US2281295A

US2281295A - Blank feeding mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2281295A
Application number: US393194A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilmer C Nicodemus; Hugo D Brown
Original assignee: DIAMOND MATCH CO
Current assignee: DIAMOND MATCH Co
Priority date: 1940-12-21
Filing date: 1941-05-13
Publication date: 1942-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1959-04-28

Description

April 2 1942. w. c; MODE-Mus ETA; 2,281 295 BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 21, 1940 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l'um ows; Wilrw Civicoolenuxa April 28, 1942. w. c NICODEMUS AL 2,281,295

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BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES ()FFICE BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Company, New York Delaware Original, application December 21, 1940, Serial No. 371,088. Divided and this application May 13, 1941, Serial No. 393,194

3 Claims.

This application is a division of our co-pending application, Serial No. 371,088, filed December 21, 1940, for Mechanism for forming covers on the trays of telescopic boxes.

The invention forming the subject of the present application concerns particularly means for rapidly feeding the cover blanks from a source of supply and arranging them in an orderly manner in position to be acted upon by succeeding instrumentalities, and to this end the invention comprises features of novelty which will be hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure l is a front elevation of blank feeding mechanism embodying our invention, a portion of a match packing machine with which it is associated being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in a plane above the cover-blank feed table, as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the upper portion of the feeding mechanism, as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the blank feeder frame at the end of its active stroke.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, but showing the feeder frame in its retracted position.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through the feed table extension and the longitudinally extending feeder bars therein, as on the line 6-41 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a similar section through the blank feeding mechanism in a plane in advance of the feed rolls, as on the line l--'! of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a similar section, as on the line 88 of Fig. 2, through the blank magazine and ,underlying parts, showing a suction device in its down position and a blank imposed on the feeder frame, the device being indicated in dotted lines in its raised position beneath the lowermost blank in the magazine.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the feeder frame and adjuncts, showing the frame in its retracted position, and indicating a blank in succeeding positions during its passage from beneath the magazine to the point of delivery.

Fig. is a similar view of a pair of spaced guides for the blank in its travel, a blank being shown in position.

Referring to the drawings, 42 designates a horizontal bed structure which is bolted to and extends outwardly from that side of the packer table in the region of the discharging station,

and which bed is also supported by a suitably disposed post 43 rising from the base 44 of the packer. Supported above and parallel with the outer end portion of the bed 42 by means of lateral bearing frames 45 on the bed, is a table 48 having a forwardly extending plate 47 slightly below its upper surface. Fixed on the table are spaced bars 48 which sustain an upstanding magazine 49 constructed and arranged to support in spaced relation to the table a stack of rectangular blanks C of pasteboard or other suitable material. In the present instance, each blank is of proper dimensions for a match tray cover.

The magazine in the form illustrated comprises a structure within which the lateral edges of the lowermost blanks of the pile are supported by means of inwardly extending base toes 511 on lower transverse members 51 at the respective sides of the magazine. Each succeeding lowermost blank is forcibly pulled downwardly from the supporting toes 59 and imposed flatwise on a primary feeder including a frame 52 which is slidably mounted for movement toward and from the packing machine, as will presently appear.

The'means for transferring the blank from the magazine to the feeder frame comprises vertically reciprocative tubes 53 which are provided at their upper ends with nipple suction cups 54, and which tubes are slidably mounted in guides 55 bolted on the bed structure 42. The lower ends of the tubes 53 are attached to flexible tubes 56 in operative communication with a suitable air exhausting element (not shown), which tubes are provided intermediate their ends with ports 553D which escape the guides 55 when the tubes are in their lowermost position, thus opening the ports and breaking the vacuum in the tubes. Clamped to the tubes 53 is a two-part fitting 5'6 which is connected by a depending link 53 with a rocklever 59 fulcrumed on a bracket to rising from the base #4. The rock-lever 59 has a lateral roll Si in operative contact with a cam 62 fast on a transversely extending shaft 63 having its bearings in stands B l on the base. The shaft 63 is suitably driven by the shaft Mi 0f the packing machine, the contour of the cam being such as to effect the periodic oscillation of the rock-lever 59 in a manner to actuate the tubes 53 and their attached suction cups in timed relation to the feeder frame. (See Fig. 2.)

The feeder frame preferably comprises a reciprocating cross-head consisting of two spaced side blocks 66 and a connecting cross bar 67 therefor, the blocks being slidably mounted on longitudinally extending brackets 68 bolted on the outer ends of the bearing frames 4%. Fastened to the cross-bar 61 are two longitudinally extending parallel bars 69, of relatively thin metal, which are slidably fitted in guideways, including gibs H1 in the top of the table 46, so as to be reciprocative upon the table extension 4? toward and from the packer. Fixed on the respective bars 69, intermediate the ends thereof, are longitudinally arranged wedge-shaped blocks H whereof the higher ends, when the feeder frame is moved forwardly, that is, toward the packer, provide shoulders 72 adapted to impinge the opposing end of the cover blank previously placed on the upper portions of the feeder bars by the suction devices, thus pushing the blank flatwise beyond the table and entering the leading end of the blank in the bite of two corresponding pairs of suitably-located feed rolls 13 included in a secondary feeder hereinafter de scribed. The distance between the shoulders 12 and the leading ends of the feeder bars is somewhat greater than the width of a cover blank so that when such bars are in retracted position their free ends are below the bites of the respective pairs of feed rolls.

The ends of the cross-bar 61 are pivotally connected by rods M with crank disks 15 on the respective ends of a transverse shaft '16 having its bearings in stands 11 formed at the respective sides of the bed structure 42. Fast on one end of the shaft 16 is a sprocket wheel 18 which is connected by means of a chain 19 with and driven from a lower similar wheel 86 on the operating shaft 63 for the blank feeding mechanism. Hence motion is transmitted to the upper shaft 16 and the crank disks it, thus effecting the reciprocation of the feeder frame through the connecting rods i l in timed relation with the suction devices. (See Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 9.)

Shafts 8i and 82 for the upper rolls E3 of the respective pairs of feed rolls are arranged adjacent and parallel with the operating shaft 63 so that the rolls grip the leading end of the cover blank when it is initially impelled by the feeder frame, The lower shaft 82 is journaled in bearing blocks located in the side frames Ti and below the forward end of the table 4% while the upper shaft BI is journaled in blocks slidably mounted in the frames 11 and above the table. The shafts 8| and 82 are provided at one end with meshing gears 83, the lower shaft at its opposite end having a gear 84 in mesh with a gear 85 on the crank disk shaft '55. The ratio of the gearing just described is such that the feed rolls are driven in timed relation with the feeder frame. (See Figs. 3, '7 and 9.)

Fast on the lower feed roll shaft 82 adjacent one end thereof is a glue applying roll 85 the periphery of which rotates in contact with the under marginal surface of the bottom panel I) of the cover blank progressing between the feed rolls. The periphery of the roll 86 turns in the contents of an underlying glue pot Bl, thus applying a stripe of glue to the opposing undersurface of the travelling cover blank. In the present instance the glue pot which we have adopted includes a depending reservoir S'i'il containing an ample supply of glue for an extended run, which reservoir has therein a screw regulated piston 81! by the manipulation of which the level of the glue in the pot can be maintained, as occasion may require.

Fast on the table extension 4'! are lateral parallel guide bars 88 and 89 which are constructed and arranged to receive the adjacent edges of the blank being impelled by the feed rolls [3 and the feeder frame 52, thus uniform- 1y guiding the sheet in its travel toward the packer.

The guide bar 88, which rearwardly terminates at the end of the table 46 beneath the bite of the feed rolls, has on its inner side a longitudinal flange 90 that overhangs and lies slightly above the table extension, thus forming a guideway for one edge of the blank, the undersurface of the flange 90 being bevelled at its receiving end, as at 920, Fig. 10. The other guide bar 89 is formed with a marginal portion 9! of inverted U-form in cross-section which not only overhangs the floor but also forms therewith a longitudinal channel guide for the adjacent edge of the cover blank. The portion 9| extends slightly above the level of the table and is downwardly bevelled at that end 92 adjacent the bite of the feed rolls. As the leading edge of the blank escapes the rolls such edge impinges the opposing bevelled surfaces 92 and 929 and is thereby deflected toward the table extension 41. Thence the two edges of the blank, in its advancement by the feed rolls, enter the respective guideways and travel therealong in proximity to the table extension 41. The portion of the table extension under the channeled portion of the guide bar 89 is longitudinally slotted, as at 93, to preclude pressure of the glued undersurface of the blank against the adjacent surface of the table extension. (See Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, and Fig. 10.)

GVerhanging the gibs ill of the guideways of the respective feeder bars 69 and extending beneath the upper feed roll shaft 8| are a pair of horizontally movable kicker dogs 94, whereof the forward or acting ends, being undercut, as at 95, overlie and abut the trailing edge of a cover blank (C) presented thereto, as will presently appear. These dogs are pivoted at their rear ends to the lower portion of a pair of spaced arms 96 fixed to and depending from a rock-shaft 9'! having its bearings in brackets 98 on the adjacent wall of the magazine. Also fixed to and depending from the rock-shaft 91, at one end thereof, is a crank 99 which is connected by means of a link I00 to the upper arm of a vertical lever HJI that is fulcrumed to a bracket I52 rising from the adjacent side of the table as. On the lower arm of the lever is a lateral roll I93 which is held in operative contact with an adjacent cam I04 by means of a suitable spring I05 that is secured to the lower lever arm and a fixture I06 on the table, which cam is fast on the crank disk shaft 16. The contour f the cam N34 is such that in a determined interval of rotation of the shaft '56 the lever It! is oscillated and the rock shaft ll! thereby actuated, thus through the arms idmparting forward and back motion to the two ogs.

The co-operative relation of the parts just described is such that when the blank feeding frame of the primary feeder is at the limit of its rear or outer stroke the feeder bars 69 are in position to receive a cover blank from the magazine, at which stage the forward or free ends of the bars 80 are in a plane directly beneath the bite of the feed rolls of the secondary feeder, or substantially so. A cover blank is then withdrawn from the magazine by the action of the suction devices previously described, and is thereby deposited on the bars 69, forwardly of the abutments H as seen in Fig. 5. In the initial forward stroke of the feeder frame these abutments by their contact with the opposing longitudinal edge of the blank, push the blank bodily and evenly forward so as to position its leading edge at the opposing downwardly

inclined portions

92 and 920 of the respective side guides 88 and 89. Coincidentally the blank is gripped by the feed rolls 13 and is thereby ad vanced in and between the two side guides; it 1 being noted that the speed of the rolls relative to the feeder frame is such that when the latter is at the limit of its forward stroke the blank is clear of the rolls and is supported throughout its length upon the feed bars, and that the rearward edge of the blank is in close relation to the shouldered ends of the overhanging dogs 94. Therefore in the next succeeding rearward stroke of the feeder frame retrograde movement of the blank is prevented. stroke of the feeder frame the bars 69 progressively recede from the blank previously positioned in and between the guides, thus permitting the unsupported portion of the blank to sink upon the table extension 41, as seen in Fig. 5. When the feeder frame completes its rearward stroke the forward ends of the bars 69 project slightly beyond the bite of the feed rolls 73 and under the rearward edge portion of the preceding blank, which edge is thus in engaging relation to the dogs. The dogs then being sharply swung forward, push the opposing blank a short distance within the side guides and beyond the acting ends of the feed bars 69. Thereupon the freed trailing end of the blank snaps down and in front of the adjacent ends of the feed bars. coincidentally, another blank is withdrawn from the magazine and deposited on the feed bars and in the forward path of the abutments H, whereupon in the next succeeding forward stroke of a:

the feed bars the new blank is fed forward as just described in respect to the preceding blank, and the forward ends of the feed bars push the preceding blank along the guideways and project it horizontally therefrom, which ends are preferably under-cut, as at Hi1, to ensure their efficient engagement with the blank. Likewise in each succeeding reciprocation of the feeder frame a cover blank is withdrawn from the magazine and carried forward by the feeder frame and the feed rolls, which frame during its advancement of the blank ejects the preceding blank.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular exemplifying form thereof herein disclosed, as the mechanism may be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim- 1. The combination with a blank support, of cooperatively arranged primary and secondary means for feeding blanks fiatwise in succession to said support, said primary feeder including an elongated pusher longitudinally reciprocative toward and from the said support and having an abutment between which and the forward end of the pusher a blank is imposed when the pusher is in retracted position, the distance between said abutment and the forward end of the push- In this rearward er exceeding the Width of a blank, and the secondary feeder including feed rolls rearwardly spaced from the said support and constructed to receive the leading end of each blank as it is initially advanced by the pusher, guide means in and between which said blank is fed by the feed rolls so that when the pusher is at the limit of its forward stroke the blank is clear of said rolls and is supported throughout its length upon the forward portion of the pusher, and back stop means for engaging the trailing edge of the blank as said edge escapes the bite of the feed rolls.

2. The combination with a blank support, of cooperatively arranged primary and secondary means for feeding blanks fiatwise in succession to said support, said primary feeder including an elongated pusher longitudinally reciprocative toward and from the said support and having an abutment between which and the forward end of the pusher a blank is imposed when the pusher is in retracted position, the distance between said abutment and the forward end of the pusher exceeding the width of a blank, and the secondary feeder including feed rolls rearward- 1y spaced from the said support and constructed to receive the leading end of each blank as it is initially advanced by the pusher, guide means in and between which said blank is fed by the feed rolls so that When the pusher is at the limit of its forward stroke the blank is clear of said rolls and is supported throughout its length upon the forward portion of the pusher, back stop means for engaging the trailing edge of the blank as said edge escapes the feed rolls, and means for vibrating said back stop to advance the blank slightly beyond the rolls and the forward end of the pusher as the pusher reaches the end of its back stroke.

3. The combination with a blank support, of cooperatively arranged primary and secondary means for feeding blanks flatwise in succession to said support, said primary feeder including an elongated pusher longitudinally reciprocative toward and from the said support and having an abutment between which and the forward end of the pusher a blank is imposed when the pusher is in retracted position, the distance between said abutment and the forward end of the pusher exceeding the width of a blank, and the secondary feeder including feed rolls rearwardly spaced from the said support and constructed to receive the leading end of each blank as it is initially advanced by the pusher, guide means in and between which said blank is fed by the feed rolls so that when the pusher is at the limit of its forward stroke the blank is clear of said rolls and is supported throughout its length upon the forward portion of the pusher, and back stop means for engaging the trailing edge of the blank as said edge escapes the feed rolls, said last-named means including a pivoted forwardly extending dog and means for horizontally swinging said dog in timed relation to the said blank feeding means.

WILBEE-R C. NICODEMUS. HUGO D, BROWN.