US1718571A

US1718571A - Stapling machine

Info

Publication number: US1718571A
Application number: US247062A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred L Manny
Original assignee: F P ROSBACK Co
Current assignee: F P ROSBACK Co
Priority date: 1928-01-16
Filing date: 1928-01-16
Publication date: 1929-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 1946-06-25

Description

June 25, 1929. F. L. MANNY 1,718,571

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Fred L Man 12 Q A TTORNE Y8 June 25, 1929.

F. L. MANNY STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet June 25, 1929. MANNY 1,718,571

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 I w mmnmunmntg a a, 11v VENTOR ATTORNEYS vii June 25, 1929. F. L. MANNY STAPLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 16, 1928 5 [NV/INTO Fred L Maggi Wye A TTORNE Y5 June 25, 1929. F. L. MANNY STAPLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet ZZZ,

Filed Jan. 16, l928 F. L. MANNY June 25, 1929.

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 CENTOR Fred lk a/wy B Y '6 A rromvs s June 25, 1929." F 1 MANNY I 1,718,571

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 T7. IJ/L INVENTOR By 615W? 2% A TTORNEYS June 25, 1929.

F. 1 MANNY 1,718,571

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1928 9 SheetsSheet 8 I mum 143 I] .III

, INVENTO/C Fred L Wang/i1 Azf ozlmys June 25, 1929. F. L. MANNY STAPLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1928 4;]. Z4. 74w L Mg??? m W A TTORNEY:

Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,718,571 PATENT OFFICE.

FRED L. MANNY, 0F BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO I. I. ROSBACK COI- IPANY, 0F BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN.

STAPLING MACHINE.

Application filed January 16, 1928. Serial No. 247,082.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a stitching inachine whlch may be easily and quickly ad usted to space the stitching as may be desired for the particular work.

Second, to provide an improved stitching machine which is adapted for wide variation in the work.

Third, to provide an improved stitching machine which is of large capacity and at the same time compact and comparatively simple in structure.

Fourth, to provide an improved feed means for the work.

Fifth, to provide an improved stapling machine in which the spacing of the staples may be varied in the same piece of work.

Objects pertaining to details andeconomies of my invention will appear from. the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A machine which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective View of my improved stitching machine, portions of the base being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the delivery end of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear perspective of the front end of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a detail front perspective withdetails of the driving mechanism.

Fig. 7A is a detail on line 7* a of Fig. 7

.Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear perspectiveview showing details of the means for feeding the work through the stapler and of the conveyor delivering thereto.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front perspective view showing parts of the work feed conveyor shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 9A is a detail section on line 9-9 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the opposite end of the work feed conveyor.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the Work delivery conveyor or stacker.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the means for vertically adjusting the delivery conveyor.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary rear perspective view showing details of the stapler or feed drive mechanism.

Fig. 13A is a detail section on line 13 -43 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 14 is an inverted detail perspective view showing details of the staple feed 'driving mechanism.

Fig. 15 is a detail view partially in section on line 15-15 of Figs. 13 andl t.

Fig. 16 is a detail section taken on a line corresponding to line 16-16 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of the driving clutch control mechanism.

Fig. 18 is a detail view mainly in section on line 18-18 of Fig. 17 p Fig. 19 is a fragmentary elevation showing details of the driving mechanism for the work feed rolls whereby variations in speed result, thereby effecting a variation in the spacing of the staples in' the same piece of work.

Figs. 20, 21 and 22 are fragmentary side elevations showing successive positions of the parts shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 23 is a detail View mainly in section on line 2323 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 24 is a detail view mainly in section on line 2424 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 25 is a perspective view of the stapler work guide.

Fig. 26 is a perspective View of one of the pieces of work showing a possible position in the spacing of the staples.

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary rear view of a stack of work showing the offset relation or variations in spacing of the staples.

Referring to the drawing, the machine in the embodiment illustrated is supported on a base 1 having a projecting pedestal 2. On this pedestal is a gear or transmission box 3 the pedestal also forming a housing for certain parts of the driving connections as will appear as the description proceeds.

The stitcher head 4 is supported by an overhanging arm 5 on the upper end of the pedestal. The details of the stitcher head other than the controlling mechanism thereofers illustrated at 6, Fig. 26, is in the embodiment illustrated placed in the machine by hand, a conveyor way 7 of A cross section projecting forwardly from the standard. The front end of this way is supported by an arm 8 projecting from the boss 9 on the base 1. This conveyor way 7 has a longitudinal slot at the apex thereof through which the flights 10 of the conveyor project to engage the work shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The conveyor comprises a conveyor chain 11 traveling on and driven by the

sprockets

12 and 13, see Figs. 8, 9 and 10. These sprockets are fixed to the

shafts

14 and 15, respectively, which shafts are mounted in

bearings

16 and 17 carried by the bearing blocks 18 and 19. These bearing blocks are supported by spaced

rails

20 and 21 and are connected by the rod 22 so that they are simultaneously adjusted. The bearing block 16 is provided with an index finger 23 operatively associated with the adjusting indicia 24 on the front rail 20. The bearing blocks have slots therein to engage the inwardly projecting arms of the rails and are secured in adjusted positions by the set screw 270, a hand piece 271 being provided to facilitate adjustment, see Fig. 9A.

The shaft 14 is provided with a beveled gear 25 coacting with a beveled gear 26 which is slidably keyed to the shaft 27, the ke way being indicated at 28. The shaft has a earing at 29 in the bearing block 18, the block being slidable on the shaft.

The flights 10 are pivotally mounted in spaced relation on the conveyor chain and provided with arms 30 having rollers 31 thereon. The flights 10 are fixed to their pivots 32 and the pivots carry tappets 33. These rollers 31 and the members 33, while the flights are traveling on the upper reach of the conveyor, travel in and are supported by the opposed channeled ways 34.

To retract the flights at the rear end of the conveyor the ways 34 are provided with downwardly curved retracting members 35 which to eliminate undue shock are pivoted at 36. The rear ends of the retracting members are supported by the spring 37. The stop 38 limits the swing of these retracting members on their pivots.

As the flights travel over the feed sprockets 12.the tappets 33 engage with these retracting members as the rollers 31 drop from the supporting ways so that the flights are retracted or tilted backwardly away from the work as shown in Fig. 8. In order to in- :sure rapid retraction of the flights at this thereto or wiping the flight downwardly on the work.

In order to swing the flights to erect position at the forward end of the feed conveyor, I provide a pair of flight erecting guide members 40 which are downwardly curved at the sides of the sprockets so that as the flights are carried over the front sprockets 13,- the tap-- pets 33 and the rollers 31 are guided into'the ways 34 and the flights are thereby supported in erect position projecting through the slot in the work supporting way.

From this feed means or feed conveyor described, the work is delivered to the stitcher conveyor. To adapt the feed conveyor for delivering work of different length to the stitching conveyor means are provided for adjusting the flights of the feed conveyor relative to its actuating means. The mechanism by which this is accomplished will, however, be described later.

The stitching conveyor includes a way 41 consisting of a pair of plates disposed at an angle as are the plates forming the feed conveyor Way 7, the plates forming the Way 41 being spaced at their apexes to provide a continuation of the slots 42 through which the flights project.

As the work is delivered by the feed conveyor to the stitcher conveyor it passes under the bowed spring 43 which is supported at its upper end with its lower end free and directed rearwardly to frictionally engage the work, acting as a drag to prevent overthrow during its step by step movement as it is engaged by the stitcher feed rollers, and also to hold it down upon the way.

The work is further held in position and in proper relation to the way stitcher by means of the double cone roller 44 and the retaining or guiding foot 46 disposed at the rear of the roller 44 and longitudinally slotted to accommodate the stitcher. The roller 44 is supported by the vertically adjustable rod 45 while the foot 46 is supported by the rod 47, both being carried by the bracket 48 and the adjustment being provided to adapt them to varying thicknesses of work.

To further hold the work down to the way and centered thereon I provide a V grooved roller 272 which engages the work at the rear of but close to the stitching point.

The work is carried through the stitcher, while supported by the stitcher way 41 which is, in fact, a work table for the stitcher, by the

coacting feed rollers

49 and 50. The roller 49 is disposed below the stitcher way and in alinement with the slot 51 thereof while which consists of a plurality of idler supporting rollers 52 having journals 53 selectively engageable with notch-like bearings 54 in the spaced horizontally disposed bars 55. A plurality of driving

rollers

56, 56 are provided to coact with certain of the idler rollers, the driving roller 56 being first in the series and having a special control means as will later be described.

These driving rollers are suitably spaced to carry the work along on the supporting rollers and discharge the same to the delivery conveyor. These discharge conveyor driving rollers have friction rims or facings of rubber or suitable composition indicated at 57. The shafts 58 of these feed rollers 56 are supported in housings 59 and connected by beveled gears indicated conventionally at 60 by dotted lines, see Fig. 6, one of each pair of beveled gears having a sliding key conncction to the shaft 61 so that the rollers 56 may be adjusted relative to each other and to the supporting rollers 52 by sliding the housing along on the shaft 61.

The housings 59 are supported at their forward ends on the supporting bar 62, adjustable housing holders 63 being mounted on the bar 62 and provided with set screws 64 by which they are retained in their adjusted positions. Adjustable supports 65 are threaded through ears 66 on the housings to engage the bar 62, limiting the downward movement of the driving rollers. WVinged lock nuts 67 are provided for these supports 65. The driving means for the shaft 61 will be described later.

As the work is carried along it comes into engagement with the rearwardly inclined arms 250 disposed on oppositesides of the bars 55. A pair of guide bars 251 are adjustably mounted on the upright 252 at the inner side of the delivery conveyor to assist in controlling and positioning the work as it is discharged on to the stackingor discharge conveyor.

At the front side of the path of the work and projecting over the discharge conveyor apron 68 is a second pair-of arms 253 adjustably mounted on the upright 254. The

stitched work is delieverd from this discharge conveyor to a stacking or final delivery apron 68 which is disposed transversely at the rear end of the machine and supported by the rollers 69 and 7 O. The work is delivered from the belt or apron 68 to a table 71 upon which the work is delivered in a stack as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The work is removed from this table 71 by an operator, or it might be otherwise delivered by the apron 68, as desired.

To aline the work as it falls on the apron I provide an adjustable stop member-7 2 which is carried by a clamp 73 adjustably secured tothe end plate 74 by means of the set screw 255. The stop member 72 is tiltingly mounted on the clamp and has a pivot 256 engaging the clamp and secured in its adjusted POSI- tion by the set screw 257.

The delivery conveyor frame 75 is carried by an upright 77 provided with a rack 78, the

. upright being supported for vertical adjustment in a bearing 79 on the end of an arm or bracket 80 projecting rearwardly from the main frame of the machine, see Figs. 2, 11 and 12. The vertical adjustment is effected by means of shaft 81 having a pinion 82, see dotted lines in Fig. 12, meshing with the rack 78, the shaft having a handwheel 83 at its outer end. The shaft also is provided with a ratchet wheel 84 and a coacting detent 85 is provided to hold the delivery conveyor in its adjusted position. This enables the rapid adjustment of the delivery conveyor to the requirements of the particular operator. The driving means for the delivery or stacking conveyor will be described later.

Having described thefeed conveyor, the stitching conveyor, the discharge conveyor and the final delivery conveyor and their relation to each other, I will now describe the driving mechanism by means of which these parts are operated in proper synchronism, and by means of which the machine is adapted to different sizes of work and by means of which the spacing of the stitching is varied.

The machine illustrated is driven from the motor 86 which is mounted on a bracket 87 at the rear of the machine. The main driving to the shaft 88 by means of a clutch controlled from the foot pedal 90.

The driving clutch member 91 is of the cone type and carried by the gear while the driven clutch member 92 is fixed to the end of the shaft, see Fig. 18. A brake is combined with this clutch and a relatively fixed conical brake member 93 is mounted on the frame to coact with the brake member 94 on the clutch so that when the clutch is released the brake is engaged, thereby checking the momentum of the machine.

.The shaft 88 is provided with a tubular extension 95 secured to the shaft by the key 96. The gear 89 is rotatably mounted on this shaft extension while the combined clutch and brake member is slidably secured thereto by means of the key 96' arranged transversely through the slot 97 and secured to the hub of the brake member.

A spring 98 arranged within this shaft extension urges the clutch to engaging position and acts to release the brake. The tension of this spring is adjusted by means of the screw 99 at the end of the shaft extension, see Fig. 18. The shaft extension has a second transverse slot 100 in which is pivoted the lever 101. The lever is pivoted at 102 to coact with the push rod 103 arranged within the shaft extension.

On the projecting end of the lever 101 is a roller 104 adapted to coact with the tappet 105 on the releasing lever 106 which is pivoted at 107 on the frame to be shifted into position to engage with the roller 104 as the shaft 88 revolves. This clutch releasing lever 106 is controlled by means of the rotatable starwheel shaped member 108 to which is connected a ratchet Wheel 109, see Figs. 17 and 18. This ratchet wheel is actuated by the pawl 110 carried by the foot lever 90. The upper end of the pawl is supported by a pin 111 engaging a slot 112 in the pawl. The spring 113 returns the pawl and also, through its connection thereto, the foot lever.

The star-wheel 108 has spaced lift portions 114 adapted to coact with the lever 106 to hold it in inoperative position, this lever being shown in inoperative position in Fig. 17.

Between each lift the member 108 is conformed to allow the releasing lever 106 under the tension of the spring 115 to swing into the path of the roller 104, thereby disengaging the driving clutch and applying the brake. A succeeding actuation of the foot pedal swings the releasing lever to inoperative position and this allows the clutch to reengage under the action of the spring 98.

The driving gear 89 is connected to the mo-v tor through a variable speed transmission designated generally by the numeral 116. The details of this variable speed transmission are not illustrated in this relation as the same variable speed transmission is employed in the driving connections for the driving shaft to the feed conveyor. This second' transmission between the driving shaft and the motor is housed inthe gearbox 3.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 13, 14

. and 15, the transmission illustrated comprises a shaft 118 having a plurality of gears as 119 120, 121, 122 and 123 keyed thereto and a tubular shaft 124 having a plurality of

gears

125, 126, 127, 128 and 129 coacting with the gears on the shaft 118 in the order named.

The sliding key 130 is adjustable to connect any one of the gears on the shaft 124, thus providing a wide range or variation in speed. The key 130 is carried by a rack 131 which is adjusted from the handwheel 132 on the spindle 133, the spindle having a pinion 134 meshing with the rack. The teeth of the rack are annular so as to permit rotation of the rack with the shaft.

The gears on the shaft 118 are the driving gears of the transmission, the gear 123.being connected to the main driving shaft 88 by the gear 135. This transmission is connected to-the, shaft 27, see Figs. 8 and 15, by a'driving means which permits the adjustment of the feed conveyor chain so as to properly position the flights for the delivery of pamphlets of different sizes to the stitching conveyo ineans' The driving connection consists of a gear on the shaft 124 which meshes with a gear 141 on the shaft 142, this shaft 142 having a gear 143 on its upper end meshing with a gear 144 on the feed conveyor driving shaft 27. The shaft 142 is made up of sections eon nected by a coupling consisting of a pair of

disks

145 and 146 on the ends of the section, see Figs. 1, 13 and 13A. The disk 146 has a segmental slot- 147 therein to receive the bolt 148. When this bolt is loosened the upper section, which is provided with graduations as indicated, may be turned relative to the lower coupling member which is provided with a pointer, see Fig. 13, thereby moving the feed conveyor chain and through it adj usting the fiightsj-in proper relation to other parts of the mechanism. This adjustment complements the bodily adjustment of the conveyor through its bearing slides 18 and 19 as has been described.

The

ilvork feed rollers

49 and 50 are driven from a shaft 152. This shaft 152 is connected tothe shaft 153 for driving the lower feed roller 49 by means of the vertical shaft 154 having beveled gears 155 and 156 at its ends, the gear 155 meshing with the gear 157 on the shaft 152. The gear 156 meshes with a gear 158 on the shaft 153.

The roller 49 is carried by a shaft 159 having a beveled gear 160 meshing with the beveled gear 161 on the shaft 153. The co acting feed roller 50 is provided with a shaft 162 disposed in a swinging support or h0us ing 164 pivoted on a shaft 167. The shaft 162 is provided with a beveled gear 165 meshing with the gear 166 on the shaft 167. The shaft 167 is connected to the shaft 152 by means of the vertical shaft 168 and the beveled gears 171'and 172 on the

shafts

168 and 167, respectively, and the beveled gears 169 and on the

shafts

168 and 152, respectively.

With this connection the upper and

lower feed rollers

49 and 50 are driven at the same speed. The shaft 152 is driven with a variable stroke or motion illustrated in detail in Figs. 19 to 24, inclusive. The general relation of the parts is shown in Fig. 1.

This driving connection comprises a crank disk 173 which is pinned to the shaft 88 and carries an adjustable wrist pin 174 eccentrically mounted on a disk 175 rotatable in an eccentrically disposed recess 176 in the crank disk. This pin carrying disk is secured in its adjusted position by set-screws 177, see Fig. 23. The crank pin disk 175 is provided with graduations or indicia operatively associated with a pointer 179 on the crank disk.

The wrist pin 174 is connected to the oscillating rack 180 by means of the pitman 181. This rack is further controlled from a crank pin 182 on the shaft 183, this crank pin being connected to the lower end of the arm 184 on the rack by means of the pitman 185. The result is that the pivot 186 for the rack is movably supported and the throw of the rack is varied by the movement of the pivot.

The crank shaft 183 is driven from the shaft 88, a gear 187 on the crank shaft meshing with a gear 188 on the shaft 88, see Figs.

23 and 24. The rack 180 is supported in mesh with the pinion 189 by means of the suspending link 190. The pinion 189 has a ratchet connection with the shaft 152, the ratchet being indicated generally by the numeral 191.

The clincher bar 192 of the stapler is actuated in synchronism with the movement of the feed rollers through a double lobed cam 194 on the shaft 88 acting upon an arm 195 on the bell crank lever 196, one arm of which carries the supporting slide 197 of the clincher bar 192. The partially set staple is indicated at 198 in-Fig. 19, bending members 199 deflecting the ends of the staple as I shown in Fig. 19 to be engaged by the clinching bar 192 on its upward movement, thereby closing the staple or stitch, as it is commonly designated. The clincher bar is actuated twice for each stitch thereby preventing clogging if the stitcher operates when there is no work to receive the stitches.

The

cranks

173 and 182 are timed to rotate at different speeds so that as a result of the variation in the pivot point of the rack or segment 180, a variation in the feeding movement of the work feed rollers results, thereby varying the spacing of the staples as indicated in Fig. 27.

The feed roller 50 is swung to and from feeding position or operative position relative to the feed roller 40 by the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 3, 5, 7 and 7A. As stated, the support 164 is tiltingly or pivotally mounted on the shaft 167 and is provided with an arm 200 which is engaged by a pin 204 on the arm 205 on the rockshaft 203. This rockshaft has an arm 206 thereon connected by a link 207 to the actuating lever 208.

This lever 208 is connected to the upper end of the link 209 which projects through the gear box 117, the lower end of the link being connected to the lever 210 actuated by a cam consisting of a pair of

cam members

211 and 212 adjustable relative to each other providing means for varying the cam. The cam 211 has a hub or sleeve 213 provided with adjusting indicia 214, an index 215 being operatively associated therewith. The clamping nut 216 holds the cam members in their adjusted position on the shaft 124, see Figs. 13, 14 and 15. This adjustment provides for timing of the work feed roller, that is, the timing of engagement and disengagement.

feeding engagement by the spring pressed plunger 217, see Fig. 5, while the rockshaft.

203 is provided with a spring pressed plunger 218. As stated, the stitcher head 4 employed may be of'any suitable commercial type, that is, the type manufactured as a unit. I do, however, provide improvements in the driving and adjusting. means therefor.

The first driving roller 56 of the delivery conveyor is moved to and from operative relation to its coacting idler by means of a lever 260 which is pivoted at 261 and connected by the link 262 to the rearwardly projecting lugs 263 on the housing for the shaft of this roller, see Figs. 2, 7 and 7A. The lever 260 is actuated from an arm 264 on the rockshaft 203, the arm having a pin 265 engaging the end of the lever. With this arrangement the de livery roller 56 is thrown out of engagement with the work so that the delivery roller is out of operative engagement with the work during the period it is acted upon by the feed roller, which prevents the work being pulled out of shape or distortedduring the stitching operation. The delivery roller is thrown into engagement with the work carrying it from the stitching position as soon as the work is released by the feed roller 50.

The stitcher driving shaft 219 is ecoentrically mounted at 220 so that as the support is rotated the stapler mechanism is adjusted to work of different thicknesses. On its outer end the support 220 is provided with a head 221 carrying a handle 222 which is threaded into the head so that it may be adjusted into clamping relation to the fixed disk 223, see Figs. 3 and 5.

Power is transmitted to the shaft 219 through a shaft 224, the upper end of which is carried by a yoke 225 supported on the shaft 219. The shaft 224 has a beveled gear 226 thereon meshing with a gear 227 on the shaft 219. On the lower end of the shaft 224 is a beveled gear 228 meshing with a gear 229 on the main driving shaft 88. The shaft 224- has a slip or sliding connection with the gear 228 as shown in Fig. 5.

The shaft 51 of the discharge conveyor is driven from the first transmission 116-, the driving connections consisting of a gear 230 on a shaft 231 disposed on the side of the gear box and meshing with one of the driven gears of the transmission. This shaft 231 has a beveled gear 232 on its inner end meshin with the beveled gear 233 on the lower en of the vertical shaft 234.

The shaft 234 is provided with a beveled gear 235 meshing with the beveled gear 236 on the shaft 237 disposed transversely of the machine, see Fig. 2. The shaft 237 is con- The feed roller 50 is urged yieldingly into nected to the shaft 61 by beveled gears indicated at 238, Fig. 2.

The delivery apron 68 is connected to the shaft 234 by means of the shaft 239 connected to the shaft 234 by the gears 240 provided with a worm 241 meshing with a worm wheel 242 on the shaft 243. This shaft 243 is connected to the roller 69 by means of the beveled gears indicated at 244.

With the mechanism described the work in the form of signatures or leaves of a pamphlet to be stitched together is placed by the operator astride the feed conveyor 7 which has previously been adjusted according to the length of the work. This adjustment should be such that the flights 10 are retracted at the point where the stitcher feed rollers engage the work to carry it through the stitcher. The control for the feed rollers is timed so that the upper feed roller is in retracted or inoperative position as the work is delivered into position to be engaged thereby so that the work freely passes below the same and is not distorted or fanned; that is, the several sheets forming the work are not pulled out of position by the engagement of the feed rollers with the top and bottom sheets.

As the work is fed to the stitcher it passes under the'sprin 43 which applies a slight friction so that t ere is no tendency for overthrow when the flights cease to carry the same forward.

The double conical roller 44 and the shoe 46 serve to hold the work in proper relation to receive the stitches as it is fed into and through the stitcher.

By the driving means described the feed rollers are driven with a variable stroke which results in variations in the spacin of the staples as is indicated in Fig. 27, t e variation, of course, being uniform for each adjustment and capable of wide adaptation.

The machine is given further wide adaptability by the variation in s eeds through the mechanism described and t e wide variation in the timing of the feeding action of the feed rollers. From the stitcher feed rollers the work 'is delivered to the discharge conveyor means described which is capable of ready adjustment to the particular work.

The feed is varied according to the number of stitches desired in a given piece of work. For instance, where only two stitches are 1nserted in each piece of work the number of pieces of work to be fed to the machine to maintain its capacity would be accordingly increased as compared with the number of pleces where six or eight stitches were made in each piece of work, and the transmissions are adjusted and the feed control cam adjusted accordingly. This permits the adaptation of the machine for the particular work.

The work is fed to the machine by the work delivery conveyor in position to receive the first stitch. This is of advantage in that it enables the positioning of the first stitch relative to the end of the work so that the outer stitch does not interfere with trimming operations and the staples may be positioned in the work to permit cutting into a plurality of perforations where that is required.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an adaptation which has proven highly satisfactory. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe certain modifications or adaptations which I contemplate as itis believed the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a work way and a pair of coacting rollers, one of which is movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed rollers with successive strokes of varying length, a main variable speed driving transmission having a driving connection to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, means for shifting said movable roller to and from work feeding position, a second variable speed driving mechanism driven through said main variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said roller shifting means, a work delivery conveyor delivering to said work feed means and comprising a work way and Work translating means including a conveyor chain provided with flights whereby the work is delivered to initial stitching position, means for retracting said flights at work delivery position, means for adjusting said work translating means to and from said work feed means, a driving connection for said work delivery translating means to said second variable speed transmission including an adjusting means whereby the conveyor chain may be adjustable to vary the position of the flights relative to the actuating means therefor, a work discharge conveyor comprising a plurality of work supporting rollers adjustable relative to each other and a plurality of coacting driven rollers, the first of which is automatically movable to and from work ongaging position, and operating connections between said first roller and said movable feed 1:0 roller shifting means whereby it is moved to inoperative position when said movable work feed roller is moved to operative position and vice versa.

2. In a structure of the class described, the 1-35 combination of the stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a work way and a pair of coacting rollers, one of which is movable to and from work feeding position,

feed means an comprising a Work way and.

work translating means including a conveyor chain provided with flights whereby the work is delivered to initial stitching position, means for retracting said flights at work delivery position, means for adjusting said work translating means to and from said work feed means, and a driving connection for said work delivery means to said second variable speed transmission including an adjusting means whereby the conveyor chain may be adjusted to vary the position of the flights relative to the actuating means therefor.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism,a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a'work way and a pair of coacting rollers, one of which is movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed rollers with successive strokes of varying length, a main variable speed driving transmission having a driving connection to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, means for shifting said movable roller to and from work feeding position, a second variable speed driving mechanism driven through said main variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said roller shifting means, a work discharge conveyor comprising a plurality of work supporting rollers adjustable relative to each other and a plurality of coacting driven rollers, the first of Which is automatically movable to and from work engaging position, and operating connections between said first roller and said movable feed roller. shifting means whereby it is moved to inoperative position when said movable work feed roller is moved to operative position and vice versa.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a work way and a pair of co'acting rollers, one of which is movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed rollers with successive strokes of varying length, a main variable speed driving transmission having a driving connection to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, means for shifting said movable roller to and from work feeding position, and a second variable speed driving mechanism driven through said main variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said roller shifting means.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a Work way and a pair of coacting rollers, one of which is movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed rollers with successive strokes of varying length, said meansbeing adjustable to vary the length of such strokes, a main variable speed driving transmission having a driving connection to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, means for shifting said movable roller to and from work feeding position including a timing cam comprising a pair of relatively adjustable cam members, and a second variable speed driving mechanism driven through said main variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said timing cam.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed roller operatively associated with said stitching mechanism and movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, a main variable speed driving transmission having a driving connection to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, means for shifting said roller to and from work feeding position including a timing cam, a second variable speed driving mechanism driven through said main variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said timing cam, a work delivery means delivering to said work feed means and comprising a conveyor chain provided with flights, means for retracting said flights at Work delivery position, means for adjusting said work delivery means to and from said work feed means, a driving connection for said work delivery means to said second variable speed transmission including an adj usting means whereby the conveyor chain may be adjusted to vary the position of the flights relative to the actuating means therefor, a work discharge roller movable to and from work engaging position, and operating connections from said discharge roller to said feed roller shifting means whereby it is moved to inoperative position when said work feed roller is moved to operative position and vice versa.

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a WOIk feed roller opcratively associated with said stitching mechanism and movableto and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, a main Variable speed driving transmission having a driving connection to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, means for shifting said roller to and from work feeding position including a timing cam, a second variable speed driving mechanism driven through said main variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said timing cam, a work discharge roller movable to and from Work engaging position, and operating connections from said discharge roller to said feed roller shifting means whereby it is moved to inoperative position when said work feed roller is moved to operative position and vice versa.

8'. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed roller operatively associated with said stitching mechanism and movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, a main variable speed driving transmission having a driving connection to said stitch ing mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, means for shifting said roller to and from work feeding position including a timing cam, and a second; variablespeed driving mechanism driven through said main variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said timing cam.

9. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed roller operatively associated with said stitching mechanism and movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such strokes, a main variable speed driving transmission having a driving connection to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, means for shifting said roller to and from work feeding position including a timing cam comprising a pair of relatively adjustable cam members, and a second variable speed driving mechanism driven through said main variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said timing cam.

10. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a roller movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving-said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such strokes, and means for shifting said.

feed roller to and from work feeding positionincluding a timing cam comprising a pair of relatively adjustable cam members.

11. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitchin mechanism, a work feed means for said stltching mechanism comprising a roller movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, and means for shifting said feed roller to and from feeding position including a timing cam comprising a pair of relatively adjustable cammembers.

12. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a roller movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said fe'ed roller with successive strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such strokes, and means for shifting said feed roller to and from work feeding position including a timing means.

13. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a roller movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, and means for shifting said feed roller to and from work feeding position including a timing means.

14. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a roller movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller, means for shifting said feed roller to and from work feeding position, a work delivery conveyor means comprising a work way and translating means including a conveyor chain provided with flights, means for retracting said flights at work delivery position, means for adjusting said work translating means as a unit to and from said work feed means, driving means for said work delivery translating means including an adjusting means whereby the conveyor chain ma be adjusted to vary the position of the fiiglits relative to the actuating means therefor, a work discharge roller movable to and from work engaging position, and operating connections from said discharge roller to said feed roller shifting means whereby the feed roller and the discharge roller are alternately moved to operative position.

15. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a roller movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller, means for shifting said feed roller to and from work feeding position, a work delivery conveyor means comprisin a work way and translatin means inclu ing a conveyor chain provi ed with fli hts, means for retracting said flights at worI: delivery position, means for adjusting said work translating means as a unit to and from said work feed means, and driving means for said work delivery translating means including an adjusting means whereby the conveyor chain may be adjusted to vary the position of the flights relative to the actuating means therefor.

16. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a Work feed means for said stitching mechanism, a work delivery conveyor means comprising a work way and translating means including a conveyor chain provided with flights, means for retracting said flights at work delivery position, means for adjusting said work translating means as a unit to and from said work feed means, and driving means for said work delivery translating 'means including an adjusting means whereby the conveyor chain may be adjusted to vary the position of the flights relative to the actuating means therefor.

17. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means including a member movable to and from work feeding position,

-means for driving said work feed member with successive feed strokes of varying length, means for shifting said feed member to and from feeding position including a timing member, a variable speed driving means operatively connected with said stitching mechanism and said feed member driving means, a second variable speed driving means operatively associated with said shifting means, a work delivery mechanism including a work translating means adjustable to and from said work feed means for adaptation to work of different longitudinal dimensions, a driving connection for said work delivery translating means including an adjustable means supplementing the before-mentioned adjusting means for said work delivery translating means, a Work discharge means movable to and from operative position, and operating connections therefor from said work feed shifting means whereby said work discharge means is moved to inoperative position when the work feed means is moved to operative position and; vice versa.

18. In a structure of the class described, the combination of astitching mechanism, a

, work feed means including a member movable to and from work feeding position, means for driving said work feed member with successive feed strokes of varying length. means for shifting said feed member to and from feeding position including a timing member, a variable speed driving means operatively connected with said stitching mechanism and said feed member driving means, a second variable speed driving means operatively associated with said shifting means, a work delivery mechanism includin a Work translating means adjustable to and from said work feed means for adaptation to work of different longitudinal dimensions, and a driving connection for said work delivery translating means including an adjustable means supplementing the beforementioned adjusting means from said work delivery translating means.

19. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means including a member movable to and from work feeding position, means for driving said work feed member with successive feed strokes of varying length, means for shifting said feed member to and from feeding position including a timing member, a variable speed driving means operatively connected with said stitching mechanism and said feed member driving means, a second variable speed driving means operatively associated with said shifting means, a work discharge means movable to and from operative position, and operating connections therefor from said shift-ing means whereby said work discharge means is moved to inoperative position when the Work feed means is moved to operative position and vice versa. 7

20. In a structure of the class described, the

combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means including a member movable to and from work feeding position, means for driving said work feed member with successive feed strokes of varying length, means for shifting said feed member to and from feeding position including a timing member, a variable speed driving means operatively connected with said stitching mechanism and said feed member driving means, and a second variable speed driving means operatively associated with said shifting means.

21. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means comprising a pair of oppositely inclined way members, one of said way members having an opening therethrough, a pair of coacting feed rollers aligned with said opening, means for intermittently driving said feed rollers with successive strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such strokes, a feed roller control means acting to move one of said feed rollers to and from work driving position, and means for varying the timing of said feed roller control means.

22. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, work feed means operatively associated therewith and comprising a'work supporting way, coacting feed rollers, one of which is movably mounted to be shifted to and from feeding position, means for intermittently driving said rollers with strokes of varying length, means for shifting said movable roller to and from feeding position including an adjustable timing means, a main variable speed driving means having variable connection to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, and a second variable speed driving mechanism driven from said first mentioned variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said timing means.

23. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, work feed means operatively associated therewith and comprising a work supporting way, coacting feed rollers, one of which is movably mounted to be shifted to and from feeding position, means for intermittently driving said rollers, means for shifting said movable roller to and from feeding position, a main variable speed driving means having variable connection to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, and a second variable speed driving mechanism driven from said first mentioned variable speed driving mechanism and having driving connection to said shifting means.

24. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means comprising a feed roller, means for intermittently driving said feed roller with successive strokes of Varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such strokes, a main variable speed driving means having driving connections to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, a feed roller control means acting to move said feed roller to and from work driving position, a variable speed transmission for said feed roller control means having driving connection to said main variable speed driving transmission, and means for varying the timing of said feed roller control means.

25. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means comprising a feed roller, means for intermittently driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, a main variable speed driving means having driving connections to said stitching mechanism and to said feed roller driving means, a feed roller control means acting to move said feed roller to and from work driving position, and a variable speed transmission for said feed roller control means having driving connection to said main variable speed driving transmission.

26. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means including a member movable to and from work feeding position, means for driving said work feed member with successive feed strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such feed strokes, means for shifting said feed member to and from feeding position including an adjustable timing member, a work delivery mechanism including a work translating means adjustable to and from said work feed means for adaptation to work of different longitudinal dimensions, a work discharge means movable to and from operative position, and operating connections therefor to said shifting means whereby said work discharge means is moved to inoperative position when the work feed means is moved to operative position and vice versa.

27. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means including a member movable to and from Work feeding position, means for driving said work feed member with successive feed strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such feed strokes, means for shifting said feed member to and from driving position including an adjustable timing member, and a work delivery mechanism including a work translating means adjustable to and from said work feed means for adaptation to work of diiferent longitudinal dimensions.

28. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means including a member movable to and from work feeding position, means for driving said work feed member with successive feed strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such feed strokes, means for shifting said feed member to and from feeding position including an adjustable timing member, a work discharge means movable to and from operative position, and operating connections therefor to said shifting means whereby said work discharge means is moved to inoperative position when the work feed means is moved to operative position and vice versa.

29. In a. structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means including a member movable to and from work feeding position, means for driving said work feed member with successive feed strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such feed strokes, and means for shifting said feed member to and from feeding position including an adjustable timing member.

30. In a structure of the class described, the combination of, a stitching mechanism, a work feed roller operatively associated with said stitching mechanism and movable to. and from work feeding position, means for shift ing said roller to and from work feeding position including a timing cam comprising a pair of relatively adjustable cam members, a work discharge roller movable to and from work engaging position, and operating concharge roller and the feed roller are alterr' nated to operative position.

31. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed roller operatively associated with said stitching mechanism and movable to and from work feeding position, and means for shifting said roller to and from work feeding position including a timing cam comprising a pair of relatively adjustable cam members.

32. .In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means comprising a feed roller, means for driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such strokes, a feed control means acting to move said feed roller to and from Work engaging osition, and means for varying the timing 0 said feed control means.

33. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means comprising a feed roller, and means for driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, said means being adjustable to vary the length of such strokes.

34. In a structure of the class described, the eombinatiton of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means comprising a feed roller,

' means for driving said feed roller with successive strokes of varying length, a feed control means acting to move said feed roller to and from work engaging position, and means for varying the timing of said feed control means.

35. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means comprising a feed roller, means'for shifting said feed roller to and from feeding osition, and means for driving said feed rol er with successive strokes of varying length.

36. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitehin mechanism, a work feed means operatively associated therewith and comprising a feed roller adjustably mounted to be moved to and from feeding position, a variable speed driving means for said feed roller, and means for varying the effective period of actuation of said feed roller for varying the spacing of the stitches. 37. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, an intermittently acting work feed means, whereby the work is fed to varying positions relative to the stitching mechanism, a feed delivery means adjustable to position the work de livered to the said work feed means and to work of difierent sizes, driving connections for said work feed means and work delivery means permitting such adjustment, and

means for varying the length of the feed stroke of said work feed means independently of said delivery means and of the position to which the work is delivered by said delivery means.

38. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a feeding roller movable to and from work driving position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller, means for shifting said roller to and from work feeding position including a timing means adjustable to vary the timing of actuation of said feed roller, a work discharge means comprising a plurality of work supporting rollers adjustable relative to each other and a plurality of coacting driven rollers, the first of which is automatically movable to and from work driving position to engage the work released by said feed roller, and operating connections for said automatically movable discharge roller to said movable work feed roller shifting means whereby said work feed and discharge rollers are alternately moved to and from operative position.

39. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a feed roller movable to and from work driving position, means for intermittently driving said feed roller, means for shifting said roller to and from work driving position, a work discharge means comprising a plurality of work supportlng rollers adjustable relative to each other and a plurality of coacting driven rollers, the first of which is automatically movable to and .from work engaging position to engage the work released by said feed roller, and operating connections for said automatically movable discharge roller to said movable work feed roller shifting means whereby said work feed and discharge rollers are alternately moved to and from operative position.

40. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a work feed means for said stitching mechanism comprising a feed roller movable to and from work feeding position, means for intermlttently driving said feed roller, means for shiftmg said roller to and from work drlving position including a timing means adjustable to vary the timing or actuation of said feed roller, a work discharge means comprising a driven roller movable to and from work engaging position to engage the work released by said feed roller, and operating connections from said discharge roller to said work feed roller shifting means whereby said work feed and discharge rollers are alternately moved to and from operative position.

41. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stitching mechanism, a