US2121484A - Apparatus for applying a plurality of articles to a backboard - Google Patents

Description

June 21, 1938. A. A. MASSINI APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES TO A BACKBOARD Filed Feb. 12, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll\l\/E NTOR ATTORNEY June 21, 1938. A. A. MASSINI APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES TO A BACKBOARD Filed Feb 12, 1937- 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOE ATTORNEY June 21, 1938 A. A. MASSINI I APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES TO A BACKBOARD I i 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 12, 1937 INVENTOE 13 T TO N E Y June 21, 1938 A. A. MASSINI 2,121,434 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY' OF ARTICLES TO A BACKBOARD,

Filed Feb. 12, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4' QOOOOOO O O oo 0 0 INVENTOE ATTORNEY June 21, 1938. A MAs$|N| 7 2,121,484

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY OF ARTICLES TO BACKBOARD Filed Feb. 12, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v I INVE NTOE ATTOE NEY Patented June 21, 1938 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PLURALITY F ARTICLES TO A BACKBOARD Alvin A. Massini, Wheeling, w. Va.

Application February 12, 1937, Serial No. 125,519

9 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to apparatus for automatically mounting a plurality of elements upon a backboard.

. In certain indoor recreational games a plurality of printed, rectangularly shaped strips of paper are individually pasted by one end thereof in uniformly spaced, parallel rows upon a backboard, usually of cardboard. Said strips have the unattached end folded about itself and secured in folded relation by a transverse gummed retaining band. Printed on the inner surface of the folded portion of the strip and invisible to the eye by reason of the fold is information of interest pertaining to the game. Upon participating in the game, a player pulls one or more of the pasted strips from the board; ruptures the paper banding seal, and unfolds the end of the strip to reveal the previously hidden printed information which informs the player of matter having to do with the further progress of the game.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine whereby said strips of papers, termed tickets? in the trade, may be automatically and neatly applied to the backboard in uniformly spaced parallel rows.

The full nature of the invention and. other features thereof will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description. In said drawings- Figure l is a front elevation view of the machine;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the same;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 4-4, of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5--5, Fig. 3, illustrating in detail the glue reservoir and 4 glue rolls;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 66, Fig. 3;

Figure '7 is an enlarged top plan view ticket carrying chain and guide;

Figure 8 is a detail view taken on Fig. 4;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the tickets;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of an assembled board; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side view of an assembled board, the View being drawn to a scale larger than that illustrated in Fig. 10.

Referring to said drawings, the reference numeral l designates .the bed plate of the maof the line a- -a,

chine, which latter is provided with legs 2 and carries a supporting frame work 3 designed to support the mechanism. Extending longitudinally is a front drive shaft 4, suitably journaled in appropriate bearings provided in the frame 3, said shaft being adapted to be driven by any suitable means, as the pulley wheel 5.

Fixed to and actuated by the shaft 4 adjacent one end thereof is an eccentric 8 connected to a rocker arm 8 by means of a connecting rod I. Fixed to the upper end of the rocker arm 8 is a pawl 9 adapted to successively engage the teeth of a ratchet gear Ill fixed to an upper shaft II, which latteris journaled in suitable bearings provided in the frame 3 and a pedestal I2, the latter being supported by the bed plate I and attached thereto by bolts. Obviously, this construction affords intermittent rotation of the upper shaft II during continuous rotation of the front shaft 4.

Carried by the opposite end of the shaft II is a bevel gear l3 designed to mesh with a second bevel gear l4 fixed to the end of a short shaft I5 journaled in bearings attached to the frame 3. Spaced sprocket wheels I6 are attached to the shaft I5 intermediate its bearings and are designed to receive a pair of spaced, parallel, endless ticket carrying chains I'I which extend throughout the longitudinal extent of the apparatus and encircle a second pair of sprocket wheels l8 borne by an idler shaft [9 provided on' the opposite end of the apparatus. A plurality of protruding lugs I! are provided on each of the chains I! at predeterminedly spaced distances and a ticket 24 is designed to be supported transversely across the chains I1 between each' two adjacent lugs Il the ticket laying across the chains with its folded end toward the front of the machine.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 7, a guide plate 2|! is fastened to and supported by the frame work 3 and extends parallel to the ticket carrying chains II throughout theentire extent of the apparatus, the same serving as a straight edge and tending to keep the carried tickets in alignment. A pair of angles 2| confine the two chains l1 throughout their longitudinal extent, and interposed between the two chains is a longitudinal spacing bar 22, this construction, as shown in Fig. 4, afiording a separate race for the travel of each chain. A guide plate 23 disposed opposite the straight edge 29, also extends parallel to the chains I'I throughout their longitudinal extent and has its upper end occupying the same horizontal plane as that occupied by the chains I1. Consequently, the extremity of the unfolded end of the ticket borne by the chains is supported by the plate 23. Said plate 23 has a series of equally spaced upstanding lugs 25 formed on its upper edge, the leading vertical edge thereof being cut away at an angle of approximately 45. As the tickets progressively move forward on the chain H (from left to right in Fig. 3) the extremity of the unfolded end of each ticket will periodically engage the inwardly directed 45 angle of each of the upstanding lugs 25 of the plate 23 so as to force the folded edge of the ticket into contact with the straight edge 26 for maintaining the alignment of the traveling tickets.

Aligned with the pedestal |2 rearwardly of the latter is a somewhat similar pedestal 26.

Journaled in bearings provided in the pedestalsl2 and 26 is a transverse shaft 21, the same at its outer end carrying a spiral gear 28 which meshes with a spiral gear 29 fixed to the shaft ll whereby rotation of the transverse shaft 21 is affected. Interposed between the two pedestals is a reservoir 30, designed to contain liquid glue or muc'ilage. A roller 3| mounted on a shaft 32 is designed to be partially immersed in the liquid adhesive and is rotated therein by means of a chain 33 operable on sprocket wheels carried by the shafts 21 and 32. A glue disc 34 borne by the shaft 21 contacts the roller 3| for transmitting a quantity of the adhesive to the tickets. Since the glue disc 34 occupies a position in the space intermediate the chains l1 and the guide 23 and has its upper periphery occupying substantially the same plane as the carried tickets, a suitable quantity of the adhesive will be deposited on the under side of the unfolded end of each ticket as the apparatus is in operation. A spreader or wiper 35 contacts the roller 3| above the level of the adhesive for assuring a uniform film of adhesive on the roller 3|.

An auxiliary frame 3 extends rearwardly of the major mechanism and Supports in appropriate bearings a driving shaft 36 and a driven shaft 31. Two spaced parallel, endless, backboard carrying chains 38 encircle sprocket wheels 39 fixed to the driven shaft 31 at the rear of the machine and extend forwardly to the front of the machine beneath the mounting unit (hereinafter described) where they encircle sprocket wheels 40 borne by an idler shaft 4|.

A pinion 42 borne by the front shaft 4 through the medium of an idler gear meshes with and drives a gear 43 fixed to a rear shaft 44, the ratio of the pinion to the gear herein being six to one. is an eccentric 45 connected to a rocker arm 46 by a connecting rod 41, said rocker arm being pivoted on the shaft 36, which latter also has fixed thereto aratchet gear 48. Pivoted to the upper end of the rocker arm 46'is a pawl 49 adapted to successively engage the teeth of the ratchet gear 48 for intermittently rotating the shaft 36. Such intermittent rotation is, in turn, transmitted to the shaft 31 by an endless chain 5|) operable on sprocket wheels 5| and 52 fixed to the ends of the shafts 36 and 31, respectively. Forward intermittent movement of the upper half of the chains 38 is effected through rotationof the shaft 31. Said chains are designed to support a cardboard backing 53 between each two sets of engaging lugs 54 borne bythe chains, and forward movement of the chains 38, due to the ratchet. gear 48.

Fixed to and actuated by the shaft 44 7 the six to one transmission gearing, is effected but once to every six intermittent movements of the ticket carrying chains H, as will hereinafter be made apparent during the description of the detailed operation of the apparatus. Angle irons 15 occupy spaced, parallel relation to said chains 38 for forming guide walls for the backings 53 during their forward travel.

Fixed to and actuated byrotation of the shaft 4 is an eccentric 55 connected to a rocker arm 56 by a connecting rod 51, said rocker arm being pivoted on the shaft 36 at the side of the ratchet gear 48 opposite that occupied by the rocker arm 46. Pivoted to the upper end of the rocker arm 56 is a pawl 58 adapted to oscillate about The majority of the teeth on the ratchet gear 48 are covered by an attached shield 59 so that but a minor portion of the teeth are exposed to the action of the pawl 58, and, thus, the pawl 58 is effective only when contacting the exposed teeth. Here, again, it may be pointed out that the operation of the rocker arm 56 and pawl 58 is six times faster than the operation of the rocker arm 46 and pawl 49. The function of the chains 38 and the actuating mechanism is to successively deliver the cardboard backings 53 to and beneath the apparatus for mounting the tickets thereon, the timing of the travel of the chains and the operation of the pawls being designed to move the board at predetermined intervals and distances so as to secure a proper aligned arrangement of the tickets on the backing, all of which will hereinafter be made apparent.

Attached to the tallest vertical upright supports of the frame work 3 and extending trans versely of the apparatus are parallel guide rods 60 on each of which is slideable a bearing block 6|, said bearing blocks being connected by a connecting bar 62. Depending downwardly from each of the opposite bearing blocks 6| are two spaced, parallel guide pins 63 on each opposite pair of which a plate 64 is vertically slideable. Provided on the outer face of each plate 64 is a roller 65 designed to be received within the longitudinally extending race 66 of an arm 61 pivotally attached at its front end to the frame 3. Connecting the opposite plates 64 are two spaced, parallel guide rods 68 designed to support in sliding relation thereon a series ofmounting heads 69. Protruding upwardly from each of the mounting heads 69 is a fixed pin 10 adapted to be received and longitudinally slideable in the way of a registering guide bar 1 As best shown in Fig. 3, one such guide bar 1| is provided for each mounting head pin, said bars being supported in inwardly, convergently inclined relation by substantially U-shaped supports 12 and 13, the latter having a longitudinal extending slot 14 provided therein for affording adjustable means whereby the spacing of the inner ends of the bars 1| may be varied when desired.

Pivotally attached to the free, or inner, end of each arm 61 is the upper end of a vertical connecting rod 15, the lower end of the latter being ivotally connected to a lever 16 whose opposite end is pivotally attached to the frame 3. A roller 11 is appropriately attached to each lever 16 and engages and rides a cam 18 carried by the shaft 44, said roller 11 being maintained in contacting relation on the cam 18 by means of a retractile coil spring 19 connecting the lever 16 with the base plate I. Obviously, the entire mounting mechanism, including the heads 69, are maintained elevated until the low portion of the cam 18 is reached by the roller, at which time the entire mechanism drops downwardly until it strikes an underlying supporting table 80 whose upper face is a fiat plane. Continued rotation of the cam again elevates the mounting mechanism.

Connecting the upper side of each bearing block Si is a rod 92 to which is pivotally connected two rearwardly extending connecting rods 8!, each having its rear end pivotally fastened to a lever 82 whose lower end is pivoted to the base I. A roller 83 is appropriately carried by each lever 82 and contacts the periphery of a cam 86 mounted on the shaft 44, the roller 83 being maintained in contacting relation on the cam 84 by means of a retractile coil spring 85 connecting the lever 82 with the front portion of the frame 3. Actuation of the lever imparts a forward and backward reciprocable movementto the bearing blocks 6! and the thereby supported mounting mechanism.

A vacuum tank 86 is suitably supported on the rear of the frame and has a conductor line 81 leading to an auxiliary tank 81 mounted adjacent the top of the machine. A flexible hose line 88 leads to each mounting head 69 and connects with suction ports 89 provided in the lower face of each head 69. A valve 90 is interposed between the vacuum tank 86 and the conductor line 81 and is periodically opened and closed by a cam 9! mounted on the end of the shaft 44.

As previously stated herein, and as illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, it is the object of the invention to neatly attach the tickets in uniformly spaced parallel rows on the backboard 53. The board illustrated is designed to have attached thereto one hundred and twenty tickets, the tickets being uniformly disposed in six rows, each row consisting of twenty tickets. It will be understood, however, that apparatus may be constructed according to the instant invention whereby any number of tickets may be mounted in any number of rows or combinations. It may also be here pointed out that a predetermined sized space adjacent the top of the backboard is devoid of attached tickets, this space being left blank so as to accommodate printed matter, as directions, advertising, and the like. The operation of mounting the tickets is accomplished in the following manner:

The tickets 2% are fed to the ticket carrying chains ii in any appropriate manner and one ticket is deposited, either mechanically or manually, on the chains i7 between two adjacent sets of lugs Il the folded end of the ticket being toward the front of the machine. The tickets are then carried longitudinallyof the apparatus toward the mounting apparatus by rapid inter mittent travel of the chains and as they successively pass the glue disc 34 an appropriate quantity of adhesive is deposited on the under side of the ticket adjacent its non-folded end, the lugs of the guide plate 23 keeping the tickets in alignment against the straight edge 2i) during travel of the tickets.

When six tickets have been successively ad vanced beneath the mounting apparatus, the levers 82 are actuated to move forwardly, thereby also moving the mounting apparatus toward the front of the machine so that it directly overlies the chains and tickets carried thereby. As the mounting apparatus is so moved forwardly, the guide pins iii travel forwardly in the ways of their respective guide bars H and the heads 69 are thus moved apart a distance corresponding to the spaced tickets. At this point the cam 9i actuates the vacuum control valve 90 so that the valve is opened, resulting in a suction at the mounting head ports 89. The suction applied above'each ticket results in each ticket being drawn upwardly to attach itself to the head 69 with which it is aligned. Following such attachment of the ticket to the head, the levers 82 are automatically moved rearwardly by the cam 84 and the entire mounting mechanism is thus like wise moved rearwardly to a point in vertical tickets directly overlie the table 8|], the cam 18 is so designed and is so timed in its rotation that the roller Ti of the lever 16 rides into the low portion of the cam thereby forcibly dropping the mounting unit downwardly. One of the backboards 53 has previously beendeposited on said table 85) in an appropriate position and is so supported by the chains 38, angle irons I5 and table Bil. The lowering of the mounting unit, as above described, results in the thereby carried tickets contacting the backboard. When this stage is reached, the cam 9| in its continued rotation actuates the vacuum control valve 90 so that it is closed and the vacuum discontinued. With discontinuance of the suction force through the head ports 89, the tickets no longer are attached to the heads 69 but, rather, become ad hered to thebackboard by reason-of the adhesive borne by the surface of the ticket next to said As the mounting unit moves forwardly to pick up a second set of tickets, the eccentric through its associated rocker arm .6; connecting rod 41, and pawl 49 actuates the ratchet gear 48 to rotate forward slightly (one tooth), thereby causing slight rotation of the connected shafts 36 and 31. Such slight rotation moves the upper portion of the backboard carrying chains 38 forwardly a short distance equal to the distance desired to separate the transverse rows of tickets on the boards. Thus, the board borne by the chains beneath the mounting unit is advanced forwardly the desired distance to position it for deposition of a second row of tickets thereon by the mounting unit. i

The mounting operation continues until the required twenty rows of tickets have been deposited on the backboard. At this point, the space at the :top of the backboard where no tickets are desired is beneath the unit and it becomes necessary to remove the filled board and replace it with another. This operation is accomplished in the following manner:

During the period in which the tickets are being applied to the board, the pawl 58 has been ineffectually actuated because it has been shielded from the teeth of the ratchet gear 48 by the guard. 59. However, when said ratchet gear 48 has been-intermittently rotated twenty times by the pawl 49 to space the transverse rows of applied tickets, the exposed teeth of the ratchet gear 48 will be presented to the action of the pawl 58 and are thereby engaged. Since the pawl 58 is actuated six times faster than the pawl 49, the ratchet gear is rapidly and intermittently rotated so as to rapidly move the chains 38 forwardly for discharging the filled board from the machine and into a suitable receptacle (not shown). The exposed teeth on the ratchet gear 48 correspond to the distance required for the chains to travel to discharge the filled board and position another beneath the mounting unit. As soon as this distance is traversed, the shield 59 presents itself to the pawl 58 and renders the latter ineffective until the last mentioned board is filled and is to be discharged from the apparatus.

The operation of the machine is continuous and the sameis designed to operate at compara- -tively high speeds without undue strain or injuryto any oi the mechanism.

The various shafts, cams and eccentrics are produced and assembled with precision so that all movements are synchronized to avoid any interruption of operation or improper functioning of the machine. 7 While the invention is designed and is herein described as being utilized for pasting paper tickets on a backing, it will be understood that it is capable of other uses. For instance, paper bags or envelopes containing nut meats, confections, or medicines, may be applied to a backboard by utilizing the present invention.

What is claimed is 1. In apparatus for applying a plurality of individual articles to a backboard in uniformly spaced longitudinal and transverse rows, consisting of a vertically and longitudinally reciprocable mounting unit, conveyor means for carrying a plurality of said articles and successively presenting the same in the operating area of the mounting unit, other conveyor means for carrying the backboard and adapted to present the backboard within the operating area of the mounting unit, the latter unit being adapted to be actuated'so as to transport a predetermined number of said articles from their conveyor to said backboard and to deposit said articles thereon in such an arrangement that said articles form an aligned row, and means for intermittently actuating the backboard conveyor means to periodically advance the thereby carried backboard so as to appropriately position the latter for the reception of successive rows of articles 2. In apparatus for applying a plurality of individual articles to a backboardin uniformly spaced longitudinal and transverse rows, consisting of a vertically and longitudinally reciprocable mounting unit, conveyor means for carrying a plurality of said articles and successively presenting the same in the operating area of the mounting unit, other conveyor means for carrying the backboard and adapted to present the backboard within the operating area of the mounting unit, the latter unit being adapted to be actuated so as to transport a predetermined number of said articles from their conveyor to said backboard and to deposit said articles thereon in such an arrangement that said articles form an aligned row, means for intermittently actuating the backboard conveyor means to periodically advance the thereby carried backboard so as to appropriately position the latter for the reception of successive rows of articles, and other means for periodically actuating the backboard conveyor means to more rapidly advance the thereby carried backboard when said board has had the required rows of articles deposited thereon for discharging the completed board from the apparatus and for depositing a successive board within the operating area of the mounting unit.

3. In apparatus for applying a plurality of individual articles to a backboard in uniformly spaced longitudinal and transverse rows, consisting of a conveyor for carrying said articles in single file relation, other conveyor means for transporting a plurality of backboards in single file relation, a mounting unit at the junction of said conveyors, actuating means for periodically reciprocating said mounting unit forwardly and rearwardly so as to procure a predetermined number of articles from their conveyor and position the same in alignment in a predetermined position above the foremost of said backboards, other actuating means for vertically reciprocating said mounting unit'so that said articles are transferred to and deposited on said foremost back in an aligned row, and means for intermittently actuating the backboard conveyor means to intermittently advance the thereby carried backboards so as to appropriately position the foremost of said boards for the reception of successive rowsof articles as they are successively represented thereto during successive forwardly and rearwardly reciprocations of the mounting unit.

' 4. In apparatus for applying a plurality of individual articles to a backboard in uniformly spaced longitudinal and transverse rows, consisting of a conveyor for carrying said articles in single file relation, other conveyor means for transporting a plurality of backboards in single file relation, a mounting unit at the junction of said conveyors, actuating means for periodically reciprocating said mounting unit forwardly and rearwardly so as to procure a predetermined number of articles from their conveyor and position the same in alignment in a predetermined position abovethe foremost of said backboards, other actuating means for vertically reciprocating said mounting unit so that said articles are transferred to and deposited on said foremost backboard in an aligned row, means for intermittently actuating the backboard conveyor means to intermittently advance the thereby carried backboards so as to appropriately position the foremost of said backboards for the reception of successive rows of articles as they are successively presented thereto during successive forwardly and rearwardly reciprocations of the mounting unit, and other means for periodically actuating the backboard conveyor means to more rapidly advance the thereby carried backboards whensaid foremost board has had the required rows of articles deposited thereon for discharging the completed board from the apparatus and for depositing a successive board Within the operating area of the mounting unit.

5. In apparatus for applying a plurality of individual articles to a backboard in uniformly spaced longitudinal and transverse rows, consisting of a conveyor for carrying said articles in single file relation, other conveyor means for transporting a plurality of backboards in single file relation, a mounting unit at the junction of said conveyors, means for applying adhesive to said articles as they are transported on their conveyor, actuating means for periodically reciprocating the mounting unit forwardly and rearwardly so as to procure a predetermined number of articles from their conveyor and position the same in alignment in a predetermined position above the foremost of said backboards, other actuating means for vertically reciprocating said mounting unit so that said articles are transferred to and deposited on said foremost backboard in an aligned row, said adhesive fastening said articles to said backboard.

6. In apparatus for applying a plurality of individual articles to a backboard in uniformly spaced rows, a mounting unit including a series of mounting heads, each of said heads having a port therein connected to a vacuum source, conveyor means for successively presenting the articles beneath the mounting unit, other means i for presenting a backboard beneath said mounting unit, actuating means whereby said mounting unit is caused to travel between said article conveyor means and said backboard, means for introducing suction force to saidhead ports when said mounting unit is in the vicinity of saidconveyor means whereby a plurality of articles are transferred from the conveyor means to the mounting heads, and means thereafter actuating said mounting unit whereby said heads and the thereby carried articles are moved into contacting relation with said backboard for depositing the articles on said backboard in an aligned row after cessation of the suction force applied to said head ports, and means for moving said backboard beneath said mounting unit for each complete reciprocation of said mounting unit between said article conveyor and said backboard.

'7. In apparatus for applying a plurality of individual articles to a backboard in uniformly spaced rows, a mounting unit including a series of mounting heads, each of said heads having a port therein connected to a vacuum source, conveyor means for successively presenting the articles beneath the mounting unit, other means by carried articles are moved into contacting relation with said backboard for depositing the articles on said backboard in an aligned row after cessation of the suction force applied to said suction ports, means for moving said backboard beneath said mounting unit for each complete reciprocation of said mounting unit between said article conveyor and said backboard, and'guide means governing the course of travel of said mounting heads between said article conveyor means and said backboard.

8. In apparatus for applying a plurality of individual articles to a backboard in uniformly spaced rows, a mounting unit including a series of mounting heads, each of said heads having a port therein connected to a vacuum source, conveyor means for successively presenting the articles beneath the mounting unit, other means for presenting a backboard beneath said mounting unit, actuating means whereby said mounting unit is caused to travel between said article conveyor means and said backboard, means for introducing suction force to said head ports when said mounting unit is in the vicinity of said conveyor means whereby a plurality of articles are transferred from the conveyor means to the mounting heads, means thereafter actuating said mounting unit whereby said heads and the thereby carried articles are moved into contacting relation with said backboard for depositing the articles on said backboard in an aligned row after cessation of the suction force applied to said head ports, means for moving said backboard beneath said mounting unit for each complete reciprocation of said mounting unit between said article conveyor and said backboard, and guide means governing the course of travel of said mounting heads between said article conveyor means and said backboard, said guide means being adjustable so that the spacing of said heads may be varied.

9. In a machine for applying a plurality of individual articles to a backboard, comprising a mounting unit, means for conveying the articles to be mounted, means for conveying a backboard and positioning the same to have the articles deposited thereon, the mounting unit being adapted to transport the articles from the first conveying means to said backboard for deposition thereon, and means for thereafter positioning said backboard in a different position so as to

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