies 8 and 14 to permit a paper cup to be automatically formed and then discharged from the forming die 8 by mechanisms forming a part of the cup forming machine.

After a cup blank has been automatically fed between the forming dies and gripped thereby, the table 21 is again automatically retracted from beneath the cup blank 88 permitting the trailing end of said cup blank to be supported by the bar 50 and the projection 49 at the end thereof.

The cycle of operations may be repeated as often as desired to permit the cup blanks 88 on the carriage 87 to be automatically elevated' and then lifted automatically one by one from the stack onto the stationary table 19 from which the blanks are automatically gripped and transferred onto the reciprocating table 21 and then released to permit the blanks to be automatically fed into the field of operation of the cup forming dies to be formed into cups."

If desired, the feed screw 84 may be rotated manually by means of the handle 86 to elevate the carriage 87.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention,-and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

.1. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, a movable table, means connected with the movable table and operable from the machine for reciprocating the movable table, and a cup blank feeding attachment connected with the machine and operable by the reciprocating table and from the machine for automatically feeding cup blanks into the machine over said stationary table and onto the reciprocating table.

2. The combination with a cup forming machine and the reciprocating feed table thereof, of a. cup blank feed attachment supported on the machine and operable by said feed table.

The combination with a cup forming machine and the forming dies thereof, of means for advancing cup blanks between said forming dies a mechanism operable by said advancing means for lifting cup blanks from a stack of blanks, and means operable by the machine for transferring the lifted blanks onto the advancing means.

4. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary and reci rocating tables thereof, of a cup blank ifting mechanism, means for raising a stack of cup blanks into the field of operation of the cup blank lifting mechanism, means connected to be operated by the reciprocating table to actuate the lifting mechanism to cause a cup blank to be lifted from said stack and delivered to said stationary table, and a transfer mechanism operable by the machine for transferring the blank from the stationary table onto said reciprocating table to be fed into the machine.

5. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a blank feeding attachment connected to be operated from the machine and comprising a cup blank lifting mechanism, a movable carriage for carrying a stack of cup blanks, means for advancing the carriage toward the lifting mechanism, means operated from the machine for actuating the lifting mechanism to cause a cup blank to be lifted from the carriage, and means operated from the machine for engaging the lifted cup blank and conveying the same into the machine.

6. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a mechanism operable from the machine for automatically removing the cup blanks one at a time from a stack of cup blanks, means for gripping the removed cup blanks and drawing the same up to the machine, and means for automatically releasing the gripping means to permit the cup blanks to be fed into the machine.

7. The combination with a cup forming machine, of movable means for carrying a stack of cup blanks, suction means for engaging a cup blank on said stack, means for buckling the engaged cup blank, a cam mechanism for elevating and advancing the suction means to elevate and advance the engaged cup blank, means. for releasing the elevated'eup blank, and a device for gripping the released cup blank and feeding the same intov the machine.

8. A cup forming machine blank feedingattachment comprising a blank carryin'g carriage, mechanisms for automatically re-q moving and carrying blanks from said carriage, means. for gripping .the blanks and continuing the advancement thereof, and means for releasing the gripping means to permit the blanks to be released when sufiiciently advanced.

9. A cup forming machine blank feeding attachment comprising a blank carrying carriage, means for separating the blanks thereon, mechanisms for automatically removing and carrying blanks from said carriage one at a time, means for releasing the blanks from said mechanisms, a gripping mechanism for engaging the released blanks to advance the same, and means for causin the gripping mechanism to release the blan s at a predetermined time.

10. A cup blank feeding attachment com' prising a carriage for carrying a stack of cup blanks, means for separating the blanks, a mechanism for engaging the uppermost blank, a pusher for buckling said uppermost blank, means for raising and advancing said mechanism to remove the blank from the carriage, means for causing said mechanism to release the blank, a gripping device adapted to engage the blank and continue to advance the same, and means for causing the gripping device to automatically release the advanced blank at a .predetermined time.

11. A cup blank feeding attachment comprising a carriage for carrying a stack of cup blanks, guides for said cup blanks, means for advancing the carriage, a device for engaging the uppermost cup blank, :1.

same to cause gripping of the cup blank, a

lever mechanism for advancing the gripping mechanism and said cup blank, and meansfor releasing the gripping mechanism to cause release of the cup blank.

12. A cup blank feeding attachment comprising a carriage for carrying a stack of cup blanks, a pawl and ratchet mechanism, means for operating the same at intervals to cause the carriage to be elevated, a pivoted arm, a suction'mechanism thereon, a cam device for lowering said arm to permit the suction mechanism to rest upon the uppermost cup blank on said carriage, means for operating the suction mechanism to attract the uppermost cup blank, means for advancing the arm and said suctionmechanism, means for actuating said cam to cause elevation of said arm and said suction mechnism, a device acting on the suction mechanism for releasing the lifted cup blank, a gripping means, a mechanism for operating the gripping means to cause grippin of the released cup blank, a pivoted mem er for advancing the gripping means and the cup blank engaged thereby, and a stop member for releasing the gripping means to cause release of the cup blank when sufiicientlyi; v

the elevating means and advancing the blank, a valve governing said mechanism,

and stationary means for causing operation of said valve and release-of said blank when advanced.

14. A cup blank feeding attachment comprising a blank holder, a cam operated suction mechanism for removing a blank from said holder and advancing the blank, a valve forming a part of said mechanism, a stop iao rod for operating said valve for causing release of said blank when advanced a predetermined distance, and a reciprocating mechanism for advancing the blank a further distance.

15. -A cup blank feeding'attachment comprising means for supporting cup blanks, means for automatically lifting a cup blank from said supporting means, a stationary table, a guide member thereon, a reciprocating table, means for advancing the lifting means over said stationary table, a device for causing the lifting means to deposit the cup blank upon said stationary table, a reciprocating mechanism for transferring the deposited blank from said stationary table onto said reciprocating table, and means for operating the reciprocating table to further advance the cup blank.

16. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a cup blank feeding attachment supported thereon, a reciprocating table operable from the machine, and rack and gear means'connecting said attachment with the reciprocating table machine to receive a drive therefrom to cause cup blanks to be automatically fed into the machine.

17. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a cup blank feeding attachment supported thereon, rack and gear means connecting said attachment with the machine to receive a drive therefrom to cause cup blanks to be automatically fed a certain distance into the machine, and reciprocating means operated from the machine adapted to engage the cup blanks and advance the same the remaining distance into the machine.

18. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary and reciprocating tables thereof, of an attachment on the machine operated by the reciprocating table to automatically deliver cup blanks onto said stationary table, a slidable bracket, gripping members thereon, and a lever mechanism operated from the machine for moving said bracket to permit the gripping members to transfer the cup blanks from said stationary table onto the reciprocating table to be delivered into the machine.

19. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary and reciprocating tables forming a part thereof, of means operated from the machine for delivering cup blanks to said stationary table, and mechanisms also operated from the machine for transferring the cup blanks from the stationary table onto said reciprocating table to be delivered into the machine.

20. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary and reciprocating tables thereof, of means for delivering cup blanks to said stationary table, and means operated from the machine for transferring the cup blanks from said stationary table onto said reciprocating table.

21. The combination with a cup forming machine and the stationary and movable tables thereof, of means for delivering cup blanks upon the stationary table, a bar supported on the machine, stops adj ustably supported thereon, a bracket slidably supported on said bar, gripping members carried by said bracket, a toggle mechanism on said bracket for controlling said gripping members, a lever pivoted on the machine and connected with said bracket, and means operated from the machine for oscillating the lever whereby the lever when swinging in one direction acts to move the toggle mechanism into engagement with one of said stops to cause the gripping members to engage a cup blank on said stationary table so that when the lever swings in the opposite direction the gripped cup blank is transferred from the stationary table onto the movable table and released when the toggle mechanism is brought into engagement with the other stop.

22. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, a reciprocating table, and means 0 erated from the machine for automatica ly drawing cup blanks from said stationary table onto said reciprocating table.

23. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, a. reciprocating table, a gripper mechanism on the machine for transferring cup blanks from the stationary table to the reciprocating table, and a mechanism connected with said gripper mechanism and operated from the machine for reciprocating the gripper mechanism.

24. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, a reciprocating table, a resilient guide on said stationary table, and means-operated from the machine for automatically drawing cup blanks from said stationary table underneath said resilient guide and onto said reciprocating table.

25. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, a reciprocating table operated from the machine, a bar secured to the machine, a double armed casting secured to said bar, a gear supported on one of said arms, a rack connected to be driven by the reciprocating table and in mesh with said gear to operate the same, a blank feeding mechanism supported on the other casting arm, and a rack member operated by said gear and connected to said feeding mechanism to operate the same to cause cup blanks to be automatically deposited upon said stationary table.

. 26. The combination with a cup forming machine, of a stationary table, a reciprocating table operated from the machine, a support secured to the machine, a gear rotatably supported thereon, a rack connected tobe driven by the reciprocating table and in