US1959327A

US1959327A - Cup dropping machine

Info

Publication number: US1959327A
Application number: US596561A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Adams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-03-03
Filing date: 1932-03-03
Publication date: 1934-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1951-05-22

Description

May z2,l 1934. f

c. F. ADAMS CUP DROPPING IACHINE Filed uarch.- 1932 4 Smets-sheetV 1 May'zz, 1934- i C. F. -ADAMs 1,959,327

- QUE DROPPING MACHINE I Filed March 3, 1932 4 sheets-'sheet` 2 ATTORNEY May 22, 1934.

C. F. ADAMS CUP DROPPING MACHINE Filed March 3, 1932 4 SheetsiSheet 3 ATTORNEY May 22, 1934. c. F. DA-,Ms

CUP DROPPINGACHINE Filed uarch 3. 1932 4 shts-sheet 4.

ATTORNEY Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT Fries 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a cup dropping machine, wherein cups or other objects can be automatically dropped one at a time from a plurality of them.

The second object of the invention is the production of a machine Wherewith a plurality of cups or other objectscan be automatically separated from a plurality. of them to place them in position for further treatment.

l0 The' third object of the invention is the production of a cup dropping machine which can be charged with a plurality of cups, which latter can be separated from each other and dropped into pans or upon a movable conveyer.

In the accompanying drawings Fig'. 1 represents a side elevation and section of Fig. 2 on the line 1, 1 of an exemplification of the improved cup dropping machine. Fig. 2 shows a right hand side View of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 indicates a section of Fig. 1on the line 3, 3; Fig. 4 shows a section of the suction head of the paper cup dropping machine ason the line 4, 4 of Fig. 5; Fig. 5 represents a section Vof Fig. 4 on the line 5, 5; Fig.` 6 indicates .a section of Fig. 5.on the

line

6, 6

Fig. '7 shows an enlarged section in part of Fig. 2 on the line 7, 7; Fig. 8 indicates a section of Fig. 7 on the line 8, 8; Fig. 9 shows a partial right hand view of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 indicates .an elevation of one of the corrugated cups; Fig. 11 is a top view of Fig. 10 and Fig. 12 shows a fragmentary portion of Fig. 7 with a modification.

The cup dropping machine in this instance comprises the

side frames

20 and 21, which are supportedon four castors 22, of which two are shown. The

frames

20 and 21 are connected by the spacer bolts 25, and the pair of cross connecting bars 26 at the upper ends of said frames. Pairs of longitudinal

supplemental frames

30 and 31 have their inner ends fastened to the

side frames

20 and 21, by means of the bolts 32. At the outer ends of the frames 30 are for-med the guide openings 34, which are provided with the caps 35. A slide block 36 is guided in each opening 34 and has in threaded engagement therewith the adjusting screw 37.

A cross shaft 40 has its end portions journaled in the slide blocks 36. Sprocket chain wheels 42 are fastened to the shaft 40. In the -outer ends of the longitudinal frames 31, is journaled shaft 45, which has fastened thereto the sprocket chain wheels 46. A ratchet wheel 47 is also fastened to the shaft 45.

A ratchet lever 48 is loosely supportedl on the- Wheel 47. At the other end of the ratchet lever 48 is pivoted one end of the connecting rod 50. A conveyer platform 51 having the openings 52 is supported between the

frames

20 and 21 and between the pairs of

longitudinal frames

30 and 31, by means of the brackets 53 extending from the

'frames

30 and 31. n

.A platform 55 is supported upon and fastened to the lugs 56 extending from the side frames 20 and 2l. An electric motor 57 is supported upon and fastened to the platform 55. The armature shaft `of the electric motor 57 is indicated at 57a and the latter has fastened thereto the pulleys 58 and 59. A housing is indicated at 60. A worm shaft 61 with a Worm 62 has one end journaled in the housing '60. A shaft 63 has one end journaled in the housing and the other end of the shaft 63 is journaled in the bracket 64 supported on the platform 55. A worm wheel 66 is fastened to the shaft 63. The latter is in mesh with the worm 62. A pulley 67 is fastened to the shaft 61. A belt 68 connects the pulleys 59 and 67.

A vacuum pump 72 is supported on the platform 55.. A shaft for the pump 72 is indicated at 73 and has fastened thereto the pulley 74. A- belt 75 connects the pulleys 58 and 74.

A-disc and a cam 81 are fastened adjacent to one end of the shaft 63, and a disc 82 and a cam 83 are fastened to the other en d of said shaft. The connecting rod 50 has one end thereof pinned to the disc 80 by means of the pin 84.

A lever 88 has one end pivoted to the frame 20 by means of the, pin 89. At the other end of the lever88 is pinned the connecting rod 90 by means of the pin 91. A roller is pivoted to the lever 88, and is adapted tov bear against the cam 81. A spring 96 has one end fastened to the lever 88 and its other end is fastened to the` frame 20.

A bell crank having the arms 97 and 98 is pivoted to the frame 21, by means of the pivot 99. 95

A roller 100 is pivoted to the arm 98 and bears against the cam 83. A spring has one end fastened to the arm 97 and its other end is fastened to the frame 21. A connecting rod 106 has one end pinned to" the arm 97 by the pin 107. 100

Piping comprising the

portions

109 and 110 extends from the vacuum pump 72 and has connected thereto the valve housing 111, for details see Figs. 7 and 9. The said valve housing has integral therewith the

vertical openings

112 and 105 113 and the horizontal part 114. A valve 115 is indicated having the

arms

116 and 117 with the hub 11'8. vA second valve 115a, is indicated havv ing the

arms

119 and 120 with the hub 121. An

opening 122 is formed in the hub 118 and an 110 opening 123 is formed in the hub 121. A pivot screw 125 in the housing 111 supports the arm 117, and a pivot screw 126 in the housing 111 supports the arm 119. The connecting rod 106, has one end pivoted to the arm 120. A pair of brackets 130 extend from the platform 51 and support the shaft 132. To one end of the shaft 132 is fastened the arm 133. A spring 134 has one end fastened to the arm 133 and its other end is fastened to the frame 21. A connectingV rod 135 has its ends pivoted to the

arms

116 and 133 by the pins 136 and 137. A pair of regulating arms 139 and 140 have their hub ends fastened to the shaft 132. v,

A link 145 (see Figs. 1 and 2) has one end pivoted to the disc 82 by means of the pivot 146. A gear segment is shown with the

arms

150 and 151 and is pivoted to the frame 21 by means of the pivot 152, and the arm 150 is shown with the teeth 153. 'I'he arm 151 is pivoted to the link 145, by means of the pivot 154.

A shaft 156 has its ends journaledin the

frames

20 and 21 and has fastened thereto the spur gears 157 and 158.

A pair of sprocket chains 165 (see Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8) are each indicated `with the pairs of

links

166 and 167. The latter links have integral therewith the projecting portions 168, that have fastened thereto the cross bars 169.' The

links

166 and 167 are slidable on the guide ways 170 extending up from the platform 51. Pusher pins 172 extend from the cross bars 169. Angle shaped brackets 176 extend from the conveyer platform 51. A pair of longitudinal guide bars 177 are fastened to the brackets 176. Clusters or nests of pans 178 having the cavities 179 are positioned upon the conveyer platform 5l, between the guide bars 177 and the pusher pins 172.

A pair of guide strips 181 (see Figs. 1 and 2) extend from each of the

frames

20 and 21.

A rack bar 182 with the rack teeth 183 is guided between one pair of guide strips 181.

A similar rack bar 185 having the rack teeth 186 is guided in the other pair of guide strips `181. Cover guide plates 188 are fastened to each pair of the guide strips 181. An. L shaped bracket having the

arms

190 and 191 is fastened to the rack bar 185 by means of the bolts 192. A similar L shaped bracket having the

arms

193 and 194, is guided in the other pair of guide strips 181and is fastened to the rack bar 182. A T bar 195 connects the

arms

190 and 193. A tube'198 closed at itslends extends through openings in the

arms

191 and 194. Flexible tubes 200 extend from the tube 198 to the manifold 205. which latter is supported on the frame 21. 'I'he portion of piping 110 is connected to the manifold 205. Flexible tubes 212 extend upwardly from tube 198. A tube 21'4 has its ends rotatably supported in the

arms

191 and 194. A spur gear 215 is fastened to the tube 214. A controlling (for detail see Figs. 4

Aand 5) shaft 216 is slidably positioned in the tube -the numeral225. Each suction headY comprisesV the barrel 228, which at its lower end has integral therewith the foot 2,29, and at its upper end is indicated the head per-se 230, which 'end 241 and the outer curved end 242, and in each of said fingers is -formed the longitudinal port 243 which connect with cavity 234. A vertical suction nger 245 is indicated with the port 246 having the flared end 247.

A cover 250 for the head 230 is heldin position by the screws 251. A lug 252 is formed with the l cover 250. A leaf spring 253 has one end fastened to the lug 252 and its other end extends into a recessof the vertical nnger 245. Leaf springs 254v have each one of their ends fastened to'one of the pads 238 and the other ends of the springs 254 engage recesses in the horizontal fingers 240. s

A cap 255 is fastened to the foot 229, by the bolts 256. The cap 255 is keyed to the tube 215 by means of the key 257.

An operating plunger 260 is shown with the lower tapered end 261 and the upper tapered end 262. A longitudinal port 263 with the nozzle end 264 is formed in the plunger 260. vCross ports 265 and 266 extend from the port 263.

The cross ports 265 are positioned at the lower portion of the plunger and the ports 266 at its upper end.

A supporting plate 272 (see Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5) having a plurality of openings 273 is fastened to the connecting bars 26. Cup supply cylinders 275 have their lower ends positioned in each of the openings 273. In this instance the walls of the cylinders 275 are corrugated as shown at 276. At the lower end of each cylinder 275 are fastened the cup stop lugs 277.

A cross shaft 280 has its ends fastened to the

arms

190 and 193. A gear segment 281 is rotatably supported on the shaft 280, and at one end thereof has integral therewith the teeth 282, and at the other end of the segment 281 is journaled the'roller 283. A helical' spring 284 has one end fastened to the shaft 280 and its other end is fastened to the segment 281. An

'adjusting screw 285 extends from the arm 190.A

A stop lug 287 is fastened to the frame 21.l A lug 290 extends from the frame 20, and has pivoted thereto the bell crank having the

arms

291 and 292.

The arm 292 bears against the end 217 of the shaft 216, and the arm 291 is pivoted to the upper end of the connecting rod 90'.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, the paper cups 294 to be dropped are each indicated with the tapered corrugated side wall 295 and the fiat bottom Wall 296.

To use the machine the cup supply cylinders 275 are charged with the paper cups 294 in inverted position.

The electric motor 57 is started by means of which the vacuum pump 72 is operated, and the shaft 63 is turned. With the shaft 63, the

discs

80 and 82 and the

cams

81 and 83 are turned. The disc'BO through the connecting rod 50, the ratchet wheel 47 and the pawl 49 impart intermittent rotation to the shaft 45. By this `means the sprocket chains 165 have imparted to them intermittent movements. With movements of the sprocket chains 165, the

pans 178 are given intermittent movements by the pusher pins 172, and are brought axially below the suction heads 225.

As each row of pans ofthe clusters of pans moves under the suction heads 225, two pans of each row contact with the arms 139 and 140. The latter are swung as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. 7. Thereby the arm 116 is swung to its dotted position shown in said Fig. 7 on they pivot screw 125. By this means the opening 122 in the hub 118 registers with the port 114.

At the same time the coaction of the cam 83 with the roller moves the connecting rod 106 in the direction of the arrow B, Fig. 7 and the opening 123 of the hub 121 is positioned to register with the port 114. With this disposition of parts a partial vacuum is produced in the portions of piping 109, 110 and in the

exible tubes

200, 212. A partial vacuum is thereby also produced inthe ports 263 of the suction heads 225. Just a little time before the vacuum is produced the coaction of the cam 81 with the roller 95 on the lever 88, the connecting rod 90, and the bell crank arm 292, the controlling shaft 216 is moved in the direction of the arrow C (Fig. 3). By this means the operating plungers 260 are raised, and the horizontal suction fingers 240 are spread and the vertical suction fingers 245 are raised and contact with the lowermost cup in each cup supply cylinder 275. After a vacuum is obtained the vertical suction .fingers 245 pull down Athe cups 294 and the horizontal suction fingers 240 pull in and contract `the walls 295 ofthe cups 294 vto clear the stop lugs 277. After each cup 294 has been drawn in by the

suction fingers

240 and 245, the link 145! moves to the left in the direction of the arrow F (Fig. 1), which swings the segment having the

arms

150, 151, and thereby the spur. gear 158 turns in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 1.

The rack bars 182 and'185- will thereby descend and with movement of the latter, the L shaped brackets having the

arms

190, 191, 193, 194 are lowered as well as the gear segment 281, and the controlling shaft 216 with the suction heads 225, are lowered.

The roller 283 lowers until it strikes the stop lug 287, and then the gear segment 281 swings on the cross shaft 280, and the spur gear 215 will turn in the direction of the arrow G (Fig. 1).

By this means the suction head 225 will revolve in the direction of the arrow G through an angle of 180 degrees. Just after the suction heads have been inverted the cam 83 coacts with the bell crank having the arms 97 and 98, Awhich latter through the connecting rod 106 actuates the4 valve `115a, by which the vacuum in the suction heads 225 will be broken. Then the paper cups 294 will be released from all the suction fingers of the suction heads 225 and will drop into the cavities 179 of the pans 178. cups 294 have been deposited into the cavities of the pans 178, the sprocket chains 165 move in the direction indicated by the arrow H, Fig. 1, and the pusher pins 172 move the pans in the same direction. After the paper cups 294 have been deposited in the pans 178, the suction heads 225 are revolved to their original position. This is accomplished by the disc 82 coacting with the link 145, the gear segment having the arms 150,151, the spur gear`158, and the rack bars 182, and 185, which latter rise. As soon as the rack bars rise the spring 284 swings up the gear segment` 281 in the direction of the arrow H' until it strikes the adjusting screw 285, when the suction heads After the paper been broken, the cam 81 coacting with the lever 88, the connecting rod 90, the bell crank arm 292 and the spring 219, the controlling'l rod v216 will be moved in a direction opposite to the arrow C, Fig. 3 and thereby the operating plungers 260 will be lowered by the

fingers

240 and 245 bearing against the upper end of the operating plungers 260, through the tension of the springs 253 and 254.

Referring to Fig. 12the connecting

rods

106 and 135 are again shown. A lever 300 is pivoted to the side frame 21 and has one end pinned to the connecting rod 135. A bell crank having the arms 302 and 303, is also pivoted to the side frame 21. The arm 302 is pinned to the connect ing rod 106. The portions of piping 109 and 110 are again shown and between them is indicated the piping 305 with the gate valve 306 having the valve rod 307 and the gate valve 308 having the valve rod 309. The valve rod 307 is connected to the lever 300 and the valve rod 309 is connected to the arm 303. The valves 306 and 308 function in the same manner as described for the valves having the

hubs

118 and 121. l

It will be noted that the cups dropped by the machine may have Various shapes and may be of paper, metal or other suitable material and that in place of the cups, caps of metal, paper and other material: may be dropped and secured in place en bottles and the like.

Instead of the sprocket chains v165 with their appurtenances an ordinary belt conveyer may -be used.

The vertical suction fingers .245 may be used without the horizontal suction fingers 240 of the heads 225, or the suction head may be used without suction fingers, and the longitudinal port 263 may bel used with cross ports through the head 230. f

The pans 178 may be dispensed with and the lobjects dropped by the machine 'may drop dlsbars 177 form pockets for the nests of pans.

The vertical suction fingers 245 may be dispensed with, and the horizontal suction fingers 240 only may be used with the suction heads `225.

Various modifications may be made in the invention and the present exempliflcaton is to be taken as illustrative and not limitative thereof.

Having described my invention what desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim 1is:

1. In a cup dropping machine, the combination of a cup supply cylinder, asuction head supported in said machine, means to revolve said head through an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees and position it axially in line with said cup supply cylinder, movable suction fingers supported at the outer end of the suction head adapt-v ed to engage a cup of said cup supply cylinder and means to produce a partial 'vacuum in said suction fingers to draw said cup to said fingers, and holdsaid cup on said fingers.

2. In a cup dropping machine the combination of a frame, a row of cupsupply cylinders detach- 151' supported in the outer end portion of each suction head, means to move said fingers to contact their outer ends with a cup in .each of said cylinders and means to produce a partial vacuum in each of said fingers to draw said cups to said fingers -and hold them clamped thereto' and means to break said vacuum when said suction heads are in their inverted position to release said cups from said fingers.

3. In a cup dropping machine the combination of cup supply cylinders, stop lugs at the lower end of each cylinder, said cylinders having therein a plurality of cups one over the other in inverted position, the open end of the lowermost cup in each cylinder bearing on said stop lugs, suction heads revolvably positioned below said cylinders, a head per-se at one end of each suctionhead, means to raise said suction heads to enter their heads per-se, into their corresponding cup supply cylinders, and to disengage said heads per-se from said cylinders, fingers slidably supported .in each head per-se, means to'reciprocate said fingers, means to produce a partial vacuum in said suction head and said fingers, to clamp said cups one after the other to said fingers and thereby clear said cups from said stop lugs, means to revolve said suction heads to locate them in inverted position and means to break said partial vacuum to release saidcups from Asaid fingers when said suction heads are located in their inverted position.

4. In a cup dropping machinethe combination of a cup supply cylinder having a plurality of cups therein, one over the other in inverted position, stop lugs at the lower end of the cylinder adapted to support the edge of the lowermost cup, a suction head in the machine means to vertically move said head in opposite directions and also to revolve said head in opposite directions, a tube supporting one end of the suction head, a controlling shaft slidably supported in said tube, an operating plunger in said suction head, said plunger having a longitudinal port and cross ports adjacent to its ends, a cover for the suction head, horizontal suction fingers slidably supportci in the outer end of the suction head, a 'vertical suction finger slidably supported in said cover, means to reciprocate the-controlling shaft in said tube, and when moved in one direction, the coaction of the elements spreading the horizontal fingers and raising the vertical finger, to

contact the horizontal ngers. with inner sur-l face of the side wall of the lowermost cup and the vertical nger with the bottom wall of. the cup, means to produce a partial vacuum in said plungver and fingers to draw said cup to said fingers and cylinder, means to vertically Imove in opposite directions and alsoto revolve said head in opposite directions, said suction head comprising 'a barrel, a head at one end of the barrel, a foot at the other end of the barrel, a tube clamped to said foot, a controlling shaft slidably supported in said tube, and having a controlling groove in its surface, an operating plunger in said barrel, said plunger having a longitudinal port and cross ports at its lower portion and at its upper end, a lower tapered end and an upper tapered end integral with the plunger, a cover for the head, horizontal suction fingers having tapered inner ends slidably supported in the outer end of the suction head, the tapered ends of the horizontal fingers adapted to bear against the upper tapered end of the plunger, a vertical suction finger slidably supported in said cover'and adapted to bear on the top. end of the plunger, means to reciprocate the controlling shaft in said tube and when moved in one direction raising the operating plunger and thereby spreading the horizontal fingers and raising the vertical finger tov contact the horizontal fingers with the inner surface of the side wall of the lowermost cup and the vertical nger with the bottom wall of the cup, means to produce a partial vacuum in said plunger and fingers to draw said cup to'said fingers and means to force said fingers to their closed position with a movement of the controlling shaft, the latter movement of the fingers drawing the Walls of the cup clear of the stop lugs of the cup supply cylinder.

6. In a cup dropping machine the combination of a pair of frames, a rack bar guided on the inner face of each frame, a shaft between said frames and having its end journaled therein, a pair of spur` gears fastened to said shaft in mesh with said rack bars, means to turn the shaft in opposite directions, a bracket fastened to upper end of each `rack bar, a crossshaft having its ends fastened to said brackets, a gear segment rotatably supported on said cross shaft, a helical spring having one end fastened to the cross shaft and its other end fastened to said gear segment, a tube having its ends rotatably supported in said brackets, a spur fastened to said tube in mesh with said segment and a plurality of suction heads fastened to said tube. i

'7. In a cup dropping machine the combination of a pair of frames, a rack bar guided on the inner face of each frame, a shaft between said frames and having its ends journaled therein, a pair of spur gears fastened to said shaft and in mesh with the teeth of said rack bars, a gearsegment having a pairof arms pivoted to one of rsaid frames, the teeth of the segment integral with one of said arms, and in mesh with one of said spur gears, a rotating disc positioned adjacent to one of said frames, a link having its ends pivoted to said disc and one of the arms of the gear segment, an L shaped bracket'fastened to the upper end of each rack bar, a cross shaft having its ends fastened to said L shaped brackets, a second gear segment rotatably supported on said cross shaft, a helical spring having one end fastened to the cross shaft and its other end fastened to the second gear segment, a tube having its ends rotatably'supported in said L shaped brackets, a spur gear fastened to said tube and in mesh with the second gear segment and a plurality of suction heads fastened to said tube, the said rack bars'with their coacting elements raising and lowering the said tube with said suction heads, and the second gear segmentco- A l acting with the spur gear on said tube turning the latter and thereby revolving the suction heads in one direction from their upright position, and said helical spring coacting with said second gear segment swinging the latter to turn the spur gear on said tube to revolve the suction heads in the opposite direction and' locate them in their original upright position.

8. In a machine the combination of a cylinder for a plurality of objects to be distributed, a suction head, means to move said suction head to enter it into said cylinder and withdraw it therefrom, means to revolve said head, a normally vertical suction flnger, slidably supported in the suction head, means to produce a partial vacuum in said head and linger and means to break said partial vacuum.

9. In a machine the combination of a cylinder for a' plurality of objects to be distributed, a suction head, means to move said head to enter it into said cylinder and withdraw it therefrom, means to revolve said head, normally horizontal suction fingers slidably supported in said suction head,`means to produce a partial vacuum in said head and suction fingers and means to break said partial vacuum.

10. In a machine the combination of a cylinder` for a plurality of lobjects to be distributed, i

a suction head, means to move said head to enterl it into said cylinder and withdraw it therefrom, means to revolve said head, a normally vertical suction finger slidably supported in said suction head, normally horizontal suction ngers slidably supported in said head, means to reciprocate said fingers, means to produce a partial vacuum in said head and suction fingers and means to break said partial vacuum.

11. In a machine the combination of a motor, a shaft journaled in the machine, connections between the shaft and motor, a vacuum pump in the machine, connections between the motor and said vacuum pump, suction piping extending from said pump, a pair of valves interposed in said suction piping, suction heads for supporting cups in connection with said suction piping, con.

nections' between said shaft and one of said valves to actuate, the latter, a second shaft journaled in the machine, a regulating arm extending from the second shaft, a moving element in the machine to swing said arm, connections between said arm and said second valve to open the same, means to close the second valve and means to locate cups on said heads.

` CHARLES F. ADAMS.

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