US1962721A - Strip feeding device - Google Patents

Description

June l2, 1934. T. H. KRUEGER STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Filed Deo. 24, 1931 O l. N b, 4m. mY .w m

L a C iii 'was MW" M /NVENTOR /7/ A TTORNEY Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT. GFFIC y 6 Claims.

This invention relates to strip serving devices and has for an object to provide an improved arrangement to facilitate the feeding of predetermined lengths.

The invention has been developed in connection with the production of apparatus for feeding and moistening predetermined lengths of gummed paper tape of the type in which the tape is fed by a manually operated reciprocating feeder member operative upon its forward movement to feed the tape and for convenience, such an embodiment of the invention will be described to illustrate the principles of the invention but it will be understood that the particular description is illustrative merely and is not intended as defining the limits of the invention.

The conditions and manner of use of devices for feeding measured lengths of paper, gummed tape and the like are such that it is desirable to be able with facility to feed definite measured lengths in order to economize material and prevent waste.

A measuring scale extending parallel to the line of movement of a reciprocable feeding member and along which a pointer carried by the feeding member moves, has been used to facilitate feeding measured lengths but when feeding longer lengths requiring more than a single reciprocation of the feeding member it is necessary to calculate the number of feeding movements and the extent of the last movement.

These devices are used mainly in shipping rooms by unskilled labor and in the circumstances mental arithmetic slows up the Work or is neglected in favor of guessing, with loss of time or waste of material.

The present invention has for an object to eliminate the necessity for such calculation by providing a direct indicating means which may be used with a minimum of effort and a maximum of accuracy.

It is further an object to provide indicating means of this character which is arranged for a maximum of convenience and accuracy in use. The nature and objects of the invention will be better understood from a description of a particular illustrative embodiment for the purpose of which description reference should be had to l the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view taken somewhat diagonally showing the top of the device,

Figure 2 is a side view of the same,

Figure 3 is a detail plan view showing the position of the guard relative to the cutter and the end of the tape guide.

The strip feeding device shown for .the purpose of illustration provides a scale 5 positioned parallel to guide 6, which extends down an incline to the cutting knife 7 and moistening device 8. The tape is fed down the slide by a reciprocable hand operated feeding device or slide 9 Which has a clamping jaw 10 cooperating with the strip. The jaw 10 is carried by a pivoted member, the upstanding arm 11 of which forms a handle for feeding operation. The natural pressure of the hand during the feeding movement presses the jaw 10 into feeding engagement with the strip. A spring 11a extending over a roller 12 and back to a suitable anchor pin 13 returns the feeding slide to initial position. At the top of the guide a one-way detent 14 prevents backwardmovement of the strip while permitting free forward movement.

The scale 5 is made in three columns,y each graduated in inches. Each column corresponds to a full feed stroke and in each column the figures represent the feed length of the column in question plus the accumulated feed length of the preceding column or columns. The figures in each column are positioned to indicate the position of the feeding device at one end of the stroke when feeding the corresponding measured length of strip.

The figures in the left column read up in the direction of feed, that is to say, down the incline toward the severing knife '7. These figures indicate the position of the feeding device 9 at the end of the first full feeding stroke after the length indicated has been fed. The operator in feeding a strip of fifteen inches or less notes the position of the figure representing the desired length and moves the feeding member 9 to the position in which the arrow 15 carried by the slide 9 lies opposite this figure and then releases the feeding slide to permit it to return to its starting position under the action of the spring 11. He then presses the knife to sever the length fed.

The figures in subsequent columns, only a second and third being shown, read up in the opposite direction, that is to say from 15 as the zero of the second column to 30 and in the third column from 30 as its zero to 45. The figures 15 and 30 however, not being shown at the bottom of the scale. 'I'hese gures therefore lie in each case at the first end or beginning of the short stroke, necessary to complete the feed of the lengths indicated. If the particular figure selected lies in the second column one full length preliminary stroke is necessary and if in the third column two such full length strokes are necessary.

To illustrate, suppose twenty inches of tape is required. The operator makes one full str-oke, thereby feeding fifteen inches, and during this movement he notes the position of the figures 20 in the second column and moves the feed device back only as far as figure 20 and pulls it down as far as it will go to complete the feeding of the desired 20 inches. The arrangement shown is preferable to an arrangement in which the figures in the second column run downwardly instead of upwardly, in which case the operator would move his hand to the top of the slide for the second stroke and then down to the position indicated by the figure 20. Such an arrangement would be less advantageous than the arrangement shown in that for the second stroke in the case under consideration it would be necessary to move the hand all of the way to the top of the machine for the second stroke or final stroke to complete the feed, and then to the bottom of the stroke to out the paper. The arrangement shown also has the advantages that during the upward movement to the point indicated by the Figure 20,' for example, in preparation for the second feeding stroke, the scale is in full view unobscured by the hand or arm of the operator, the eye readily catches the position figure and because the feeding slide is unloaded on this upward movement accuracy is more easily attained or a mistake corrected.

In use the position of a figure indicating the desired length in one column or another indicates immediately the number of full length feeding strokes necessary at the start of the operation.

The guide in the device shown is hinged at its upper end as indicated at yi3 and is clamped in operative position at its lower end by two spring clamps 19.

The strip as fed by the device along the guide passes beneath a guard 20 positioned relatively close'to the severing knife. This guard holds the strip against buckling during the cutting operation.

It will be understood that the particular arrangement shown is merely illustrative and that the invention may be variously embodied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims. v

The machine shown is similar in many details to my Patent 1,638,816, August` 9, 1927.

I claiml. In a strip serving device, the combination with a reciprocating strip feeding device of a measuring scale to facilitate feeding measured lengths which comprises a strip having a plurality of columns of figures, the figures in one column reading up in one' direction to the figure representing the length fed by one feeding movement of the device and the figures in another column reading up in the opposite direction to the figure representing the length fed by two feeding movements of the device.

2. In a strip serving device, strip feeding means and a visual measuring device for measuring the length of strip fed comprising adjacent the line of movement of an element of said feeding means a stationary measuring scale having a plurality of columns of indicating figures, the figures in one column indicating the positions for the feeding element when at one end of a single feeding movement which feeds the lengths indicated by said figures respectively and the figures in another column indicating the positions for the feeding element when at one end of a subsequent feeding movement which completes the feeding of the lengths indicated by said figures respectively after a first full length feeding movement.

3. In a strip serving device, strip feeding means and a visual measuring device for measuring the length of strip fed comprising adjacent the line of movement of an element of said feeding means a stationary measuring scale having a plurality of columns of indicating figures, the figures in one column reading in the direction of movement of an element of the feeding means and each figure indicating directly the length fed by such movement and the figures in another column reading in the opposite direction and each such figure indicating the position to which the feeding element should be moved to begin a final feeding movement which will complete the feeding of the length indicated by such figure.

4. In a strip serving device an inclined strip guide, a strip severing device at the lower end of said guide, a reciprocating strip feeder movable along said guide, and a measuring scale extending parallel to said guide and with which said feeder is coordinated tomeasure the lengths fed, said scale having a plurality of columns of figures one of which reads from zero to the figure representing the length of a feeding movement of the strip feeder, another of which reads Vfrom 4that figure up to the figure representing the length fed by two feeding movements, whereby a selected measured length can be fed by moving the feeder once along the scale between the Zero position and a selected figure position in the first column or by moving the feeder once the full length of the feeding movement and a second time between the selected figure positionin the second column and the end of the scale.

5. A strip serving device as defined in claim 4 in which the figures in the first column read from Zero at the upper end of the scale and increase down the scale and the figures in the second column increase up the scale.

6. In a strip serving device, a strip guide, means to advance the strip therealong comprising a reciprocating feed member, and adjacent the line of movement of said feed member a stationary measuring scale having a plurality of columns of indicating figures, the figures in one column reading up to the figure representing the length fed by one feeding movement of the device and the gures in another column reading up from the above mentioned figure to the figure representing the length fed by two feeding movements of the device. f

THEODORE H. KRUEGER.

Images