US1929632A - Paper can machine - Google Patents

Description

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1933- s. o. FROSTAD El AL PAPER CAN MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 29, 1950 -IN ljENTORSj M j W 1 fab/M, 4 i" M, M [M Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED ST E O Y PAPERCAN MACHINE:

George 0. Frostad and James E. Annen, MEL- of Wisconsin Application J anuary 29,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to can machines in which discs of paper or the like are applied to can bodies. The invention is herein particularly described as a paper can making machine, although its use is not limited tothe making of paper cans; In our application Serial No. 267,878, filed April 6, 1928, there isdescribed means for punching discs from a paper strip, flanging the same and forcing them into the open end of a preformed can body. thereafter rolled together toform a joint..

In certain cases, it is desired to have printed matter. appear on the disc forming the can end. It is difficult to insure continuous registry of the punching die with printed matterappearing at intervals on a paper strip, andit is therefore desirable to preform and print the 'discs'and feed them individually to the machine. In other cases,

. it may be desired for various reasons to feed unprinted discs to the machine.

We provide means for printing orembossing legends on the can ends as the latter are'fed to the machine. These means include printing rolls and ink supply rolls adapted to ink the printing f rolls intermittently.

' here. This tendency comprises a pair of The discs employed are relatively thick and stiff as compared with ordinary paper. They are usually of relatively heavy stock, impregnated with paraffin. Their edges are generally slight:

11y burred, due to the die cutting operation. The discs thereforetend to resist sliding of one over the other, thus making ordinary feed devices impracticable. The discs are frequently warped or wrinkled.

We provide a can machine, wherein discs are supported in a stack and fed into cooperative relation to the open end of a can. The feeding is from the bottom of the stack so that the supply of discs may be renewed without stopping the machine. We provide suction means for drawing'the bottom disc against the supporting plate, thereby eliminating the irregularities in feeding which ordinarily arise from the wrinkled condition of the material.

We preferably employ a reciprocating pusher for sliding the bottom disc out from under the stack. Means is also provided for riflling the stack so as to remove any tendency of the discs to adarises on the disc edges by the punching operation. We

employ a separating finger spaced far'enough from the support to permit passage of the bottom disc in the stack, of the stackin check. Supplemental means is provided beyond the'fi'ngers for feeding the discs forward. This supplemental means preferably constantly driven feed rolls. 1 Regardless of whether a disc feeding device is employed in connection with a can making ma? The can body and the flange are from the burrs formed but holding the remainder 1920. Serial 424,261- (01. 93- -5l) employ feed means which will carry the disc to its ultimate destination. We therefore provide for feeding one disc forward by engaging it with a succeeding disc. 1 In this manner, the disc fed may be spacedfrom the disc consuming device, thereby making it easy to adjust. I At the same time, there is no necessity for complicated mechanism for advancing the discs to their final position.

Since one disc is fed forward by another, we provide for varying the positionof the disc feeding device relative to the discjconsuming-device; It is desirable to maintain asubstantially con-' tinuous supportingsurface along the entire path of the discs, and we therefore employ a pair of supporting members having interengaging fingers. These fingers may be moved intoor. out of engagement with one another invarying amounts, so as to provide a substantially smooth and continuous supporting table of varying length. A top guide is provided for holding the fed discs against the table so as to insure that the edges of the leading disc and-the one which is pushing it forwardwill not overlap. This top guide preferably extends from the feed rolls to the disc consuming device and is therefore made adjustable as to length. It is further provided with yielding means whereby it exerts a slight pressure-on the top of the disc.

The-disc feeding device is arranged to be driven from the disc consuming device, so that the two units operate in timed relation.

While we have described the feeding mechanism in connection with paper discs, itis to be understood that it is applicable for use in con- 'nection with other material and with machines other than can forming machines, and that such uses are contemplated without departing from' the scope of the invention.

' In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the present preferred embodiment of our invention, a

Figure 1 is a sectional'view of a feeding ma chine embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View thereof "taken the section line IIII of Figure 1; "Figure 3 is-a side elevation of the machine shown in Figurel; Y

Figure 4 is a view partially in elevation and partially in section, taken along the section line IV-'-IV'of Figure 3; I

Figure 5-is a plan view taken along the section line V--V of Figure 3;

Figure-6 is an enlargedsectional view of a portion of the feeder mechanism shown in Figure 1;"

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a modification providedvwith an inking fountain and inking rolls; I

Figure 8 is a partial elevation of the structure erally impossible to along frame 11.

J the discs 10.

of Figure? looking upon the right-hand end of the latter; and l Figure 9 is a section taken at the plane of line IX-IX of Figure 8.

We provide a can machine in which a feeding mechanism A for feeding paper discs to a cam driven plunger B for shaping and inserting them into cylindrical can bodies, and a vacuum system C for controlling the movement of the discs. Feeder rollers D may supply a strip of paper to the plunger B from which discs are punched. The movement of the feeding mechanism A, plunger B and the rollers D are coordinated by an interconnecting mechanism E.

The feeding mechanism A for feeding paper discs to'. the plunger B comprises .a base 2, supported in part by a standard 4, and in part by a plate 5, secured by bolts6 to the plunger mechanism B. Standards 7 are adjustably mounted in slots 8 in the base 2' and cooperate with a standard 9 for supporting a stack of paper discs 10. The standard 9 is adjustably supported on a frame 11, carried by the base 2 by a set screw 12. The lower end of the standard 9 is spaced from the 7 base2 a sufiicient distance to permit but a single disc 10 to pass therebeneath at any time into engagement with feed rollers 13, mounted in the As shown in Figures 3' and 4, the upper roller 13 is resiliently maintained in en'- gagement with the lower roller by a spring pressed bearing block 13a slidably mounted in the frame 11.

A" rack 14 is mounted in a slot 15, centrally disposed at the center of the base 2. The rack J 14 carries a plate 16, that engages the outer edge of the lower disc 10 during the feeding operation. As is shown in Figure 2, the rack 14 may be provided with a plurality of plates 16' and 16", depending upon the diameter of The plate 16 having a sloping portion 17 is secured to the rack 14 by screws 18. Referring to Figure 6, the plate 16 engages the rear edge of the lower disc 10 and advances it during the operation of the feeding mechanism A, at which time the plate 16 slides beneath the stack of discs 10 and rifiies them, thereby freeing the lower disc 10 from the stack-preparatory to a subsequent feeding operation.

The base 2 is provided with a chamber 19 that a pipe 20, constituting a portion of the vacuum system C, is attached by branch pipes 21. The chamber 19 is covered by a plate 22, that is held in position by screws 24. The plate 22 is provided with a plurality of openings constituting ports disposed above the chamber 19. The ports 23 permit a gripping action of the discs 10, as they move along the base 2, thereby flattening them and holding them tightly in position to be engaged by the rollers 13.

At one end of the chamber 19, there is disposed a suction gripper 25, constituted by a block 26, that is upwardly biased by a spring 27, in

;order that the outer face of the block 26, which is provided with a port 28, shall engage the advancing disc and draw it firmly against the plate 22, in order that a positive engagement may be made between it and the rollers 13. As the burrs, it is important that provision be made for insuring that the advancing edges of the discs 10 shall lie snugly against the plate 22, as a faulty engagement of the discs 10 by the rollers 13 might result in the deforming cf the edges of the discs av disc of paper withinthe die 55.

, forwardly and backwardly, the plates 16 and 18 are given a reciprocating motion that advances the lowest disc 10 and rifiles the remaining discs preparatory to the next advancing stroke of the plate 16.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the feed rollers 8 are continuously driven by a chain 35, connected to the lower rolleri13, provided with a gear 36, meshing with a gear 37 on the upper roller. I I.

A tensioning device 38, havinga sprocket 39, is mounted on the plunger mechanism B; The tension on the rollers 37 is controlled by springs 40 and thumb screws 41, carried by the frame 11.

As the discs 10 are advanced to the rollers 13, they pass therethrough and are engaged by a guide 42 and supported by an adjustable table 44, the position of which is controlled by a spring 45, a set screw 46 and a lug 47, carried by the plunger B. The distancebetween the table 44 and the guide 42 may be varied in accordancewith'the depth of the discs 10. As the discs 10 are moved over the table 44 in accordance with the movement of the disc through the rollers 13, the table 44 is adjusted in accordance with the diameter of the discs, and to insure that a disc 10 is moved over the table 44 into the plunger mechanism B in synchronism 10 through the rollers 13. For this purpose, the guide 42 is provided with slots 48 and bolts 49, and the table tion of which is controlled by set screws 51. The base 2 is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting fingers 52 that mesh with correspond-.

copending application. Within the barrel 54 ismounted a sleeve 55, carrying a punch 57 that cooperates with the die 55 for punching paper discs from paper fed by the rollers D. Within the sleeve 56, a plunger 58 is mounted that terminates in a ram 59, having astripper 60 carried by a rod 61 extending longitudinally thereof. A spring 62 normally biases the stripper 60 in a downward position with respect to the plunger 58.

The sleeve 56, plunger 58 and rod 61 are all actuated by several rollers 64 positioned .in the grooves in the cam faces 62. The construction of the several face earns 62 and their sequence of operation is fully described in our 'copending application and the description is notrepeated in 44 is carried by rods 50, the posi-' with the movement of a new'disc V thepresent application, since the details thereof In the operation of the plunger mechanism B the sleeve 56 is moved downwardly to strike out then pressed into thebooly of a can held bya The disc is v of the plunger mechanism.

mandrel on an endless conveyor. After the paper disc has beendriven into thecan body, the ram 59 is withdrawn and the can is held by:the striperso- *Afterthe ram.59 has been retrievedto its initial "position, the stripper .60 is withdrawn by theactionof the springi62. 1. J 1 feeding mechanism D comprises rollers and adjustable rollers :66, each of which has a cam s'urfacefor feeding a continuous strip of paper to the plunger mechanism1-B.when it is de-j sired to punch out the discs during the operation For. certain classes of work, it is difficultit'o secure perfect registry of the die 55 with printed matter on thezpaper be-' ing'fed to the plunger, and under such circum-,- stances; it may be desirable to feed the preshaped' disosato the plunger mechanism B by the feeding mechanism A. The roller 65 is driven by a chain 66 from a pulley 67, carried by a shaft 68 that drives the cam faces 62. A tensioning device 69'is provided for the chain 66. The link 34 is eccentrically mounted on to the roller 65, and accordingly the driving mechanismfor the plunger B actuates the feeding mechanism D and the feeding mechanism A.

As theroller 65 turns, it imparts a reciprocating motion to the link 34and the rack 32 that is transmitted to the plate 16 for feeding discs '10 into therollers 13 in synchronismwith the movement of the plunger mechanism B. As each successive disc passes through the rollers 13, it crowds the preceding disc into the die 15 below the ram 59.

In the operation of the feedingmechanism, a pile of discs 10 are placed between the supports 7 and 9. The supply of discs 10 may be renewed continuously withoutinterrupting the operation of the feeding mechanism. As the plunger mechanism B is operated, the reciprocating motion is transmitted to the rack 32 and the rack 14, with a result that with the stroke of the latter, the lower disc 10 is advanced into engagement with the feed rollers 13. r

By reason of the gripping action of the ports 23 I and the yieldably mounted gripper 25 each advancing disc 10 is smoothed and held in firm engagement vanced. By reason of the location of the suction gripper 24, the advancing edge of each disk 10 is firmly held in position to be positively engaged by the rollers 13 upon the initial engagement therewith, thereby eliminating any tendency for the feeding mechanism to get out of step with the plunger mechanism B, or to injure the edges of the discs 10 by improved engagement with the rollers 13.

When it is desired that the can ends be provided with printed or embossed legends, use is made of the modification illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9. Much of the structure shown in these views is.

identical with that of the other figures and similar reference numerals are employed to designate corresponding elements. In order to print or emboss the discs 10 as they are fed to the can mak- 1 ing machine, the upper feed roller 13 is provided with a raised printing or embossing portion 70. The roller 13 is reciprocable with its bearing block 137) in the frame 11 as already described. A rubber inking roller '71 is also journaled in the bear- "ing block which engages the roller 13 so that the roller '71 contacts only with the raised portion 70 of the upper roller 13. r

Ink is supplied to the inking roller '71 from an inking fountain 72 supported on brackets 73 and '1 '74. The brackets 73 and 74 rest on the upper ends with the plate 22 over which it is ad-' the rubberinking roller 'has been rotated to its of the frame lliand are secured thereto by means of screws '75. The adjusting screws'76.. for*the bearing .block 13?) carrying the rollers 13 and -.-'71

corresponding 'to the adjusting screws ili of Figures 1, 3, etc., are threaded through the lower horizontal portion of the brackets 73. and 74 which rest on the frame 11. At one end of these horizontalportions of the brackets, journal bearings-77 are formed fora raft 78. A pulley '79 fixed to the shaft78 cooperates with a pulley 80 on the shaft" carrying the lower roller 13 so that the shaft 78 isdriventhere from. Collars 31011 the shaft 78.-maintain it in fixed relation with the bearings 77. A distributor roller 82 is mounted on the shaft 78 sofas to'be reciprocable therealong. that it rotates with the shaft. A co1lar83on the shaft affords a slidable bearing for one end of the roller and a spring 84 urges the roller'toward'the left as shownin Figure 8. The left-hand end of the roller has acam surface 85 formed thereon and a'cam roller 66 is journaled in a holder 87 whichsis screwed toa projecting lug 87a'on the bracket 73. As the shaft '78'rotates, engagement of the roller 86 with the cam surface 85 causes the longitudinalreciprocation of the roller 82 on the'shaft. A cam 83 is secured to the-shaft '78 and serves toactuatea follower 89 to operate. a pairof levers 99 which are fixed to pivot shaft 91. The follower 89 is integral with one of thelevers 90. A pickup roller 92 is rotatable on center points 93 in the levers 99. A fountain roll 93' is journaled for"rotation inthe inking fountain 72 and is provided with a ratchet wheel 94 on its shaft. A spring pressed pawl 95 on one of the levers serves to turn the fountain roll 93' intermittently as the levers 90 are oscillated by the engagement of the high point of the cam 88 with the follower 89. 1

In order to transfer the ink from the distributor roll 82 to the inking roll 71, we provide a rubber roller 96. The roller 96 has a shaft which is slidably supported in slots 97 in the brackets 73 and 74 by means of leaf springs98. A doctor roller 99 floats on the rollers 71 and 96. The shaft of the roller 99 is journaled in slots 100 in the brackets 73 and 74.

Figures '7 and 8 show the printing and inking mechanism when there is no disc between the feed rollers 13. When the feeding device advances a disc to the rollers 13, the upper roller 13 is lifted because of the thickness of the disc, as well as the guide finger 42. The upward movement of the upper roller 13 causes the rubber inking roller. 71 to be raised by a corresponding amount. The upper roller 13 and '71 are rigidly spaced in their reciprocable bearing block 13b, as previously described, to prevent the application of ink frorn'the inking roller 71 to the feed roller 13, except on the raised portion of the latter. By the time the inked printing portion of the roller 13 10 being fed will have advanced into position for receiving the impression.

The upward movement of therubber inking roller 71 shifts the doctor roller 99 slightly and the leaf springs 98 support the rubber roller 96 to maintain the latter in engagement with both the doctor roller 99 and'the distributor roller 82. The latter is directly driven through its shaft 73, as already described, and serves to cause the intermittent operation of the fountain rolls 93' and the pickup roller 92 which transfers ink from the fountain to the distributor roller printing position, the disc The roller is somounted the relative positions of I 'Any desiredlegend may thus be applied to the disc forming the can ends. For example," the capacity of the can may be imprinted upon the end thereof. The raised portion of the upper roller. 14 may be in the form of a removable insert so as'to permitthe printed legend to be altered if desired. u

. .We have provided a can machine in which there is a feeding mechanism for printing and supplying paper discs, that is characterized by the use of a vacuum system for insuring that each disc shall be brought into positive engagement with the feeder rolls, thereby eliminating any unnecessary loss of time in the feeding operation due to failure of the feeding rolls to immediately engage the advancing discs. At the same time, a positive feed insures perfect synchronism between the operation of the feeder rolls and the plunger to which the discs are fed. Provision is made for using the feeding mechanism for discs of diiferent diameters by providing plates of different lengths and radii of curvature corresponding to the curvature of discs of diiferent diameter, and an adjustable table is interposed between the feed rolls and the plunger.

Another'important feature of our invention is the lug that rifiles the stack of discs during each feeding operation, thereby feeding the lower disc preparatory to disengagement with the feeding plate. The positioning of the gripper in close proximity to the feed rolls also assists in insuring positive feed action.

The provision of a vacuum system in connection with feed mechanism removes any dirt or lint that may be freed from the discs and'the accumulation of which might impair the feeding operation.

. While we have described a can machine for applying paper discs to paper cans, it is to be understood that the machine is adapted for uses in connection with materials other than paper and with other types of feeding mechanisms, and that the use of the can machine for such purpinion for actuating said meansya reciprocable.

rack and a pinioncooperatingtherewith for actuating said first-mentioned pinion, and a crank arm driven by said cam shaftfor actuating the last-mentioned rack. y

2. In a can-making machine, a reciprocable plunger, a cam shaft having a cam thereon for reciprocating said plunger, a drive for "the cam shaft, means for feeding discs below the plunger comprising a reciprocable slide, a rack bar on 'the slide, a shaft adjacent the slide having a pinion cooperating with said rack, a second pinion; on said shaft, a reciprocable rack for actuating the second pinion, a crank arm driven by said cam shaft for reciprocating the last-mentioned rack, rolls for forwarding discs advanced-by saiddisc feeding means, and means driven from said cam shaft for driving said rolls. c

3. In a can-making machine, a plunger for engaging can ends, a cam shaft havinga cam thereon for engaging said plunger, a drive for the cam shaft, strip and disc-feeding meansassociated with said plunger, the strip feeding means comprising opposed rolls having a portion of their peripheries recessed for intermittently engaging and forwarding a strip, and means for driving said rolls from said cam shaft, said disc-feeding means comprising a reciprocable slide for actuating a disc, feed rolls foradvancing a disc actuated by said slide, said'slide and rolls both being drivenfrom said cam shaft.

GEORGE 0. FROSTAD. JAMES E. ANNEN,

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