US1747735A - Counting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1930. J. T. ROBINSON COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 21, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .9, mu mht 85 Iii- ATTCIFKIJEY? J. T. ROBINSON 1,747,735

COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 21, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1930.

ATT RN yS- Feb. 18, 1930. o mso 1,747,735

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Filed Jan. 21, 1924 s Sheeis-Sheet s Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATEL? @FFHCE JOHN T. ROBINSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN T. ROBINSON COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS COUNTING MECHANISM Application filed January 21, 1924.

This invention relates to counting mechanism for use in connection with machines for operating upon thin, fiat paper and similar stock, such for example, as cardboard box blanks for the purpose of registering the number of blanks passed through the machine. The invention is especially, although not exclusively, applicable to rotary scoring machines of the type employed for cutting part way through box blanks along the lines where they are to be folded in the formation of the boxes. The invention has for its object to provide counting mechanism, readily applicable to machines of this character, which is so constructed as to be operated by the blanks themselves as they are discharged from the machine, and which is so arranged that its operation by each blank is assured, thereby accurately registering the number of blanks completed irrespective of the rate at which they are supplied to the machine or the relative portion of the time during which the machine is allowed to run idle, said mechanism being readily adjustable to meet varying conditions of work or for other purposes.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of one form and application thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the particular construction and application described and shown, have been chosen for illustrative purposes merely and that the invention as defined by the claim hereunto appended, may be otherwise practised without departure from its spirit and scope.

In said drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are side and rear elevations, respectively, of a scoring machine equipped with the invention.

Figs. 3 and 1 are sections taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are rear and side elevations, respectively, of the yoke piece for adjusting the parts.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the counter and parts associated therewith.

Serial No. 687,469.

The invention is herein shown as applied to a scoring machine of the type shown in Letters Patent No. 273,394, issued March 5, 1883, to John T. Robinson, and well known in the art. Said machine comprises uprights 15 supporting between them a feed table 16 over which the stock S is passed to a feed or bed roll 17 journallcd at its ends in boxes 18 carried by the uprights l5 and driven by power transmitted thereto by any suitable means, not shown. Cooperating with the bed roll 1'7 to score the stock, are rotary cutting disks 19 adj ustably carried by brackets 20 detachably and adjustably secured to one edge of a cross head 21 having trunnions 22 journallcd in boxes 23 carried by the uprights 15. The cutter brackets 20 may be secured to the crosshead 21 in any arrangement depending upon the manner in which the box blanks are to be scored, two sets being applied to the opposite edges of the crosshead, respectively, in different arrangements, so that by merely inverting the crosshead, the machine may be arranged for operating upon either of two styles of blanks.

In accordance with the present invention, the stock, after passing between the bed roll and cutters, is received by a discharge table composed of a plurality of sections 24: inclependently secured to a rod 25 extending across the rear of the machine substantially parallel to the bed roll 17 and supported at its ends by brackets 26 secured, as by screws 28, to the uprights 15, said rod being rigidly held in said brackets by set screws 27. The discharge table sections 24 are rigidly and independently secured to the rod 25 by means of the set screws 280 and interposed gibs 29, whereby they may be disposed in accordance with the requirements of the particular work being operated upon. Each of said sections A and a discharge portion B, the portions A and B of the several sections collectively forming the receiving and discharge edges, respectively, of the discharge table. The receiving portion A of each table section is formed with a tapered edge a disposed immediately adjacent the surface of the bed roll 17 so as to receive the stock therefrom. Cercomprises a receiving portion tain of the sections 24, for example those designated by the letter D in Fig. 2, may, if desired, be made somewhat thicker than the other sections, and the discharge edges B thereof, may be slotted or notched, as indicated at b, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

J ournalled in anti-friction bearings 30 (see Fig. 4) in the brackets 26 is a rock shaft .31 disposed substantially parallel to the bed roll 17 and rod above and slightly in the rear of the latter. Preferably, and as herein shown, said rock shaft is of tubular form having inserted into its ends plugs 32 formed with coaxial trunnion portions 33 which are journalled in the bearings 30. This tubular construction is preferred for the sake of lightness combined with rigidity. Secured by set screws 34 to the tubular rock shaft 31 are collars 35 formed with radially extending fingers 36 having rounded ends 37. By reason of the anti-friction bearings in which the shaft 31 is supported, the fingers 36 tend normally to depend by gravity from said shaft into the path of movement of the stock as it passes from the discharge table. Said fingers normally rest by gravity against the discharge edges B of the disharge table sections and are received in the notches b of the sections D where the iatter are employed. The collars with their fingers 36 may be of any suitable number and are positioned on the shaft 31 in accordance with the form of the particular work operated upon, the discharge table sections D being correspondingly chosen and arranged. The fin ers 36 are nearly, but not quite, counterbalanced by other parts, hereinafter described, connected with the shaft 31, the arrangement being such, however, as to cause said fingers normally to depend from the shaft 31 and rest lightly by gravity in the notches b, as above described. The forward edge of the stock S, passing over the discharge table, engages the fingers 36 which are extended into its path of move- 7 ment, readily pushing said fingers aside and lifting the same by reason of the balanced and anti-frictional mounting of the shaft 31, thereby rocking said shaft. Thereafter the rounded ends 37 of the fingers 36 ride lightly upon the upper surface of the passing stock, and when said stock passes out of engagement with said fingers the latter are returned to their normal positions by gravity.

' One of the brackets 26 (namely, that shown at the right inFig. 2) is formed with an upwardly extending arm 38 having a forwardly curved upper end supporting a registering counter 39 disposed with its face tiirned toward the station of the operator. The counter 39, as herein shown, is of the well-known Veeder type but may be of any other suitable construction. Said counter is operated by a rock shaft 40 having fast thereon, as by means of a clamp screw 41, an operating lever 42 normally held in engage ment with a stop pin 43 by means of a spring 44, said lever being oscillated through a given are, determined by the stop pin 43 and a second stop pin 45, to advance the register one number.

The trunnion 33 at that end of the rock shaft 31 adjacent the counter 39 (namely, the right end as shown in Fig. 2) is extended beyond the bracket 26 and has fast thereon,

as by means of a set screw 46, the hub of a yoke 47. Disposed between the arms of the yoke 47 is a lug 48 formed on the hub of an arm 49 loosely mounted on the trunnion 33 and retained thereon by a cotter pin 50. The arm 49 is operatively connected with the operating lever 42 of the counter ,39 by means of a rod or link 51 which passes loosely through an opening in the lever 42 and is provided at its end with a collar 52 between which and said lever 42 is interposed a spring 53 providing a yielding connection between said part-s. One arm of the yoke 47 carries an adjustable abutment screw 54 adapted to engage the lug 48 between which and the opposite arm of said yoke is interposed a spring 55 tending to hold said lug in engagement with the end of said screw. The yoke 47 and lug 48 provide a lost motion connection between the arm 49 and shaft 31 which may be adjusted, to vary the relative angular positions of the arm 49 and fingers 36, by operation of the screw 54.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description, but may be outlined as follows. The stock, passing from the discharge table, lifts the fingers 36, as above explained, thereby rocking the shaft 31 and yoke 47 connected therewith. Movement of the yoke 47 is transmitted to the arm 49 through the abutment screw 54 and lug 48, causing said arm to draw downwardly upon the link 51, thereby rocking the lever. 42 and advancing the counter one number. While the limit of downward movement of the link 51 may be determined by adjustment of the screw 54, any excess movement thereof, after the lever 42 engages the stop pin 45, is taken up by compression of the spring 53. When the stock passes out of engagement with the fingers 36, the latter are returned by gravity to their normal positions, causing the shaft 31 tobe rocked in the opposite direction, and at this time the spring 55, acting against the lug 48, lifts the arm 49,

pieces of work actually completed by a continuously operating machine into which the work is inserted at the will of the operator.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a machine having means for feeding flat paper blanks in the plane thereof, a register having means for counting the blanks, a rotatable shaft, a finger fixed upon said shaft and depending therefrom into the path of the blanks, a yoke fixed upon said shaft having an adjusting screw in one arm thereof, an arm having a hub loosely mounted on said shaft and operatively connected to means for driving the register, and an arm extending from said hub between the arms of said yoke and held in contact with said adjusting screw by a spring engaging the other arm of said yoke, said ger having a relation of balance with said other parts such that it may be drawn by gravity into the path of movement of the blanks but may be moved by engagement therewith of the blank to operate the register.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature.

JOHN T. ROBINSON.

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