US1990334A

US1990334A - Vacuum cup

Info

Publication number: US1990334A
Application number: US612988A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander T Koppe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-05-23
Filing date: 1932-05-23
Publication date: 1935-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 1952-02-05

Description

Feb. 5, 1935.

A. T. KoPPE 1,990,334

VACUUM CUP l *Filed May 23, A1952l 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 759 Q @j Weka/wier TKO/ojo@ I Patent-eci 5,` 1935 -PATgNr'oFi-ICE vacuum om Alexander T. K'oppe,l Chicago, Ill. Application May 23, 1932, serial No. 612,988

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vacuum cups and its purpose is to provide a device for holding-sheets of paper or the like in printing presses or other apparatus where it is desired to` move a sheet of paper or other thin objects from one position to another. In printing presses and other machines of that character, it is the common practice to employ vacuumcups which are brought into engagement with. the paper sheets r the like with the result that the suction which is exerted through the cup operates to cause the sheet of paperto adhere to the contacting portion of the cup and to remain in that .position until the suctionlis released when the cup is in a new position. Devices of this character which have heretofore been provided have not been suiilciently sensitive to operate upon sheets of all thicknesses which are met with in commercial practice and they have usually been rather large and cumbersome structures Awhich could not b e used" in all locations. v

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of vacuum cup which will be very simple in construction and sensitive in operation so that it may be readily employed in various locations for operation upon sheets of various material and thickness. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuum cup comprising relatively movable parts, one of which is adapted to be brought into engagement with the paper sheets and to yield when that engagement is eiected so that a uniform contact of the periphery of the cup with the sheet is eiected. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved vacuum cup in which the use of `a rubber or other resilient Ycup member is eliminated. Still another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cup provided with .means extending across the orifice leading to the vacuum channel so that the paper sheet is not drawn into the cup by the vacuum. Other objects relate to various features of con- Structure and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

'I'he nature of the invention will be understood from the following speciiication taken with the accompanying drawings, vin which three embodiments are illustrated. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a vertical section through one form of the improved vacuum cup and a suction pipe by which it is carried, showing the cup proper in position to engage the uppermost sheet of a stack; Fig. 2 is a sectional View similar to that of Fig. 1, showing the relative positions of the parts of (ol. 294-641' v vthe deviceafter the uppermost sheet has been engaged by the cup;

Fig. 3l shows a bottom plan view of thevacuumcup illustrated in Fig. 1; 4

Fig. 4 shows a vertical section through another 5 form of the invention applied to a suction pipe, illustrating the cup in position to engage the uppermost sheet of a stack;

Fig. 5- is a sectional view similar to that'of Fig. 4, showing the relative positions of the parts after the uppermost sheet o`f the stack has been lifted thereby; Fig. 6 shows a bottom plan view ofthe device illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5; v

Fig. '7 is a' vertical'section through the lower 1'5 portion of a third form of the invention in which means are 'provided for preventing the paper sheet from being. drawn into the vacuum channel; and

Fig. 8 is a 4bottom 'trated inv Fig. 7.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the yinvention is applied to'a vacuum pipe or tube 1-0 which' may be a part of a printing press or the like and which is connected to a source of suction. This pipe is'ordinarily movable so that va vacuum cup carried thereby may be brought into engagement with a pile of sheets or the sheets may be movable with their support for the purpose of bringing one sheet intoensagement with the jcup. `The pipe 10 is provided on its under side with a circular aperture which is threadedly engaged by a hollow stem 11 upon which there is slidably mounted a cylinder 12. The lower end of the stem 11 is inter- 35 nally threaded and is engaged by a threaded rel taining member 13 having an aperture 13u there-` through concentric with the wall of the tube oi the stem 11 and having an annular ange 13b which extends outwardly beyond the outer surface of the stem to engage an annular internal shoulder 14 which isformed upon the inner wall. of of the cylinder 12. 'I'he flange 13b of the plug 13 limits the downward movement of the cylinder under the iniiuence of gravity.

The lower end of the cylinder 12 is internally threaded and is engaged by a head 16 having an upwardly extending externally threaded sleeve portion 16a which engages the threads of the plan view of the device illus- `20 f lower-part of the cylinder, and an outwardly dire :ted flange portion 16b which engages the, lower end of the cylinder. The periphery of the ange portion 16" is preferably knurled as shown at '16 Afor engagement by the fingers of the operator' in order that the head may be readily inserted'in 55 uppermost sheet 18.

v or withdrawn from the cylinder 12 may be held against rotation dui'- when the cylinder. In order that ing the operation of applyingor removing the head 16, the upper end of the cylinder is provided with two opposite dat faces 12* which may be engaged by a wrench or the like. 'The head 16 is provided at sleeve-like portion annular flange 16d with a rubber cup 17 formed of a very nexible quality of rubber orthe like. The neck 17* of this cup is received within the annular ange 16i and is provided with an outwardly 17b which overlies the 16l with an inwardly extending outwardly and downwardly flaring skirt 17 which is adapted to contact with the surface of the uppermost sheet of a pile of sheets 18, resting on a support 19. The cup 17 is retained in place by means comprising a metal sleeve 20 having at its lower end an outwardly aring flange 20n which coacts with the under surface of the skirt 17z of the cup. This sleeve 20 extends upwardly through the neck of the cup concentrlcally with lthe sleevelike portion 16 of the head and it is externally threaded for engagement by a nut 21 which serves to clamp a washer 22 in position on .the upper surface of the cup within the head. The upper end of the nut is provided .with a transverse slot 2ln for engagement by a wrench or the'like and the nut is tightened, the sleeve 20y is drawn upwardly so that the cupr17 is clamped firmly in position. With the parts assembled 'as just described, there is a clearance 23 between the upper end of the sleeve 20 and the lower face of the retaining member 13 and the amount of this clearance represents the extent of upward movement of the cylinder 12 upon the stem 11.

In the operation of this device, a relative movement is effected between the pipe 10 and the pile of sheets 18, with the result that the lower annular end surface of the rubber cup 17 is brought into engagement with the. upper surface of the When the rubber cup 17 engages this uppermost paper sheet 18"., the suction acting through the cup from the pipel -10 causes the sheet toadhere to the surface of the cup, thus closing the vacuum channel so that no further air can be drawn in by suction, with the result that the atmospheric pressure on the outside of the cup and on the lower side'of the paper sheet then elevates the cup and sheet to the position shown in Fig. 2, with the cylinder 12 sliding upwardly on the stern 11 until the upper end of the head 16 engages the lower end of the hub 13. The paper sheet is then held in position while it is being transferred to a new location by movement of the pipe 10 and the vacuum cup carried thereby. Upon reaching the new location, the suction is cut off from the pipe 10, whereupon the paper sheet is released and allowed to fall in its new location. Of course, a plurality of cups are commonly employed ,for lifting a single sheet and the suction channels leading .to the several cups are relieved of suction at the same time.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6'of the drawings, there is illustrated a modiiied form of the invention in which the use of a rubber cup or other resilient member for engaging the paper sheets is avoided. In this form, a pipe 25, connected to a source of suction, is provided with a threaded aperture in which is mounted a depending tubular stem 26 adapted to have a sliding engagement with a cylinder 27. This cylinder is held in place on the the lower end or 'the bore or' tnewhich is adapted to interlockA extending flange` flange 16d when the cup is -in place. Beneath the head 16, the cup 17 has an f created to eect 1,aoo,ss4. y l.

stem zany' retaining member 2s nvm a threaded portion 28* which engages the internally threaded lower end of the stem and an outwardly extending annular flange 28" which projects beyond the lower end of the stem and underlies the annular shoulder 27'l which is formed on the inside of the cylinder 27 at the upper end of the enlarged bore thereof which has a sliding 'engagement with the annular cylindrical surface pf the aange zsh. The cylinder 2': is internauy 10 threaded at its lower end for detachable engagement 'with the. externally threaded sleeve portion 29` of a head 29 whichhas a flange 29 extending outwardly beyond the lower end ofthe cylinder and which is provided at its lower end with an 15 annular ilat surface 29 adapted tocoact with the upper surface of the uppermost sheet 307 of a pile of paper sheets 30 resting upon a support 31. The cylinder 27'norma1ly occupies the position on the vstern 26 which is illustrated in Fig. '4. 20-

When in this position, the surface 29 of the head 29'is displacedl upwardly from the top of the stack of paper sheets so that the suctionm acting through the pipe v has-ono eect upon the cylinder 27 orfupon the paper sheets. How- 25 ever, when' relative movement of the vacuum cup device and the stack of paper sheets takes place to bring the surface 29c into contact with the upper surface of the upper paper sheet 30., the suction line is lther intake of the outside air `and the paper -sheet n is then held in contact with the surface 29 and the atmospheric pressure then forces the cylinder 27 upwardly until it assumes a position then sealed against the fur- 30 such as that shown in Fig.. 5, with the upper-sheet 30* lifted from the stack. The parts are then in readiness to transfer the paper sheet to a new location by movement of the cup or cups to which V the sheet adheres. When the' new location is reached, the suction is relieved in the pipe 25, 40

whereupon the paper sheet drops in the new` location and the cylinder 27`falls by gravity to the original positionr shown in Fig. 4. It is found that. with a -device of this simple construction, l

having a fiat annularsurface 29 to engage the 45 paper sheets, a sufficiently air-tight seal maybe the lifting and movement ofthel paper sheets without the employment of any rubber or other similar sealing means.

When 4the invention is employed for moving 50 paper sheets which are relatively thin, it may be desirable to overcome any tendency for the paper sheet to be drawn partially into the suction line with the consequent danger of rupturing the portionof the sheet-which projects over. the vacuum orifice. For use under such circumstances, there has been provided a third form of the invention, which is illustrated partially in Figs. 7 and 8.v In this form, the parts are all similar in construction to .those illustrated in Figs. 4` and 5, with 60 the lower end of the cylinder 37, corresponding to the cylinder 27,'having a threaded engagement with a head 39 provided at its lower end with a fiat surface 39 adapted to coact with the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets to -be moved by the use of the device. In this form, the surface 39 is a continuous surface of circular outline except for the provision through the central web 39 thereof of a plurality of small apertures 39h which permit the suction to act upon-the 76 upper surface of the paper while at the same time preventing upward movement thereof within the boundaries of the channel 39d which is `formed through the head 39.

Although three forms of the invention have 75 been shown and described by way of illustration. it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments within the scope oi' the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. The combination with a vacuum pipe, of a stem projecting downwardly therefrom, a cylinder slidably mounted on said stem and movable by gravity to its lower position, retaining. means carried by said stem at its lower end for engaging said cylinder in said lower position, and a head -mounted on the lower'end of said cylinder and having an annular at surface to coact with a paper sheet.

2. The combination with a suction pipe, of a hollow stem carried by and communicating with said pipe, a cylinder slidably mounted on` said stem, means within said cylinder to limit the downward movement of said cylinder, a head detachably engaging said cylinder and having an internal bore, a exible vacuum cup having a neck engaging said bore; and clamping means detachably engaging said bore for holding said cup in position on said head.

3. The combination with a vacuum pipe, of a stem projecting therefrom, a cylinder mounted on said stem, a head carried by said cylinder and having an internal bore, saidv head'having an inwardly projecting annular flange, a resilient cup carried by said head and having a ange overlying said ilange on said head, and relatively adjustable members on opposite sides of said cup tor clamping said ilangestogether.

4. 'Ine combination with a vacuum pipe, of a stem projecting from said pipe, a cylinder carried by said stem, a head mounted o n said cylinder and having an internal bore, a exible vacuum cup having a neck engaging said bore and having a downwardly and outwardly aring skirt, a sleeve engaging said bore and having an outwardly flaring iiange underlying the skirt of said cup, and means engaging said sleeve in said bore for clamping said cup in position on said head. v' Y v 5. The combination with a vacuum pipe,oi' a hollow stem projecting from said pipe. a cylinder slidably mounted on said stem, a head detachably mounted on said cylinder and havingan interal bore provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange at the lower end thereof, a exible vacuum cup having a skirt beneath said head and an outwardly projecting flange overlying said first named iiange, a tubular member engaging said bore and extending through said cup and having an outwardly flaring ange underlying the skirt of said cup, and a nut threadedly engaging said tubular member within s aid bore for clamping said cup in position.

6. 'I'he combination with a .vacuum pipe, of a hollow stem projecting from said pipe, a cylinder slidably mounted on said stem and having an inwardly extending annular shoulder, a plug threadedly engagingv said stem'and having an outwardly extending annular flange adapted to engage said shoulder to linut the movement of said cylinder on said stem, a head detachably engaging said cylinder, and a member carried by said head.

ALEXANDER 'I'. KOPPE.

paper engaging