US2139578A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1938. w. v, DERBY 2,139,578

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. C50. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 6, 1938. W. v. DERBY I 2,139,578

VENDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES VENDING MACHINE William V. Derby, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The General Vending Service 00., Baltimore, Md., a. partnership of Maryland Application December 30, 1936, Serial No. 118,378

21 Claims.

This invention relates to web feeding, cutting, and delivering mechanisms, and more particularly to mechanisms of this type which are adapted to be employed in connection with, or to be embodied in, devices for vending or delivering postage stamps, coupons, tickets or the like.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this character which is of simple and compact constructionand which is marked by case and accuracy of operation.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a device of this character, of a novel oscillating feeding and delivery member which is adapted to be moved in opposite directions; a reverse or rearward movement being given the member for efiecting certain preliminary settings of the cooperating cutting mechanism and certain manipulations of the leading end of the web, and then a forward movement being given the member for feeding the web, tripping the cutter and delivering the severed portion of the web.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means cooperating with the oscillating feeder member for attaining a more secure and positive feeding connection between the web and the feeder member, this connection being effected by folding back the leading end of the web to provide a creasefor engagement by the feeding member during its forward feeding stroke.

Further objects include the provision of novel and improved means for retracting the web severing instrumentality during the preliminary rearward movement of the feeding member, means for retaining the instrumentality in its retracted position, and means for tripping or releasing the websevering member to effect the severance of the web at apredetermined point during; the forward-movement of the feeder}; "the point at which the web icutting 'memberfis "tripped being variable'to permit the selective severing' and 'de liveri-ng of different lengths ofthe webf v w -A still further object of the inventionjis the: provision" of novel releasable web] roll supporting and retaining means embodying-resilient pressing and-guidingmean's for directing the web fthrough the-device andpositioning its successive'iorward edges'in position for engagement by the folding, and feeding mechanism. 5 i 5 a Other objects andfeat'ures' of novelty will 'b apparent from the following specific'ation when read-in connection with theaccompanying draw;

ings in which one embodiment off myinvention is illustrated by Waybf'eXampIe-I In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a stamp vending device embodying the principles of my invention;

Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and '7 are similar somewhat diagrammatic views showing successive positions of the webfeeding mechanism during the operation of the device to seize, feed, cut, and deliver a portion of the web or'strip of stamps;

Figure 8 is a vertical, transverse sectional viewof the device taken substantially online 8-8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 10 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, on a somewhat reduced scale, taken on line Ill-40 of Figure 8, and looking in the direction of the arrows associated with said line.

The device comprising the preferred embodiment of my invention as set forth in the present specification and illustrated in the drawings, is designated generally by the numeral H1 in the drawings, and is adapted to be enclosed in various types of casings and associated with various other devices, such as check-controlled mechanisms or apparatus for delivering or dispensing stamps, tickets, coupons, or other articles in strip or sheet form. In the present case the device is applied to a stamp vending machine which is coinor check-controlled and may be contained in a casing or housing, a portion of which is shown at l I.

The mechanism which forms the particular subject of the present invention is enclosed and supported by the two side plates l2 and [3, plate I2 being, in this instance, somewhat larger than the parallel plate l3. Plate I3 is provided with an a'rcuateupper edge I4 which conforms, to the shape .of .the .feed slot-l 5eformed between: the arcuate' iupper. and low r. guide str ps- B, d, l we ui e. s r p" ll sse d in a s table in.e i srv b twe n the, tw la 2 and whilelthe upperstrip .lEis carried, by the plateJZ. El e-two side plates lZ-and I3, are spaced apart, as shown in Figure 8, iadistanceI which .is slightly greater thaiivthe widthof the web tobeifed, cut, and deliveredui,

; The web supply in this case comprisesia spool or roll 20 which is s'upportedupon the pin or post 2lj projecting from the plate l2. A bracket 22'is rigidly se'curedupon the end of a shaft 23 which is rotatably mounted in the p late l2 and which also carriesa curved flat spring plate'24 which serves to guide :the weband press it firmly against'the arcuate plate 25 whichis also-carried by the side plate I2. The bracket 22 is provided with an opening 21 which is adapted to be sprung over the reduced end 28 of the pin 2I when the device is in operative position. The bracket and spring plate assembly is adapted to be moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 9 of the drawings, when a new roll 20 is to be applied and in order to permit the leading end of the web to be threaded up. This forward end of the web designated A is brought around the curved or rolled portion 29 of the spring plate 24 and then passed over the arcuate guide plate 25 and inserted between the rear edge of the lower guide plate I! and the coil 30 formed on the end of the spring wire 3! which is also secured to the shaft 23 as at 32. Then the bracket 22 with its associated pressing and clamping springs 24 and 30 is moved to its full line position and the web A is loosely clamped in place for engagement by the feeding mechanism.

From this point the web is fed forwardly by means of the feeder arm 35 which is provided with a wedge shaped plate-like head 36 and is rigidly secured upon the transverse operating shaft 38- which has bearings in both of the supporting plates I2 and I3 and is disposed at the center of curvature of the feed slot I5, so that the feeding head 36 is adapted to oscillate in the slot during the feeding and retracting movements thereof. The shaft 38 is provided upon its outer end with a manually operable crank 40 which is provided with a handle 4|.

In order to sever the web at the desired point, there is provided at the entering end of the slot I5 a cutting device or shear which is designated generally by the numeral 45 and includes the stationary ledger blade 46 carried by the bracket 41 which is secured to the plate I2 as by means of the rivets 48. The ledger blade 46 is disposed radially of the guide slot I5 and is adapted to co operate with the pivoted blade 50 which swings about the pivot screw 5I and is urged toward closed position by means of the spring 52 which extends between the rearwardly projecting portion or shank 53 0f the blade 50 and the end of the post 54. The spring 52 is adapted to cause the blade 50 to close upon the web with a snap action at the proper point during the forward or feeding stroke of the feeder arm 35, the blade 50 having been retracted and held open during the preliminary backward stroke of the feeder arm 35.

The retraction of the blade is accomplished by the mechanism which is illustrated most clearly in Figure 9 of the drawings and which will now be described. Slidably mounted against the inner face of the side wall or supporting plate I2 is the member 60 which consists mainly of the bar 6| which is adapted to reciprocate, and oscillate to some extent, beneath the retaining strap 63 which is riveted to the plate I2 as at 64. The member 60 is provided with a lower lateral extension 65 and an intermediate laterally extending plate 66 which are joined by means of the connecting element 61. The intermediate extension 66 is provided with an angled portion or flange 68 which is connected with the movable blade 50 of the cutter 45 by means of a link 69, the lower hooked end of which extends through an opening in the flange 68. The member 60 is continually urged upwardly by means of the coil spring I0 which connects the plate 66 with a fixed point 1 I on the wall I2. Another spring I2 joining the lower extension 65 with the fixed point I4 on the supporting wall I2 serves to urge the member 60 laterally toward the shaft 38. A notch 15 is formed in the lower portion of the bar BI and provides a lower shoulder "I6 which is adapted to be engaged by the pin 11 carried by the hub member I8 .which is rigidly secured upon the operating shaft 38 as by means of the set screw 19.

It will be readily apparent that upon rotation of the shaft 38 in a counter-clockwise direction, the pin Tl will enter the slot 15, engage the shoulder I6 and retract the member 60, thus drawing the pivoted blade 50 downwardly to permit the entry of the leading edge of the web between the blades of the cutter 45. As the rotation of the pin I1 continues, it will leave the slot 15 and pass off of the shoulder 16 and thus permit the retracting member 60 to snap back into its original position shown in Figure 9. The point at which this release of the member 60 from engagement with the pin Tl occurs may be varied by the adjustment of the screw 80, the inner end 8| of which may contact with the periphery of the shaft 38 at a selected point and cam the bar 6| away from the shaft 38 even before the pin 11 will have passed over the shoulder '56. It will be understood that the release of the retracting member 60 will not cause the blade 50 to operate since at a certain point during the retraction of the blade it will be latched in retracted position by other mechanism which is adapted to be released at a selected point during the movement of the feeding member 35 and which depends upon the length of the portion of the web to be severed from the main body thereof.

During the retracting movement of the blade 50 the reduced squared end thereof will pass radially inwardly through the slot 86 formed in the supporting plate I3 and also through the bayonet slot 8'! providing a bifurcation in the upper end of the blade retaining latch member 90 which is freely pivoted at its lower end upon the operating shaft 38 and urged toward a counterclockwise rotation about the shaft 38 by means of the spring 9| which connects the extended lower end 92 of the latch plate 90 with a fixed point 93 on the lower portion of the plate I3. This counter-clockwise rotation of the latch member 90 is prevented by the contact of the longer arm 95 of the bifurcated upper end of the member 90 with the movable blade 50 of the cutter 45. The slot 81 is provided with a shoulder 96 behind which the end of the blade is retained during the preliminary feeding of theweb.

At the proper time the latch member 90 is tripped so that the blade 50 is released from the shoulder 96 and allowed to snap past the ledger blade 46 and sever the web. This tripping mechanism will now be described. Freely carried by the operating shaft 38 is the arm 98 which is provided with an arcuate portion 99 formed with a cam I00 and a tripping shoulder IOI adjacent the forward edge of the cam. The arcuate por- -tion 99 of the lever 98 is provided with a series of perforations I02, one of which is adapted to register with an opening I03 in the feed arm 35 so that the lever 98 and the feed arm 35 may be secured together as by means of the screw I05. This adjustment provides means whereby variable lengths of the web may be severed therefrom. The latch plate 90 is provided with a triangular pawl or dog I01 which is pivoted to the plate 90 by means of the pin I 0 8. The pin I08 is rigid with the dog- I 1 and extends inwardly beyond the plane of the plate 90 and into the slot I09 formed in the supporting plate I3. The inner projecting end of the pivot pin I08 is provided with a wire spring IIO which passes through an opening in the-pin III secured upon the inner. face of the plate I3. This spring member H is adapted to urge the triangular dog I0! toward its position showninFig; 1 of the'drawings.

Duringthe rearward movement of the feed arm 35 the cam portion I00 of the member 98 will contact with the forward inclined face of the dog I0! and rotate it idly in a clockwise direction and upon clearing the shoulder IOI the dog will again revert to its position shown-in Fig. 1 and be in readiness for engagement by the shoulder IOI during the feeding stroke of the member 35. A stationary guide'member H is secured to the outer face of the plate I3 as at II 6, the rearwardly extending angular end II! of the guide member II5 being spaced slightly from the plate I3 so as to overlie at least a portion of the latch plate 90 during; its various movements. The downwardly facing edge I I8 of the member I I5 is adapted to engage the upper edge of the pivoted dog I01 and limit its counter-clockwise rotation during the greater portion of the operative cycle of the device. However, during the forward tripping movement of the member 98 which is attached to the feed lever 35 the plate 90 will be moved in a clockwise direction, thus removing the shoulder 96 from above the end 85 of the knife blade 50 and allowing the cutting operation to take place. Further movement in this same direction of the member 98 will cause the dog ID! torotate upwardly around the downwardly directed portion II8 of the guide member H5 and allow-the shoulder ml to pass by the dog I01.

Rigidly secured upon the shaft 30 adjacent the I inner surface of the plate I3 is the ratchet segment I20 with which the pawl l2l, pivoted as at I22 upon the plate I3, is adaptedtocooperate to prevent a retrograde movement of the operating mechanism during either stroke. The double acting pawl I2I is urged toward a radial position with respect to the shaft 38 by means of the spring I24 which connects the rear end I25 of the pawl I 2| with fixed point I26. In Figure, of the drawings, the pawl I 2| is shown in engagement with the ratchet segment near the beginning of the rearward retractive movement of the feeder. Upon completion of the movement of the shaft 38 in either direction the segment I will move beyond the pawl HI and upon reversal of the movement the pawl will engage the teeth of the latched segment at an opposite inclination.

Upon movement of the feeding member 35 with its feeding head 36 rearwardly beyond the entrance to the slot I5, the rear edge of the platelike head 36 will move the spring coil 30 upwardly away from the leading end of the web A and will pass over the upper surface of that end of the web causing the web to bend backwardly beneath the forward edge I30 of the arcuate plate as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. A pin or post [32 projecting beneath the path of the web from the supporting plate I2 is engaged by the web during this backward bending movement until the leading edge of the web snaps past the post I32 and rests in contact with the upper surface of the feeding head 36. Further retractive movement of the feeding member 35, 36 will permit the leading end of the web A'to again snap forwardly into engagement with the rear side of the post I32 as shownin Fig. 5 which holds it in the form of a bight. Then, upon the forward feeding stroke of the feeding member 35, 3B, the rear or under surface of the web A will be engaged by the forward relatively sharp edge I35 of the head 36 and the doubled or creased web will then be fed forwardly by the head 36'between the spring coil and the forward end of the lower guide plate IT, as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings. If the web is provided with perforations at intervals throughout its length, as in the case of a strip of postage stamps or the like, the forward edge I of the feeding member may be provided with minute prongs such as shown at I36 for engagement within certain of the perforations of the web. The forward feeding movement of the forward edge of the web A by means of the feed arm 35 continues until the forward edge is fed outwardly through the delivery opening I38 at the end of the slot I 5. During this movement the knife will be tripped at the proper point by the adjustable trip member 98 and the desired length of the web severed from the main portion thereof. The four openings I02 are so spaced along the arcuate arm 99 as to cause the knife or shear to operate at the perforations between the stamps so as to cut off two, three, four or five stamps respectively.

In the embodiment which is illustrated and described herein, the backward retracting movement of the operating shaft 38 by means of the crank d0 beyond a certain point is prevented by means of suitable connections with the checkcontrolled mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral I 50. These connections may include the lever arm I5I which may have a suitable releasable connection with the shaft 38 and which may be connected with appropriate elements of the check-controlled apparatus I50 by means of the pin and slot connection I52. By any suitable or well known means, the rearward movement of the member I5I, and thus of the feeding mechanism, may be permitted by the insertion of a check or coin of the proper denomination in the slot I55.

The operation of the device will now be described in the proper sequence illustrated in Figures l to 7 inclusive of the drawings. The position in Figure l is the initial one in which the various parts of the mechanism are disposed before the insertion of the coin and the operation of the crank .40. The blade 50 of the shear is in engagement with its cooperating ledger blade 45. The forward end of the web A is adjacent these blades and pressed between the spring coil 30 and the rearward end of the guide plate I1, and the feed head 33 is in its extreme forward position. In Figure 2 the parts are shown in their positions as the blade has been partially retracted and as the cam I 00 of the tripping member 98 is passing idly by the dog I01. In Figure 3 the feeding head 36 is passing between the blades of the shear 45 and the end 85 of the lower blade 50 has been caught behind the shoulder 96 of the restraining or latch member 90 by the counter-clockwise movement of the member 90 .under the influence of the spring 95. The

rearward edge of the feeding head 36-is also on the point of. displacing the spring coil 30 upwardly from engagement with the upper surface of the leading edge of the web A.

In Figure 4 the feed head 30 is folding the web A rearwardly beneath the arcuate plate 25 and theforward edge of the web A is about to snap past the post I32. By this time the blade retractor member has been released and snaps back into its initial position, the blade being re tained behind the shoulder 96 as already described. Figure 5 represents the position of the various parts of the mechanism at the extreme rearward .end of the movement thereof. The feed head 36 has cleared the leading edge of the web A which has snapped forwardly against the post I32 and is partly folded in readiness to be engaged upon its under surface by the forward knife edge I35 of the head 36.

In Figure 6 the forward edge I35 of the feed head 36 has doubled the web A rather sharply and, in engagement with the fold therein, is moving the web forwardly beneath the spring 30 and into the entrance of the slot I5. The shoulder IBI of the tripping member 98 which moves with the feed arm 35 is in readiness to engage the dog ID! on the retaining member 99. In Figure '7 the shoulder IGI has engaged the dog I07 and moved the retaining plate forwardly sufficiently to allow the blade 50 to clear the shoulder 96 and to snap upwardly through the slot 81 and sever the web at the intended point. Continued forward movement of the feed arm 35 has brought the dog I01 beyond the edge of the portion H8 of the guide member l l5 and has allowed it to rotate sufficiently to clear the shoulder l0! and permit the plate 90 to snap rearwardly again to its initial position as shown in Figure 1. It will be obvious that further forward movement of the feed arm 35 will carry the doubled severed portion of the web forwardly along the slot [5 to the delivery point I38, the main portion of the web having its new leading edge disposed just rearwardly of the cutting mechanism 45 and between the spring 30 and the end of the guide surface I! in readiness for the next cycle of operation.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a check-controlled stamp vending machine in which the useful portions of the web are separated by rows of perforations, it is obvious that it may be used to feed, cut, and deliver webs or strips of any kind and for any purpose, such as, for example, gummed wrapping tapes, ribbons, or the like, whether perforated or not.

Furthermore, the terms oscillate and oscillating, as employed herein in connection with the feeder, are used in their broadest sense, and are intended to include straight line reciprocation as well as swinging movement in an arc of a circle.

It will also be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, means for retaining and guiding a web supply, an oscillating feeding member for said web adapted to seize said web and move it through its guiding means toward a point of delivery, means for severing from, the web a strip of predetermined length, and means adjustably carried by said feeding means for operating said severing means at the desired point during the movement of said feeding means to means actuated by said feedingmember during its forward feeding movement for tripping said detent means to release the cutter blade to cut the web at a predetermined point.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an oscillating web feeding member, means for giving said member a preliminary rearward movement and a forward feeding movement, a cutting blade for severing said web, means for continually urging said blade toward cutting position, means connected with said cutter blade for retracting it during the rearward movement of said feeding member, a releasable connection between said feeding member and said retracting means adapted to be engaged during said rearward movement and released before the occurrence of the return or feeding movement of the feeding member, detent means for retaining said blade in retracted position after the release of the retracting means, and means actuated by said feeding member during its forward feeding movement for tripping said detent means to release the cutter blade to cut the web at a predetermined point.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, a crank shaft mounted for oscillation in said frame, means for oscillating said shaft, a web feeding arm secured to said shaft, means on said arm for engaging a portion of a web to feed it through said frame, a spring pressed cutter blade for severing from the web a strip of predetermined length, a retractor for said blade, a cam member adapted to be rotated by said shaft and to engage said retractor during part of its rotative movement to cause said blade to be retracted and at one point during said movement to release said retractor, and means on said retractor adapted to be operated upon during the rotation of the shaft to move said retractor away from said cam and effect said release sooner.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, a crank shaft mounted for oscillation in said frame, means for oscillating said shaft, a web feeding arm secured to said shaft, means on said arm for engaging a portion of a web to feed it through said frame, a spring pressed cutter blade for severing from the web a strip of predetermined length, a retractor for said blade movable substantially radially of the path of movement of the feeding means, a shoulder on said retractor, a cam member adapted to be rotated by said shaft and to engage the shoulder on said retractor during part of its rotative movement to cause said blade to be retracted and to move past said shoulder at one point during said movement to release said retractor, and adjustable means on said retractor for engaging said shaft, during the rotation of the shaft to move said retractor away from said cam and effect said release '7. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, acrankshaft mounted for oscillation in said frame, means for oscillating said shaft, a web feeding arm secured to said shaft, means on said arm for engaging a portion of a web to feed it through said frame, said means adapted to be given a preliminary rearward movement in an arcuate path when said shaft'isrotated in one direction and to be given a forward feeding movement along said path when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, a" spring pressed cutter past said shoulder at one point during said movement to release-said retractor, adjustable means on said retractor for engagingsaid shaft during the rotation of the shaft to move said retractor away from said cam and effect said release sooner, detent means 'for retaining said blade in retracted position after release of the retractor, and means actuated by said feeding member during its forward feeding stroke 'to release said detent at a predetermined point to effect the severing of the web;

8. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an oscillating feeding member movable in said frame to feed a web therethrough, a spring pressed cutter member adapted to sever a strip of predetermined length from said web, means for retracting said cutter member, means for retaining said member in retracted position comprising a detent element having a portion behind'which a part of said cutter member is adapted to be kept, means resiliently urging said member continually toward retaining position, and contact means on said retaining means adapted to be engaged bysaid feeder member to trip'the detent element and permit the cutter to operate.

9.'In' a deviceof the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an oscillating feeding member movable in said frame to feed a web therethrough, means for giving said member a rearward preliminary movement in one direction and a subsequent feeding movement in the opposite direction, a spring pressed cutter member adapted to sever a strip of predetermined length from said web, means for retracting said cutter member, means for retaining said member in retracted position comprising a detent element having a portion behind which a part of said cutter member is adapted to be kept, means resiliently urging said member continually toward retaining position, a pivoted dog on said retaining member, a tripper on said feeding member adapted to contact said dog and move it idly during said preliminary movement, and stop means to prevent rotation of said dog when contacted by said tripper on its, return movement during feeding of the web, whereby said detent element is tripped and said cutter member is released for operation on the web.

10. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an oscillating feeding member movable in said frame to feed a web therethrough, means for giving said member a rearward preliminary movement in one direction and a subsequent feeding movement in the opposite direction, a spring pressed cutter member adaptedto sever'a strip of predetermined length from said web, means for retracting said cutter member, means for retaining said member in retracted position comprisinga detent element having-aportion behind which a part of said cutter member is adapted to be kept, means resiliently urging said member continually toward retaining position, a-pivoted dog on said retaining member, a tripper on said feeding member adapted to contact said dog and move it idly during said preliminary movement, and stop means carried by'said frame and having a contact surface of limited-extent thereon to prevent rotation of said dog when contacted by said tripper on its return movement during feeding of the web, whereby said detent element is tripped and said cutter member is released for operation on theweb, and whereby after clearing said contact surface, saiddogis permitted to rotate and clear said'tripper, and the retaining member re turned to its initial position.

11. In a device of the class described, in combination, asupporting frame, a web roll retaining'bracket pivotally mounted on said frame, a stationary guide for the web carried by said frame; resilient pressing means for cooperating with said guide to tension said web between them; said means being'carried by said bracket and alternatively released and-"applied by pivotal movement of saidbracket in respective opposite directions as for inserting and threading up a web or clamping the inserted Web-in readiness for operation of the device.

" 12.-In'a-device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, a web feeding member mounted formovement in said frame, means for forming a bight in the leading end of the-web; and means'for actuating said feeding member to engage the bight and draw the web through the device.

13'. In a device'of the class described, in combination, asupporting frame, a web feeding membenmounted for movement in said frame, means" for folding back a short length of the leading end of said web and means for actuating said feeding-member to "engage within the fold of said web and draw the web through the device.

14. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, a web feeding member mounted for movement in said frame, means for giving said member a preliminary backward movement and a forward web feeding movement, means cooperating with said member during its preliminary movement to fold back a short length of the leading end of said web, and dispose the fold in position to be engaged by said member during its forward feeding movement.

15. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, a web feeding member mounted for movement in said frame. means for giving said member a preliminary backward movement and a forward web feeding movement, a guide plate along which said web is adapted to move, said guide plate being disposed adjacent the rearward portion of the path of movement of said feeding member and so thatv said member passes along it upon the side thereof opposite to that along which said web moves, means for supporting the leading end of said web in advance of and at the side of the plane of said plate upon which said feeding member moves, whereby during the rearward movement of said member it will contact onesurface of the projecting end of the web and bend it back around the forward edge of said plate, move past said bent end and during the return movement engage the bight of the web and draw it forwardly through the device.

16. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an oscillating web feeding member, means for giving said member a preliminary rearward movement and a subsequent forward feeding movement, spaced pairs of upper and lower clamping guides for the leading end of the web disposed adjacent the rearward portion of the path of movement of said feeding member, the foremost pair of said guides being offset from the next adjacent one of said pairs so as to be disposed upon the opposite side of the path of movement of said feeding member, whereby during the rearward movement of said member it will contact one surface of the end portion of said web between said guides and double said portion of the web back behind one of said rearwardly disposed guides and form a fold in said web for engagement by said member during its return feeding movement.

17. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, an oscillating web feeding member, means for giving said member a preliminary rearward movement and a subse quent forward feeding movement, spaced pairs of upper and lower clamping guides for the lead ing end of the web disposed adjacent the rearward portion of the path of movement of said feeding member, the foremost pair of said guides being offset from the next adjacent one of said pairs so as to be disposed upon the opposite side of the path of movement of said feeding member, whereby during the rearward movement of said member it will contact one surface of the end portion of said web between said guides and double said portion of the web back behind one of said rearwardly disposed guides and form a fold in said web for engagement by said member during its return feeding movement, means disposed adjacent said guides for contacting said web andpreserving the fold after said member has passed beyond the end thereof during its rearward movement.

18. The method of dispensing sheet strips from a web supply which comprises holding the new leading end portion of the web while the former end portion is being severed and delivered, folding back a short length of said leading end portion to create a bight therein, seizing said web by said bight and drawing it forwardly to be severed, and delivering the severed portion of the web while the new leading end is seized for effecting the next succeeding cycle of operation.

19. In a device of the class described, in combination, a supporting frame, a web feeding element, means for moving said element to advance the Web through the device, a snap acting cutter member for severing from the moving web a portion of predetermined length, an acuating member for said cutter member, means for adjustably securing said actuating member directly to said feeding element, whereby said cutter may be actuated at a selected point during the movement of said feeding element to sever variable lengths of material from said web.

20. In a device of the class described, in combination, a web feeding element, means to move' said element, a shear having a fixed and a movable blade, means to cock said movable blade with at least one end remote from the fixed blade, means to release said cocked blade on continued feeding movement of said feeding element, to out said web and means to adjustably secure said blade releasing means onto said web feeding element to determine the cutting in respect to the amount of web fed past the fixed blade.

21. In a device of the class described, in combination; a web feeding element adapted to seize a web and move its end through a predetermined distance to a point of delivery, a shear having a fixed and a movable blade, means to separate said blades during retrograde movement of said feeding element, means to actuate the movable blade to sever the web end during feeding thereof and before delivery, said actuating means being carried by said feeding element, and means to adjustably position said actuating means on said element to determine the length of web severed.

WILLIAM V. DERBY.

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