US2368730A - Method of making metal parts for ring binders - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 6, 1945. J. SCHADE METHOD OF MAKING METAL PARTS FOR RIN G BINDERS Fi led Dec. 20, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Joli/v dcmwz J. SCHADE Feb. s, 1945.

METHOD OF MAKING METAL PARTS FOR RING BINDERS Filed Dad 20, 1945' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jofi/v fa/mp5 ATTOR Ys- Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT VOFFICE. M

METHOD OF'MAK-ING METAL PARTS-FOR 1 RINGBINDERS John Schajde, Holyok, Mass.,- assignor to National Blank Book company, Holyoke', Mass; 2. corporation'of Massachusetts Application December 20, 1943;. Serial Noi 514,920.

claims".

This invention relates to improvements inthe method for making. ring binders... It is customary in making ring'binders to provide binder rings held in and forming part of a toggle frame con.- struction. The frame. usually carries the binder rings and operates under pressure from a spring plate to hold the rings open or closed. according to the position into which the toggleframe is moved by hand against the springpressure. Ordinarily the elements of such construction are each separately made to their individual and final form and then the separate elements are assem;

bled to make the form of their combination. This ordinary way of manufactureqrequires a lot of work, particularlyin the assembly-of the elements after they have been-separately formed. And it necessitates acertain amount of fitting together by adjustment of parts which slows down the assembly work.

An object of my invention isrto permanently assemble most of the material entering into such a combination. before the material is all formed into the shape for theseparate individual elements, to then give thedesired'shape to the material for such elements, and by most conveniently arranged method stepsmake them-ready for quick assembly with the spring plate to-provide the finished construction of the-combination or ring binder mechanism. Another object is to provide a form of ring and frame structure which is particularly adapted to be made by my method without complications'in the desired practice-of the method. Such structure is made the-subject of adivisional application.

I will disclose the structure and the general plan of the. method of makingit and afterwards.

refer to particulars pertaining to the useful method steps and their order.

In. the drawings Fig. 1 shows the plan of assembling straight.

pieces of wire and welding their intersections;

Fig. 2 shows some of the assembled wire material with indications of a first shaping-step;

Fig. 3 is like Fig. 2 with a second shaping step indicated; i

Fig. 3A is an end view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is like Fig. 3 with a third shaping step indicated; v

Fig, 5 is like Fig. 4 with a fourth shaping step indicated;

Fig. 5-A is an endview of Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a view like Fig. 5 showing a cutting and wire end shaping step;

Fig. 6-A is a side view of an end portion'of Fig.

Fig. 7 is'a'perspective view otthe shaped wire from the raw material or wi're' to make the finished I product. So the method steps willb described.

without the. complicated disclosure of automatic machinery.

To begin, two parallel Wires and 2,.which may beofindefinite length, are positioned to receive laidon cross wires 3; These crosswires are laid parallel on wires I and 2 and as shown are spaced one from the other at any desired spacing. The

cross wires may be supplied from an indefinite length, laid on, andthen cut for all the ends-on the same side to line up evenlyin a straight line, i

or as indicated at a and b they may be laid on and successiveendscuton the same side slightly staggered, although all the cross wires 3 are of the same length. The purpose of the, staggered ends willbereferred to lateron.

.When the crosswires 3 arelaid onthe long wires I and 2, their contacting Dointsare'al1-- welded together as indicated at 4. A preferred! .way to do this is progressively 'inpairsjand by .welding all contacting points of two'cross wiresto' the long wires lat the-'same-time by a multiple welding machine. Thusif the long wires are moved ahead intermittently the length of two spacing distances of the short cross wires they,

can be rapidly assembledin pairs, theirends cut off; successive pairs of sho'rt wires welded in the i assembly with the longawires, and the weldedassembly will then arrive inUpairs of'short wires at convenient stations for: subsequent work steps; Of course i the arrangement or assembling in pairs is by way ofexample. 0 "etwo, or moreshort wires maybe assembled s multaneouslyl merely prefer twoata time, tne exampiegi-ven. In this way a ladder-likeassembly of long wire'sand shortwi'res maybe formed progressively and in definitely continued as long as desired. This'flis all indicated" in Figs; 1 to 5 inclusive yway-or example.

, After a pair of cross wires*,3' ar 'weld'edand" then" movedwith thelong wiresl and 2',' t'o'th'e these parts.

next work station, their central portions between wires I and 2 are flattened by swaging as shown at in Fig. 2. A flattened portion is preferably given the form shown best in Figs. 3 and 3A.

After these flattened portions 5 are made, the wires move forward to the next station and the portions of cross wires 3 extending beyond or in overhanging relation to wires l and, 2 are bent or curved into substantially semi-circular form, see portions 6 in Figs. 3 and 3-A. The overhang on one side of each cross wire 3 is bent oppositely to the overhang on the other side and together they form the complementary sides of one binder lring. If the cross wires are of a material or a size which does not bend easily at one operation,

then they can be partially bent in one operation .at one work station and again bent further at another station until bent the wanted amount.

After the cross wires 3 are bent to ring form, the upper ends of each wire are cut into complementary fitting forms. A preferred arrangement for such ends to be cut is shown in Fig, 4 in the two left hand rings. It is advisable to make these out forms starting from underneath and cutting outwardly. This will avoid even the smallest size the stiff ladder-like form of wire material, seen 1 in Figs. 1 to 4, is integral and in most convenient. iform for mass production steps. rings are formed and their outer ends shaped for Now that the matching fit when closed, it is desired to form toggle mechanism joints in the structure as will be explained. This is a particularly important 1 feature of my invention.

The toggle joints are formed while the ladderlike form of wire is resting at the appropriate work station. As indicated in Fig. 5, the two j left hand rings are at such a station. The work at this station is conveniently done by operations on two of the cross Wire flattened portions simultaneously. The work consists in making the cut 7, .see Fig. 5--A, across the flattened portion 5, at the same time making the little transverse cut 8, from the edge inwardly of one of the severed ends, and reversely bending the tongues 9 and H! as shown best in Fig. 5A. This bending is edge on one side of out 1 is like a knife edge,

root portions of the oppositely bent tongues 9 and ID. The arrangement makes a most inexpensive type of pivotal engaging parts for the ends of the ring halves and a most efficient joint between This feature will be referred to again later on. While I emphasize-its advantage, the cut ends of the cross Wires could be shaped in other ways for their pivotal engagement. For

example, a transverse notch in one end and a transverse V-shape made on the other end would form pivotally engageable parts. But to form them that way in carrying out my method, would involve bending the cut ends up to work on them and then bending them back for'the jointed position in which they function. This would be nowhere near as easy as the operations shown, as

preferred,'and the joint would not be as good.

After these pivotally engageable ends are made out of portions 5 for the rings, the successive steps taken to bring the ladder-like material to the work stations will move the desired length of long wires with the severed and formed cross wires past the last forming work station. Then a desired length of the parallel long wires with the desired number of matching half rings on them may be cut olf. The cut off parts are assembled with an arched spring plate as will be two bent upends H and I2 of the long wires I and 2, These are crossed as shown. By pressing these as finger pieces in the direction of the arrows, the rings are easily opened.

Such an opening device is preferably provided for in my method steps as follows: In arranging the method steps to be carried out at successive stations, one of the first steps is to feed the cross wires on the long wires. The latter are moved forward step by step, the cross wires are fed. on. When enough wires have been fed on to provide for one binder mechanism of desired length and number of rings, the feed of the cross wires may be interrupted to permit the advance of the needed lengths of the long Wires, free of cross pieces, for forming the finger pieces-for the ring opening device; The spacing as shown is by way of example and of course no welding or forming operations are performed along the bare lengths of the long wires from which the finger pieces are to be formed. At the cutting off station l3, Fig. 6, the cutting is delayed until the bare portions of the long wires which are to form the finger pieces have passed'the cutter as shown in the latter figure. Alternatively, of course, the cutting could I be timed so as to bemade in the normal position preferably done by the appropriate shape of a .two part die cutting tool. In the product the. i

the portion 5 being flattenedand thin as it is, for. pivotal engagement along the line made by the behind the last ring of the preceding ring assembly so that the bare portions of the long wires project from the forward end of the assembly still being worked on. In the manner of cutting illustrated, the bare portions are bent up at the cut off station in the positions best shown in Fig. 6-A. .Their hooked ends are here positioned so as not to engage. When the assembly with the spring plate 14 is made as indicated in Fig. 8 the finger piece I2 is bent toward the other one ll so the hooked ends will engage as desired. Such an arrangement in the method makes it easier to assemble the two halves of the ring frame in the spring plate when the opening device is to be made part of the structure.

The assembly of parts with spring plate I4 is easily made. The longwires are bedded in the hook-shaped sides of the spring plate I4, with the ring halves threaded through the adjacent holes. The lower ends of the ring halves are put into pivotal engagement, each as in Fig. 11. Then the finger piece I2 is bent into final position as stated... c

Considering the ringarrangement in the finished assembly Fig. 9, it will be noted that the upper ends of the ring halves l3 do not come together for their ends to meet in the same longitudinal and vertical plane. They have a staggered arrangement with respect to the meeting points, indicated at c and d. As shown, alternate rings meet in the same vertical plane and there are two planes of meeting ends. This is an advantage in the easier threading on the'rings of the hole punched'loose leafy, sheets, particularly when the rings are closely spaced. The sheet first threads every other ring inevery other hole, and this holds it in position to engage'the remaining rings. When all the rings need to engage all the aesmo holessat; one" time,"therpropercangnmentuisi some.- times difficult'toiget; particularlyswhena'there :are many rings andfimanyiholeswtobeengaged.

suchiarefinementaof *ring arrangement is most easily incorporated" in theystructure by the nature of my me'thod steps. -Itis only'necessary to feed the cross-wires 3 in :thestaggered arrangement on the longwires; =accor ding to theplan I pointed out before with:respectztoendsu andb in Fig. 1. This is done without the slightest difficulty, :and the result is that-thestructui e can be made better without.anyextra expense.

-Wlfil llI "have shown long -wires of round cross section, the-method can be carried out also with flattened instead of round-'wire. "'Fhecross' wires may also-"be 'madeof ---s-omewhat flattened wire with the long axis parallel tcthe long wires. Such-"changes --a-re'-obvious variations-within 'my method.

There-are in the 'priorartring-binder constructions-of various kinds-ma;de*by-re1atively expen sive methods which can now be made by-my inexpensive method. Choosing one of thesethat in some respects is similar structural :features to the structural-arrangement, I have discussed aboveyl will refer to that of the-prior-artTrussell Patent #959,182. The spring-plate in such construction is the same'asmine except it is turned over and doesnoflfunctiori-asa cover'plate. The, operation is-equivalent. In this prior-structure the long-wires corresponding-t my wires i and? arefiat instead of roundin cross section, andthe ringhalves-are-fixedas ifiintegral with the cross wires, as--mine"are. 'And'lthe' lower ends of the rings are held by'thespring plate in "pivotal en gagement so" as-"tomakethe same general kind ofspringtoggle-arrangement or frame as 'I have described, for opening and closing the rings with the-aid -of thespring plate. "A'principal difference is inithejnature of'the pivotally .enga ging ends. But in either'case-my method of making could be followed toadvantagein making this general typeof-structure. This one Trussell structure is referred'toby way of example. It illustrates thefact'thatmy methodjif adapted to make ring binders of a typefthe mere details of whichmay be varied to a considerable degree. While thefeatures'of staggering the ring ends as at c and d in Fig. 9, and providingthe finger pieces H and I2 for opening the rings have been described in detail, they are refinements in structure, mentioned to show how well adapted my method is to build in such refinements without adding any substantial cost in the making ofthem. They may be omitted and my method will be of large advantage in building the ring binder of the type generally referred to,

A feature of the method is that the parts will assemble and fit together in the spring plate without the need for any precision fitting. The matched ends of the ring prongs on the top have a self centering tendency. The matched ends of the toggle levers at their pivotally engaged parts are shiftable to a sufficient extent to need no precision fitting. Thus when the two 'halves of the frame are cut oif from the longer frame they will assemble easily in the spring plate. When the halves are put anywhere near together as they are wanted in the spring plate, each half is shiftable relatively to the other and easily as a whole. Thus the ring prongs and the toggle levers can be brought into matching position without any need for any individual precision fitting anywhere in the structure. There is considerable: leeway. available. .=And-.:such; leewayiis importantriforaeconomy: and-econvenience assembly wwork of :such' wire and sheet :metal structure. :Furthermore, :-such leeway :makes. ;a

better :woltk-ing final aproduct because if ,any-zpart is sprung-but of line :a :bit still thetassemblywis loose enough to continueallthe expectedioperations without any cramping actionof the zoperatp ingparts.

-Itwill nowwbe clear *that the type of structure shown in Fig. 7 both generally and specifically maybe usefully made by .my method and'rthat its cost willtbelow. Th method is one:Whichtis-.-pa-rticularly :well adapte'd to makelsuch a:structure with any :desired numbensize, :andspacing of ring=-structure in'to-ggle'frame structure.

As I have said, the bent ends I |andil12-are :re-

finements in the structure. It will be made by still insure a'supply. Furthermore, the procedure 1 of my method fits the plan of keeping the'work going'without'regard to particular lengths. That i-s-to-say there need be no tie up inthe'factor-y While changing machinery from i one sizeof binder mechanism to another in their maki-ngope-rations. "Inm-y description of themethodin its preferred form I have disclosed the preferred sequence-"for the working steps. *For example, there is a advantage -in-rnaintaining the ladder-like form of material in relation to one Or another-'workstep. But it is obvious that 'the'sequence of steps may be varied to a considerable extent -wi thout "dcparting from the-invention in itsbroader aspects. I have taken this into account-in drawing my claims wherein some do "include and "some -do not emphasize-a particular sequence. *Having disclosedmy invent-ion, Iclaim: I

1. *Themethod of 'making the *multi-pron'gand frame members for a loose leaf binder which consists in arranging a pair of long supporting wires in parallel spaced position, moving them lengthwise in steps, positioning one or more short spaced cross wires on the long wires between said steps, with their end portions extended at each side beyond the spaced long wires, fastening the wires as by welding at their intersections, thereby forming a ladder-like formation of wire, and between said steps forming the projecting ends of the cross wires into complementary prongs, separating their intermediate portionsand forming their terminals intopivot joints, and finally cutting the long wires when the cross wires are formed as stated, whereby the two halves of -each cut off formation will serve for the multi-prong members of a loose leaf binder.

2. The method for the purpose described which consists in laying out parallel long wires a fixed distance apart, feeding cross wires spaced one from another, with their end portions in overhanging relation to the long wires, fixing the cross Wires as by welding to the long wires at their points of intersection, wires lengthwise and repeatedly feeding and fixing cross wiresthereon to continue building the wire material in a ladder-dike formation, and

feeding the long I with the support from such a formation, working the wire material of each cross wire as it lies between the long wires into a separable pivotally engaging joint, shaping the overhanging pm- I tions of each cross wire into oppositely arranged complementary ring portions with complemen- ,tary matching ends, doing said working and shaping of the cross wires in any desired order but before the long wires are cut, and cutting off portions of the long wires when each such portion is successively supplied with enough units of the cross wires worked and shaped as stated to serve in abinder mechanism of any chosen length and repeating these steps on the material of said ladder-like formation back of the cut- 01f portions to prepare additional portions for betweenthe long wires, into pivotally engageable and separable toggle levers shaping the overhanging portions of the short wires into complementary ring prongs with matching ends, and

doing this work in steps while the short wires are fastened to both long wires as stated, at least until the ring prongs are shaped and it is necessary to cut the central portions of the short wires for completing the cut'ends for said form of pivotally engageable toggle levers, then mounting each long wire with its prongs and toggle levers to match the prongs and complementary levers of the other long wire in a spring plate to complete the mechanism.

4. The method of making a ring binder mechanism which consists in fastening a pair of spaced side wires to a plurality of spaced cross wires, as by welding to make a stiff frame ofladder-like formation, the cross wires having portions extending beyond the side wires, shaping these extended portions into complementary ring holding prongs, spreading the central portions of the cross wires between the side wires, carrying out such shaping and spreading steps while the frame f the cross wires forming complementary prongs V and the lower parts complementary toggle levers between the side wires.

5. The method of making ring binder mechanism which consists in progressively assembling wire pieces for ring elements across a pair of parallel spaced wire material of long indefinite length for the side wires of toggle frames, the cross wire pieces being spaced ring distances apart, fastening the wire pieces, as by welding, to the side wires to make a stiff ladder-like frame assembly, the cross pieces in the assembly overhanging the side wires far enough to furnish material for bending ring prongs in complementary pairs out of each cross piece, the side wires being spaced enough to bound a cross piece section long enough'to furnish material for two toggle levers, and progressively working the material as furnished in said frame assembly into curved matching ring prongs fromthe overhanging portions of the cross pieces and into separate, matched end, toggle pivotally ehgageable levers, from the portions of thecross pieces between the side wires of the frame, and while thus working the frame parts into the said forms maintaining the frame part'uncut until necessary to finally form the separate toggle levers and then cutting the frame apart progressively at the cross pieces, as such toggle levers are to be finally formed, and progressively cutting the frame at the side wires only when enough work has been done to furnish a length desired'for atleast One binder 'mechanism and finally assembling the halves of the frame part thus cut, with a spring plate for a ring binder mechanism.

'JOHN SCHADE.

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