US2133681A - Sheet-pinning machine - Google Patents

Description

J. E. HIGGINS SHEET PINNING MACHINE Oct. 18, 1938.

Filed May 25, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

J. E. HlGGlNS SHEET PINNING MACHINE Filed May 25, 1937 Oct. 18, 1938.

gnome/11 WITNESS Oct. 18, 1938. J, E H ms- 2,133,681

SHEET PINNING- MACHINE Filed May 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 li i..,

a w l" WITNESS WWW Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1'7 Claims.

The invention relates to machines for pinning a plurality of sheets of paper or the like together. The machine is of the general type disclosed in my U. S. Patent 1,931,195 of October 17, 1933, in that it embodies relatively movable sheet-clamping members between which the sheets are clamped, coacting formations on said clamping members for arching portions of the sheets when said members are relatively moved to clamping position, a sheet-separating member over which to place one or more of the sheets and under which to place the others, and means for forcing a pin through the arch portions of the clamped sheets and for then forcing the pin point again through said one or more sheets and into the space occupied by said sheet-separating member, to bury said point and thus prevent possible injury therefrom.

One object of the present invention is to improve upon the prior construction by mounting the sheet-separating member for movement to a position in which it is widely spaced from the sheet-clamping members, and by providing means for automatically moving said sheet-separating member to said position when said clamping members are relatively moved to open position, thereby greatly facilitating insertion of the sheets above and below said sheet-separating member.

A further object is to provide a generally improved construction which may be conveniently operated, one which will not jam, and one which may be expeditiously manufactured and sold at reasonable price.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, the vertically movable sheet-clamping arm being in its downwardly swung position to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the parts in their normal relation in readiness to receive the sheets to be pinned.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the formations imparted to the sheets when the clamping arm is depressed and illustrating a pin in readiness to be forced through the distorted portions of the sheets.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the manner in which the pin is forced through the distorted sheet portions.

Fig, 5 is a fragmentary top plan view partly in horizontal section as indicated by line 5--5 of Fig.4.

Figs. 6 and '7 are vertical transverse sectional views on lines 15-45 and 1-1 respectively of Fig. 4. 5

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view showing the manner in which the pinfeeder-and-driver moves under the pins in the hopper to receive one of said pins for withdrawal from said hopper.

Fig. 9 is a detail transverse sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a disassembled perspective view showing a number of the parts of the machine.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the base 115 and the sheet-clamping arm in juxtaposition.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the sheet-separating arm.

The preferred features of construction have been illustrated in the drawings and will be rather specifically described, with the understanding, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made.

One of the sheet-clamping members is in the form of an elongated base l5 and't'he other is constituted by a vertically swingable arm [6 pivoted upon a transverse horizontal axis to said base, said axis being disposed at the rear end of said base and arm. In the present disclosure, the base I5 is provided with upwardly projecting flanges I! at its rear end, the rear end of the arm I8 is provided with downwardly projecting flanges l8, and a transverse pivot pin 19 passes through aligned openings in the two sets of flanges.

The base 15 and the arm l6 are provided with coacting ridge and groove formations 20, '21 to form arch portions 22 on the sheets S when .said sheets are clamped between the arm and the base as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

A sheet-separting arm 23 is provided, said arm having a finger portion 24 over which to place one or more of the sheets S and under which to place the others of said sheets, said arm ext'ending longitudinally over the base l5 and being pivotally mounted at its rear end on an axis parallel with the pivot 19 of the sheet-clamping arm 16. In the present disclosure, the arm 23 is integral with a rock shaft 25 passing through alined openings in the flanges 18, in advance of the pivot pin 19. The arm '23 is provided with a rearwardly projecting extension 26 underlying a lateral projection on the base 15, said projection being formed in the present disclosure by one end IQ of the pivot pin l9, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. When the arm i6 occupies the normally raised position shown in Fig. 2, the extension 26 holds the arm 23 in such a position that the finger 24 is widely spaced above the base l5 and widely spaced below the arm l6, thereby facilitating insertion of one or more of the sheets over said finger 24 and the rest of the sheets under said finger. The arm I6 is held normally in its raised position by a suitable spring 21 and when it is depressed, the arm 23 also lowers so that the finger 24 finally occupies the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which position it acts to upwardly turn the sheet or sheets resting thereon, away from one leg 28 of the arch portions 22 formed by the coacting ridge and groove formations 2|], 2|. For further reference, the upturned portion of the sheet or sheets extending over the finger 24, is indicated at 29.

Provision is made for forcing a pin 30 through both legs of the arch portions 22 of all of the sheets and for further forcing said pin through the upturned sheet portion 29 into the space occupied by the finger 24, thereby burying the pin point between sheets. Fig. 3 discloses the pin 30 in readiness to perform the pinning operation and Fig. 4 discloses said pin after it has been driven. As the pin is moved from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, it passes first through a passage 3| in the lower portion of the arm l6, then through a groove 32 in the ridge 20, then through a groove 32 in the lower portion of the arm l6, and finally into a groove 33 in the finger 24. To properly perform its function, this finger 24 is preferably in parallel relation with the ridge and groove formations 20, 2| and in parallel relation with the pivots l9 and 25, and it must occupy a position in close relation with said ridge and groove formations 20, 2|, when the sheets are clamped as in Figs. 3 and 4.

The pin-feeding and driving means are mounted on the arm IS in the present disclosure and are operable by meanh of a finger-piece 34 movable longitudinally of said arm. The front end of this arm is provided with a thumb-piece 35 for depressing it to sheet-clamping position, and said thumb-piece 35 and the finger-piece 34 are so related that they may be operated by the thumb and forefinger respectively, of the same hand, making it very convenient to operate the device.

A hopper 36 is provided for a plurality of loose pins, a receiver 31 is provided to receive the pins one at a time, and a combined pin feeder and driver 38 is employed. This combined feeder and driver 38 is movable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the arm l6, being shown in its forward position in Figs. 4 and 5, in its rearward position in Fig. 3, and in an intermediate position in Fig. 8. Each time the combined feeder and driver 38 moves rearwardly, it withdraws one pin from the hopper 36 and deposits said pin in the receiver 31 as shown in Fig. 3, and each time said combined feeder and driver 38 moves forwardly, it drives the pin from the receiver 31 and at the same time engages another pin in the hopper, as disclosed in Fig. 4. The exact manner in which these functions are carried out, can best be understood after a more explicit explicit explanation of the structure, butit can now be explained that the combined feeder and driver 38 is connected with the finger-piece 34 to be actuated thereby.

An elongated trough 39 extends longitudinally of the arm l6, said trough 39 being provided with parallel side walls 40 and with a V-shaped bottom 4|. In the present showing, this trough 39 is snugly received between two parallel vertical side walls 42 which form parts of the arm I6. One transverse wall 43 closes the front end of the trough 39 and an inner transverse wall 44 extends across said trough in rearwardly spaced relation with said wall 43, the two walls 43 and 44 being cooperable with the front portion of the trough 39 in forming the pin hopper 36, which hopper is provided with an appropriate cover 45. This cover may well be slidable in grooves 46 in the side walls 40 of the trough 39 and said cover may be bowed somewhat as illustrated in Fig. 10 to yieldably engage the groove walls with such friction as to prevent it from accidentally moving to open position.

The combined pin feeder and driver 38 is in the form of an elongated transversely V-shaped slide resting upon the V-shaped bottom 4| of the trough 39 and movable from a position behind the wall 44 (Fig. 3) under said wall and under the pins in the hopper 36 (Fig. 4), said slide being provided with a central longitudinal pinshaped slot 41 which opens through its front end and is preferably widened somewhat at said end. The slide is gradually thinned toward its front end as shown most clearly in Fig. 8, and is also thinned toward the edges of the slot 41 as seen in Figs. '1 and 9, it being thus insured that it will pass readily under the pins in the hopper. The V-form of the slide insures that one pin shall always lie in its central portion as the slide moves forwardly (see Fig. 8) and as soon as said slide occupies a position with the slot 41 directly.

under said pin, the latter will drop into said slot as seen in Fig. 4, so that upon rearward movement of the slide, the pin will be withdrawn from the hopper and will then fall from the slot 41 into the receiver 31. A driving lug 4B is movable in this receiver 31 to force the pin therefrom through the distorted sheets, said driving lug being rigidly joined to the V-shaped slide or the like 38 at a point behind its slot 41. This slide or the like 38 is also provided with an upwardly projecting lug 49 to which the finger-piece 34 is pivoted (at 5|!) and to which a spring 5| is connected to rearwardly return the slide after each forward movement thereof.

The receiver 31 is formed, in the present disclosure, by a longitudinal slot in the lower portion of the arm l6, and a thin plate 52 secured by screws or the like to the lower side of said arm and extending across said slot. The V- shaped bottom 4| is, of course, provided with a central longitudinal slot 53, through which a pin may drop from the slot 41 into the receiver.

A normally lowered vertically yieldable gate 54 Contacts slidably with the inner end wall 44 of the hopper 36 and is normally held down against the bottom 4| by a suitable spring 55 which may well be attached to the hopper cover 45. While I have stated that this gate 54 is normally held down against the bottom 4|, the downward movement of said gate is preferably limited by a stop flange 56 on the gate to abut the upper edge of the wall 44, so that a few thousandths of an inch may exist between the lower edge of the gate and the bottom 4| to allow the forwardly thinned slide 38 to readily start under said gate as it is moved forwardly. As the forward movement of the slide continues, its tapered form raises the gate 54, and as the slide again moves rearwardly, the spring 55 again closes said gate, overcoming any possibility of any of the pins accidentally sliding rearwardly from the hopper under the wall 44.

In the form of construction herein disclosed, the front end wall 43 of the hopper 38 is integral with the arm-carried walls 42, and the rear Wall 44 of said hopper is integral with the front ends of two fiat longitudinal strips 51 which lie against the inner sides of the trough side walls 4%, the lower edges of said strips 51 being suitably shaped to rest upon the slide 38 to hold the latter slidably against the trough bottom 4|. The inner sides of the strips 51 are grooved at 58 to slidably receive the gate 54. The rear ends of the strips 51 are provided with lateral hooks 59 which pass through notches 68 in the rear end of the trough 39, said hooks being hooked around the inner ends of said notches as seen in Fig. 5 and projecting outwardly beyond the trough side walls 40 into additional notches 6! in the rear ends of the side walls 42 of the arm is. By this construction, the two strips 51 are held against vertical shifting and against inward springing, and the rear end of the trough 39 is connected with the rear ends of the side walls 42. Screws 62 pass through the side walls 42 of the arm 16, and through the side walls 48 of the trough 39, and are threaded into the front portions of the strips 51, securing all of these parts together. When disassembling the machine for repair or the like, however, removal of the screws 62 permits rearward sliding of the strips 5'! to disengage their hooks 58 from the notches 68 and 6 i, whereupon said strips may be readily slipped out of the trough 33 and the latter may also be slipped from engagement with the walls 42.

The parts stand normally as shown in Fig. 2, with the finger 24 between and widely spaced from the base 15 and the arm IE to facilitate insertion of the sheets S. To further facilitate such insertion, the arm and base may be provided with rearwardly projecting guide springs or fingers E3 preventing catching of the sheets upon any parts of the arm or base. After insertion of the sheets with one or more of them over the finger 24, and the others under said finger, the arm is is depressed, thereby distorting the sheets as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. By now pulling forwardly upon the finger-piece 34, the combined pin-feeder and driver 38 moves forwardly from the position of Fig. 3, driving the pin 30 previously left in the receiver 38, through the distorted sheet portions, as seen in Fig. 4, and burying the pin point between sheets. The forward movement of the combined feeder and driver 38 causes it to receive another pin from the hopper 36 as shown in Fig. 4, insuring that its return movement shall deposit this pin in the receiver 38 in readiness for the next pinning operation. When the arm [6 is released, the spring 21 restores it to the raised position of Fig. 2 and the arm extension 26 strikes against the end 19 of the pivot pin 18, positioning the arm 23 so as to clamping members, coacting formations on said members for arching portions of the sheets when said members are relatively moved into clamping relation, a sheet-separating member over which to place one or more of the sheets and under which to place the others, and means for forcing a pin through the arch portions of the clamped sheets and for then forcing the pin point into the space occupied by said sheet-separating member; said improvement comprising means mounting :10 said sheet-separating member for movement to a position at which it is widely spaced from said sheet-clamping members, and means for automatically moving said sheet-separating member to said position when said sheet-clamping members are relatively moved to open position, thereby facilitating insertion of the sheets.

2. A sheet pinning machine comprising a base over which to place all sheets to be pinned, a sheet-clamping arm pivotally mounted on said 129 base for clamping all of the sheets against the same, said sheet-clamping arm normally occupying a raised position above said base, coacting ridge and groove formations on said base and sheet-clamping arm for arching the portions of 595 the sheets to be pinned when said sheet-clamping arm is depressed, a pivotally mounted sheet-separating arm having a finger portion over which to place one or more of the sheets and under which to place the others, said finger portion nor- (320 mally occupying a position above said base and below said sheet-clamping arm to facilitate insertion of the sheets, said finger portion being parallel with and disposed near said ridge and groove formations when the two arms are swung." downwardly, whereby to cause the sheet or sheets resting upon said finger portion to turn upwardly from one leg of the arch portions imparted to the sheets, and means for forcing a pin transversely through both legs of said arch portions and through the upwardly turned portion of the sheet or sheets resting on said finger portion.

3. A sheet pinning machine comprising a base over which to place all sheets to be pinned, a sheet-clamping arm pivoted on a horizontal axis to said base and normally diverging therefrom, coacting ridge and groove formations on said base and arm for arching the portions of the sheets to be pinned when said arm is depressed, said ridge and groove formations extending in parallel relation with the pivotal axis of said arm, a sheet-separating arm pivotally mounted on an axis unidirectional with the aforesaid pivotal axis, said sheet-separating arm having a laterl finger over which to plce one or more of; the sheets and under which to place the others, said finger being disposed between said base and said sheet-clamping arm and being normally spaced vertically from both thereof to facilitate insertion of the sheets, said finger being parallel with said ridge and groove formations and occupying a position near the same when the two arms are swung downwardly, whereby to cause the sheet or sheets resting on said finger to turn upwardly from one leg of the arch portions im-;, parted to the sheets, and means for forcing a pin transversely through both legs of said arch portions and through the upwardly turned portion of the sheet or sheets resting on said finger.

4. A sheet pinning machine comprising a 7-70 over which to place all of the sheets to be pinned, a sheet-clamping arm pivoted on a horizontal axis to said base, a spring for normally holding said arm in an upwardly swung position, coacting ridge and groove formations on said base and arm for arching the portions of the sheets to be pinned when said arm is depressed, a sheet-separating arm pivoted to said sheet-clamping arm on an axis near and parallel with the pivotal axis of said sheet-clamping arm, said sheet-separating arm having a lateral finger over which to place one or more of the sheets and under which to place the others, means engaging said sheetseparating arm for normally holding the latter in such position as to space said finger below said sheet-clamping arm and above said base to facilitate insertion of the sheets, said finger being located to cause the sheet or sheets resting thereon to turn upwardly from one leg of the arch portions imparted to the sheets, and means for forcing a pin transversely through both legs of said arch portions and through the upwardly turned portion of the sheet or sheets resting on said finger.

5. A sheet pinning machine comprising a base over which to place all of the sheets to be pinned, a sheet-clamping arm pivoted on a horizontal axis to said base, a spring for normally holding said arm in an upwardly swung position, ooacting ridge and groove formations on said base and arm for arching the portions of the sheets to be pinned when said arm is depressed, a sheet-separating arm pivoted to said sheet-clamping arm on an axis parallel with the pivotal axis of said sheetclamping arm and spaced i'orwardly from this axis, said sheet-separating arm having a lateral finger over which to place one or more of the sheets and under which to place the others, said sheet-separating arm having an extension projecting rearwardly beyond its pivotal axis, said base being provided with a fixed lateral projection lying normally upon said extension to hold the sheet-separating arm in such position as to space said finger below said sheet-clamping arm and above said base to facilitate sheet insertion, said finger being located to cause the sheet or sheets resting thereon to turn upwardly from one leg of the arch portions imparted to the sheets, and means for forcing a pin transversely through both legs of said arch portions and through the upwardly turned portion of the sheet or sheets resting on said finger.

6. A sheet pinning machine comprising a base over which to place the sheets to be pinned, a sheet-clamping arm pivoted at one end to said base, ooacting means on said arm and base for arching portions of the sheets when said arm is depressed, a pin hopper on said arm, and pin feeding and driving means on said arm, said pin feeding and driving means having a reciprocable operating member slidable longitudinally of said arm and provided with a finger-piece to be engaged by one of the users fingers.

'7. A sheet pinning machine comprising a base over which to place the sheets to be pinned, a sheet-clamping arm pivoted at one end to said base, ooacting means on said arm and base for arching portions of the sheets when said arm is depressed, a pin hopper on said arm, and pin feeding and driving means on said arm, said pin feeding and driving means having an operating member movable longitudinally of said arm and provided with a finger-piece to be engaged by one of the users fingers, said arm having a thumbpiece for depressing it, said thumb and finger pieces being so related as to be operated respectively by the thumb and forefinger of the same hand.

8. A sheet pinning machine comprising a base over which to place the sheets to be pinned, a

sheet-clamping arm pivoted at one end to said base, ooacting means on said arm and base for arching portions of the sheets when said arm is depressed, a pin hopper carried by said arm for holding loose pins in positions in which they extend longitudinally of said arm, pin receiver extending longitudinally of said arm to receive the pins one at a time and position them for passage through the arch portions imparted to the sheets, and a combined pin feeder and driver slidable longitudinally of said arm, each movement of said combined feeder and driver in one direction serving to withdraw one pin from said hopper and to deposit said pin in said pin receiver, each movement of said combined feeder and driver in the opposite direction serving to drive the pin from said receiver through the arch portions of the sheets and to engage said combined feeder and driver with another pin in the hopper.

9. In a pinning machine, pin-holding means, a receiver to receive the pins one at a time, and unitarily reciprocable means for alone withdrawing a pin from said holding means upon each rearward stroke, for directly dropping this withdrawn pin into said receiver, and for driving this same pin from said receiver into the work during the next forward stroke.

10. In a pinning machine, an elongated trough having a transversely V-shaped bottom, inner and outer parallel walls extending transversely of said trough and ooacting therewith in forming a pin hopper in which the pins lie longitudinally with their heads toward said inner wall, and a transversely V-shaped feed slide movable longitudinally in said trough and having a longitudinal pinshaped slot of a size to receive one pin, said slide when moved in one direction being slidable under said inner wall and under the pins in the hopper to receive one pin in its slot, said slide when moved in the other direction serving to wit draw said one pin from the hopper, the bottom of said trough being provided with a longitudinal slot through which the withdrawn pin rops,

'means under this slot for receiving the pin and means for driving said pin.

11. In a pinning machine, an elongated trough having a transversely V-shaped bottom, inner and outer parallel walls extending transversely of said trough and ooacting therewith in forming a pin hopper in which the pins lie longitudinally with their heads toward said inner wall, and a transversely V-shaped feed slide movable longitudinally in said trough and having a longitudinal pinshaped slot of a size to receive one pin, said slide when moved in one direction being slidable under said inner wall and under the pins in the hopper to receive one pin in its slot, said slide when moved in the other direction serving to withdraw said one pin from the hopper, the bottom of said trough being provided with a longitudinal slot through which the withdrawn pin drops, a pin receiver under this slot and extending longitudinally of said trough, and a pin-driving lug secured to said slide and projecting downwardly through the last mentioned slot into said pin receiver.

12. A structure as specified in claim together with two parallel strips carrying said inner wall and overlying said slide to assist in guiding the same, said strips lying longitudinally against the inner faces of the longitudinal side walls of said trough and being secured thereto.

13. A structure as specified in claim 10; to-' gether with a holder for said trough having parallel longitudinal side walls lying against the outer faces of the side walls of said trough, said outer transverse wall being part of said holder; two parallel strips carrying said inner transverse wall and overlying said slide to assist in guiding the same, said strips lying longitudinally against the inner faces of said longitudinal side walls of said trough, and means securing said longitudinal side walls of said holder and trough and said longitudinal strips together.

14. A structure as specified in claim 10; together with a holder for said trough having parallel longitudinal side walls lying against the outer faces of the side walls of said trough, two parallel strips carrying said inner transverse wall and overlying said slide to assist in guiding the same, said strips lying longitudinally against the inner faces of said longitudinal side walls of said trough, and means securing said longitudinal side walls of said holder and trough and said longitudinal strips together, said securing means including registering notches in the inner ends of all of said longitudinal walls, and lateral hooks on the free ends of said longitudinal strips, said hooks being hooked into the notches of the trough side walls and extending into the notches of the holder side walls.

15. A structure as specified in claim 10; together with a spring-lowered gate lying against said transverse inner wall and projecting downwardly therefrom to prevent pins from accidentally sliding out of the hopper under said inner transverse wall, said gate being upwardly slidable, said feed slide being tapered to raise said gate and to slide readily under the pins in the hopper.

16. In a pinning machine, pin-holding means, a stationary pin receiver to receive the pins one at a time, and a combined pin feeder and driver movable from a forward position under said pinholding means to a rearward position over said stationary receiver and vice versa; said combined feeder and driver having a pin-withdrawing portion operable when said combined feeder and driver is moved to said rearward position, to withdraw a pin from said pin-holding means and deposit it directly in said stationary receiver; said combined feeder and driver being provided also with a pin-driving portion behind said pin-withdrawing portion and operable when said combined feeder and driver is moved to said forward position, to drive the same pin from the receiver into the work.

17. In a pinning machine, pin-holding means,

- a receiver to receive the pins one at a time, and

unitarily reciprocable means having a reciprocable pin-engaging portion for withdrawing a pin from said holding means upon each rearward stroke and for directly dropping this withdrawn pin into said receiver, said unitarily reciprocable means having a reciprocable pin-driving portion for driving the same pin from said receiver into the work during the next forward stroke of said unitarily reciprocable means.

JOSEPH E. HIGGINS.

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