US2177652A

US2177652A - Machine for making cups

Info

Publication number: US2177652A
Application number: US104324A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert M Hill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-10-06
Filing date: 1936-10-06
Publication date: 1939-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1956-10-31

Description

' Oct. 31, 1939.

H. M. HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Herberi M Hill Oct. 31, 1939. H. M. HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR *fierl M i/i ZZ ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1939;

H. M. HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed 0st. 6, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fierberZM. HZ ZZ f/Z. il

BY 4, ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1939.

H. M. HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ma Q mgmw W il Hm. 0 6 0 O I G I 0 O P9 i -r-r 122 123122;, 20 a 11. a7 11 T; 86 I l 2/] I ol O I 1' 3 I q @o#@ o .H O

INVENTOR 1%?"56205/1411111 BY -H. M. HILL 2,177,652

MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 m 105 4 a4 f, 101

ail-i 2% lm I m ll" INVENTOR Herbejj/VLHiZZ BY 1 M L ATTORNE Y Oct. 31, 1939. H. M. HILL MACHINE FOR MAKING CUPS Original Filed Oct. 6, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I!!! n u i 5 1 III Ill,

INVENTOR I IHHIHH mi)!!! IIIIHIIH I l 'lf l r u I ATTO RNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES MACHINE ron MAKING curs Herbert M'. mu, Leonia, N. J.

Application October 6, 1936, Serial No. 104,324

Renewed February 2, 1939 27 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of cups or similar receptacles from a blank or a continuous strip of sheet material, such as paper.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for automatically not limited to machines of this particular char-.

acter but may be embodied in machines for forming articles of a different character and for handling other material. Another object of the invention is to provide a compact, balanced machine of the stated character having the cooperating folding, pressing and heading elements thereof arranged so that the machine may be operated at ahigh speed, thus increasing the output of the cups.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for folding cups from fiat blanks and then beading the rim or mouth portion of the cups without transferring the cups from a folding or forming station to a heading or crimping station as in the machines generally 1 employed heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined folding and beading die assembly having obvious advantages, including simplicity,

compactness and increased output.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described in which the lateral dimensions of the folding and beading devices are less than the diameter of the blank from which the cups or containers are formed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved paper feeding and cup discharge mechanisms operable at a high rate of speed in order to utilize fully the enlarged capacity of the cup-forming devices.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, wherein Fig. l is a plan view of a machine for makin paper cups having a beaded or crimped mouth portion; Figs. 2 and 3 are side and front elevations o the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the machine taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5v and 6 are horizontal sections taken on the lines 5-5 and 66 of 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of one side of the upper part of the machine, showing the drive mechanism'for the paper feed rolls;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail sectional views taken on the lines 8-4 and 9-9 of Fig. 3, respectively, 5 showing the bead cam and cutter cam, and associated parts; and

Figs. 10-13 are detail views of the cutting, folding, pressing and beading elements of the machine in various operative positions.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention the machine is supplied with paper stock, circular blanks are cut therefrom, folded and formed into cups or containers in a number of successive, relatively complex operal5 tions with a minimum movement or displacement of the paper article as it assumes its final form, whereby a compact organization is provided capable of operating through successive cycles more rapidly than the machines in use hitherto. The cups formed are of a character which has been found most suitable,,for their intended use as drinking cups and do not represent a compromise for the purpose of obtaining higher output from the machine. Other detailed 25 features and advantages of the machine will appear from the following detailed description thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a main frame consisting of a

base

20 and 30 four upright rods or posts 2! extending from the base 20 to an upper frame member 22. This main frame supports the driving elements and reciprocating dies of the machine, as well as the paper-feeding, cutting and cup delivery mechanism. A single drive shaft 25 journaled in said frame is provided with actuating cams and the like for driving the respective parts of the machine in properly timed relation to form and and deliver a cup during each revolution thereof. In the embodiment shown, circular plate members or

fly wheels

26 and 21 are keyed to opposite ends of the drive shaft 25, the member 21 being provided with peripheral teeth meshing with a pinion 28 connectedto drive pulley 45 29 representing any suitable source of power for operating the machine. A clutch 30 may be interposed between the pulley 29 and the pinion 28, as shown, and a handwheel 3| may be provided if desired for turning the drive shaft when 50 the latter is disconnected from the source of power. The drive shaft may also be counterbalanced by welghtlng the

fly wheels

26 and 21 While the principal features of the invention relate to the construction and arrangement of the folding, pressing and beading elements of the machine, it isthought that the explanation of the detailed construction and operation of the machine as a whole will be simplified by describing the various steps involved in making a cup, commencing with the paper blank.

A roll of paper stock 35 is supported near the top of the machine frame in such a manner that the web of paper 36 may be continuously drawn therefrom during the operation of the machine by the continuously driven feed roll 31 and presented to the blank-cutting and cupforming devices. Two intermittently operated

feed rolls

38 and 39 are arranged on opposite sides of the upper frame member 22, said last mentioned feed rolls being rotated at a high speed until a desired length of paper web is fed and then latched until the next cycle of operation, permitting a momentary accumulation of a loop of paper between the feed rolls 31 and 38 l as shown in Fig. 4. An idle roll 48 cooperating with each-of the driven

feed rolls

31, 38 and 39 maintainsthe paper web in frictional contact with said rolls. The feed rolls 40 may be springpressed against the opposing feed rolls and held by latch members 4| which are releasable to acilitate threading the paper web between the feed rolls.

The feed roll 31 is driven through spur gears 45 (see Fig. 7) connected by a chain 46 or other suitable drive to the drive shaft 25. A lateral shaft 48 journaled on the upper end of the main frame and extending parallel to the ends of the

feed rolls

31, 38 and 39 is rotated through a helical spring 50, bevel gears spur gears 45 and chain 46 from the drive shaft 25. The feed roll 38 is driven from the shaft 48 through bevel gears 52, and feed roll 39 through bevel gears 53.

The

feed rolls

38 and 39 are held against rotation during the blank-cutting and initial folding operations. To this end, a disc 56 (see Fig. 2) is mounted on or secured to the feed roll 38, said disccarrying a projecting lug or latch pin 51 adapted to engage a stop member 58 normally positioned in the path of the latch pin 57. The stop member 58 is preferably movably mounted on a latch arm 59, pivoted at 68, and bears against a spring 6| provided to absorb the shock resulting from arresting the movement of the

feed rolls

38 and 39, the shaft 48 and the disc 56. A pivoted, spring-pressed stop member 62 is also provided to prevent rebound of the disc 56 as the pin 51 strikes the stop member 58. While the disc 56 is latched in the position shown in Fig. 2, the continued rotation of the gears 45 and 5t (see Fig. 7 winds up the spring 58 which when the disc 56' is unlatched to release the

feed rolls

38 and 39 rotates the latter to feed a predetermined length of the paper web 36 quickly underneath the blank-cutting knife to be described hereinafter.

The latch arm 59 is depressed to release the latch pin 51 from the stop member 58 by a projecting lug 65 on a rotating disc 88 driven by or in accordance with the feed roll drive. As shown,

disc 56 and attached

feed rolls

38 and 39 have been unlatched and prevents the lug 65 from again actuating the link 61 until the disc 66 has completed another revolution. In order to prevent backlash due to slack in the chain 46, an adjustable takeup roller 15 may be provided as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent that the rapid intermittent feeding of the web 36 by the spring 50 operating on the feed rolls 38 and 39 merely takes up the slack in the web between the rolls 3'! and 38 formed by the continuously driven feed roll 31. Thus the paper is drawn at a uniform rate from the roll 35 although a predetermined length of paper is fed intermittently and almost instantaneously underneath the cutting knife. After each rotation of the feed rolls 38 and 39, the rolls are latched by the above-described latch mechanism, shown in the stop position in Fig. 2, until the cup blank is cut, the folding die depressed and raised and the cutting knife lifted to permit another length of paper web to be fed.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the cups are formed from a circular blank which is cut from the paper web 36 by a circular cutter or shearing knife and the cooperating shearing ring 8| (see Figs. 4, and '-11). The ring or cutter 8| is mounted in a block 82 secured to the upper frame member 22 or mounted in any suitable manner upon a stationary part of the machine frame. is carried by a reciprocable yoke member 83 secured to the upper ends of four upright posts or rods 84, symmetrically arranged two on each side of the frame (see Figs.4, 5 and 7). The posts or rods 84 pass through stationary guide or bearing members 85 and are secured at the lower ends thereof to an actuating member or yoke 86. The yoke 86, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9, has a depending portion carrying two rollers, 81 engaging a cam 88 mounted on the drive shaft 25. It will be apparent during the rotation of the shaft 25,

the yoke 86 and the knife or cutter 88 secured thereto are reciprocated in relation to the lower or stationary cutter 8| in properly timed relation to the web-feeding and folding devices, and a circular blank is cut from the web of paper during each rotation of the drive shaft.

The circular blank is cut from the paper stock above the fluted or grooved female die member 92 disposed within the block 82. The blank is formed with longitudinal plaits and pressed into concave shape, or'more specifically into the shape of a cup by a reciprocating male die member 93 in cooperation with the female die member 92. The

die members

92 and 93 are shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and except as noted hereinafter are of a conventional construction. The general form and arrangement of the folding dies may obviously be varied in accordance with the nature of the sheet material being handled and the shape of article desired. The die member 92 is held in the block 82 by springs 94 permitting a limited upward displacement of the die member for a purpose to be described.

As shown, the die member 93 comprises a series of radial blades, telescoping within the shank of The movable cutter or knife 80' the die as the latter descends through the constricted portion of the die member 92, and form-= ing longitudinal plaits in the paper blank. The die member 93 is carried by a reciprocating crossbar 95 secured to the upper ends of two upright posts or rods 96 mounted on the crosshead or yoke 91 (see Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5). The crosshead or yoke 91 is reciprocated by rods 99 pivotally secured thereto and to the

fly wheels

26 and 21, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby the movable die member 93 is moved downwardly and then retracted above the shearing knife 80 during each revolution of the main drive shaft 25. The yoke 91 anddie member 93 secured thereto are shown in their extreme lower positions in Figs. 2 and 3.

The die member 93 is swivelled in the crossbar 95 in order that said member may be turned with respect to the. female die member 92 as the former descends, thereby ensuring an even, uniform folding of the plaits in the cup blank. To this end, a lateral bar I00 pinned to the shaft of die 93 ispivotally connected to an actuating rod I III (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4) The outer end of the rod IN is pivoted to a link I02 having the upper end thereof pivoted to the crossbar 95 and carrying a roller I03 at the lower end. The roller I03 is held in engagement with a cam plam I04, secured to the frame of the machine, by a spring I05. As the crossbar 95 carrying the die member 93 is raised and lowered, the pivoted link I02 moves back and forth, thereby reciprocating the rod I III and turning the die member 93 through the connecting bar I00. The twisting movement of the die member 93 as the flat blank is folded facilitates the formation of uniform plaits in the folded cup. 1

The descending movement of the die member 93 ejects the partly completed cup through the bottom of the hollow die member 92-and the cup drops upon a supporting member IIII, the stem of which rests upon the yoke 96. As shown in Figs. 4, 10 and li, the member H0 is located within a conical or\tapered pressing die I II and, when the cup drops eneath the end of the die member 92, the upper d of the cup expands radially because of the resiliency of the paper so that when the pressing die'I I I is raised as described hereinafter, the folds or plaits in the cup will be pressed between the die III and the complementary tapered outer surface of the die member 92. In order to insure that the cup will be properly seated in the die I II even when the extruded cup spreads or opens out excessively, pivoted fingers I01 adapted to engage the lip of the cup as the die I I I is raised may be provided, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The fingers I01 are pivoted on support- 4 ing rods I08 and spring-pressed against the tapered extension of the die member 92.

The pressing die I is carried by the yoke 91 within a. ring member 2 threaded to receive bolts or rods II3 (see Fig. 4) -carrying a crossbar II4 which is loose on said bolts or rods and is urged away from the ring member I I2 by springs II5 encircling the rods I I3. The normal position of the crossbar H4 is fixed by the nuts IIS on the ends of said rods. The die III and ring member II2 are raised by the yoke 91 from the position relative to the die member 92 shown in Fig. 10' until the plaits in the cup are pressed between the pressing die III and the outer surface of the die member92.

' At this time, the upward movement of the ring I I2 is accelerated and the ring is projected above in Fig. 12. This momentary overtravel of the ring H2 is effected by a rocker arm I20 (see Fig. 3), said arm being pivoted to the yoke 91 and arranged to lift the ring I I2 with respect to the yoke 91 through the crossbar H4 and the springs II5 when the outer end of said rocker arm is engaged by an adjustable shoulder or member I2I on a vertical pull rod I22. The pull rod I22 is periodically depressed by a cam I23 through the instrumentality of a pivoted intermediate link I24 supported by a bracket I25 on the base of the machine frame, as shown in Fig. 8. In this manner a sudden impulse is imparted to the ring II 2 while the die member 92 is being raised against the tension of the springs 94 by the contact of the pressing die III with said die member 92.

The ring H2 is provided with a peripheral groove, I30 mating with a groove I3I in a crimping die I32 surrounding the die member 92 and abutting against a shoulder I33 on the latter until the pressing die III raises the die member 92. As clearly shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the upper lip or mouth portion of the cup is turned over by the crimping die I32 to form a tight bead while the body portion of the cup is pressed between the dies 92 and III. The upward movement of the pressing die III lags behind that of the ring II2 so that the members H2 and I32 engage to provide a beading recess of spiral cross-section before a substantial length of the cup wall is projected into said recess. Fig. 13 illustrates the uppermost positions of the dies 92 and III where n the beaded or crimped mouth portion of the cup is completely formed.

It will be noted that the lateral dimensions of the cup-forming mechanism, excluding the supporting yokes, are less than the diameter of the paper blank cut from the web 36. Therefore, it is apparent that if desired two or more units may be mounted side by side to provide gang operation in which a plurality of cups is formed simultaneously from a single web of paper.

Upon the descent of the yoke 91, the completed cup drops upon the supporting member I I0 and is ejected into the delivery trough I40 by the reciprocating ejector bar I4I. As shown, the ejector bar I4I may be actuated by a spring I42, being normally held in retracted position by a cam I43 engaging a roller I44 on a link I45 connected through a link I46 to the ejector bar. The ejector bar is supported in a suitable guide member I41 on the opposite side of the frame from the delivery trough I40, and the portion of the ejector bar which engages the cup supported by the memberv I I0 is arranged to tip the cups as they are ejected from the machine so that they will lie in nested relation in the trough I40, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the machine disclosed for the purpose of explaining the invention is adapted to form paper cups or the like rapidly and automatically from paper stock. Obviously certain features of construction described in connection with the cup-making machine are not limited to machines of this character. Furthermore many changes in the construction and arrangement of the component parts will occur to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for folding a sheet comprising two relatively movable forming die members, means for moving one of said die members relative to the other to fold a flat sheet into concave shape and means for crimping the edge of the folded article while in engagement with one of said forming die members.

2. A machine of the character described comprising means for folding a flat sheet into cup shape, said means including a fluted female die member and a cooperating male die member, and means for crimping or beading the rim of the cup while in engagement with said female die member.

3. A machine for folding a sheet into a cup comprising two relatively movable forming die members, means for actuating said die members to fold a sheet into cup shape with plaited side wallsand means cooperating with one of said die members for forming a bead on the rim of said folded cup.

4. A machine for forming cups from flat sheets comprising forming and crimping die members for folding the sheets into cup shape and forming a bead at the mouth portion thereof, all of said forming and crimping die members being relatively movable along .a common axis, and

having longitudinal plaits, said female die mem-' ber having a central aperture, means for forcing the cup through said aperture, a pressing die in axial alinement with said first-mentioned die members to receive the extruded cup for pressing the plaits or foldsin the wall of the cup and means for beading the rim of the cup while the body portion thereof is held by said pressing die.

7. A machine for making paper cups comprising relatively movable male and female die members adapted to fold a flat blank into a cup having longitudinal plaits, said female die member having a central aperture, means for moving one of said die members with respect to the other to fold the blank into cup shape and force the cup through the aperture in the female die member and means cooperating with the female die member for shaping the extruded cup.

8. A machine for making paper cups comprising two relatively movable male and female die members adapted to fold a flat blank into a cup having longitudinal plaits, said female diemem ber having a central aperture, means for moving one of said die members with respect to the other to fold the blank into cup shape and force the cup through the aperture in the female die member, another die member adjacent the aperture in the female die member and means including said other die member for crimping the mouth portion of the extruded cup.

9. A machine for making paper cups comprising relatively movable male and female die members adapted to fold a flat blank into a cup having longitudinal plaits, said female die member having a central aperture, means for moving one of said die members with respect to the other to fold the blank into cup shape and force the cup through the aperture in the female die member, means including said female die member for gripping the extruded cup and means for crimping or heading the mouth portion of the cup while so held.

10. A machine for making paper cups comprising a hollow shaping die provided with a projecting end portion having a central aperture, means for forcing a folded cup through said aperture and means including the end portion of said die for thereupon gripping said cup.

11. A machine for making paper cups comprising a hollow shaping 'die provided with a projecting end portion having a central aperture, means for forcing a folded cup through said aperture, means for returning the cup into contact with the projecting end portion of said die and means for crimping or beading the mouth 'portion of the cup while in contact with said die.

12. A machine for making paper cups comprising a frame, folding dies supported thereon, means for reciprocating one of said dies with respect to the other die, a reciprocable yoke carried by said frame in alinement with the reciprocable die, a crimping die carried by said yoke and means on said yoke for effecting relative movement betweensaid crimping die and the yoke at a predetermined point in the travel of the yoke.

13. A machine for making paper cups comprising a frame, folding dies supported thereon, means for reciprocating one of said dies with respect to the other die, a reciprocable yoke carried by said frame in alinement with the recip-. rocable die, pressing and crimping dies carried by said yoke, means including said crimping die for beading the mouth portion of the cup and means on saidyoke for eifectingrelative movement between-said pressing and crimping dies at a predetermined point in the travel of the yoke.

14. A machine for making paper cups comprising means including a hollow female die for folding a flat blank into cup shape, a movable similar pressing die adapted to receive the folded cup, means for transferring said cup from said folding means to said pressing die, a movable crimping die surrounding said pressing die and means for concurrently advancing said pressing and crimping dies together and then projecting the crimping die ahead of said pressing die to roll a bead at the mouth portion of the cup.

15. A machine for making paper cups comprising means for folding a fiat blank into cup shape, a movable pressing die adapted to receive the folded cup, a movable crimping die surrounding said pressing die, a reciprocable yoke carrying both of said dies and means including a member pivoted on said yoke for effecting relative movement between said dies.

16. A machine for making paper cups comprising means for folding a flat blank into cup shape,

a movable pressing die adapted to receive the folded cup, a movable crimping die surrounding said pressing die, both of said dies being in axial alinement with said folding means, a reciprocable yoke carrying both of said dies and means for actuating one of said dies with respect to said yoke, said last-mentioned means including a rocker arm pivoted to said yoke and an abut- 18. A machine for making paper cups comprising movable shaping dies and means for actuat ing said dies, said means including a reciprocating member carrying one of said dies, a pivoted rocker arm supported on said member and secured to said one of said dies, an abutment engaged by one end of said roclger arm and means foroscillating said abutment.

19. A machine for making cups from a blank of sheet material comprising folding dies arranged to fold the blank into cup shape, crimping dies for forming a bead at the mouth portion of the cup, means for positioning a blank in operative relation to said folding dies, the lateral dimensions of the cross section of the machine parallel to the blank as it is fed into the machine occupied by the folding and crimping dies being not greater than those of said blank, and means for actuating said dies.

20. A machine for making cups comprising means for supporting a web of sheet material, folding means, means for cyclically operating said folding means and means for intermittently advancing said web in timed relation to the cyclic operation of the folding means, said lastmentioned means including a latch mechanism and releasing means therefor operatively connected to the. means for cyclically operating the folding means. I

21. A machine for making cups comprising means for supporting a web of sheet material, blank-cutting and folding means cooperating therewith, means for feeding a portion of said web at a substantially steady rate and means for feeding predetermined lengths of the web intermittently to the blank-cutting and folding means at a rate higher than said steady rate, said last mentioned means comprising a latched feed .roll, a yielding drive connection to said feed roll and means for intermittently releasing said feed roll.

22. A machine for making cups comprising a cup-holding member conforming to the shape of the body portion of the cup, means engaging the lip of the cupto urge the same into said holding member and separate means for crimping the lip of the cup while the same is held in said holding member.

23. A,machine for folding a sheet into a plaited cup comprising relatively movable forming die members, means including said die members for folding a sheet into cup-shape at one station and means at the same station cooperating with said first mentioned die members for forming a bead 'on the rim of the folded cup whereby heading of the cup is eifected without transfer.

24. A machine for folding a sheet into a plaited cup comprising aligned relatively reciprocable forming die members adapted to fold a sheet into cup-shape, means including a reciprocable forming member for forming a head on the rim of a folded cup and coaxial reciprocable cross-heads supporting one of said forming die members and said last mentioned forming member.

25. A machine for folding a sheet into a plaited cup comprising relatively movable forming die members, means including said die members'for folding a sheet into cup-shape, bead forming means arranged to receive a cup-shaped blank as it leaves said forming die members and means forsupporting and actuating said die members and bead forming means whereby the bead is formed on the rim of the folded cup without transfer from the station where the initial folding operation is performed.

26. A machine for making paper cups comprising a. hollow shaping die provided with a projecting end portion having a central aperture, means for forcing a folded cup through said aperture, a grooved crimping die surrounding said end portion of the first mentioned die and means including said crimping die for shaping the mouth portion of the cup extruded through said hollow shaping die.

' 27. A machine for making paper cups comprising a hollow shaping die provided with a projecting end portion having a central aperture, means for forcing a folded cup through said aperture, 9. grooved crimping die surrounding the projecting end portion of said shaping die,"

a cooperating grooved crimping die adapted to be moved into engagement with the first mentioned crimping die and means including said crimping dies for retaining an extruded cup against said end portion of the shaping die and beading the mouth portion of a cup while held against said last mentioned die.

:ILH' iiL-i" '1 ML HILL,