US2389105A - Multiple perforator - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 13, 1945. g. KERN 2,389,105

MULTIPLE PERFORATOR Filed May 12, 1944 s She'ts-Sheet 1 [NIL AE'AW .ATZWH/VEY Nov. 13, 1945. I E. KERN MULTIPLE PERFORATOR Filed May 12, 1944 3"Sheets-Sheet 2 [WE/V727,?

' EMA Kile/v Arm/mm Nov. 13, 1945. KERN 2,389,105

MULTIPLE PERFORATOR Filed May 12, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 5 E 715. ll 25 Patented Nov. 13, 1945 MULTIPLE PERFORATOR Emil Kern, Long Island City, N. Y., assignor to Acco Products, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 12, 1944, Serial No. 535,337

22 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in multiple perforating devices.

The present invention is concerned with perforating devices of the kind for punching holes in sheet material, such as sheets of paper, to facilitate binding of such sheets with fasteners or like means in files or binders. Fasteners of a kind commonly used to bind sheets in a file or the like usually are furnished in a plurality of sizes; that is, the fasteners are formed with prongs or like elements, to be extended through the holes unched in the sheet, which are spaced apart at different distances. Further, different types of file folders, such as for example, the kind having ring or post binders, often have differently spaced rings or posts, thus necessitating also selected perforation of the sheets to be'filed therein.

Known types of perforating devices commonly used to perforate sheets to receive or be received in binders often have punches mounted firmly thereon o as to perforate the sheets at fixed points. Others are provided with a plurality of punches mounted for lateral adjustment and which are operated in unison each time their operating lever or other means is actuated. Still other types of multiple perforating devices embody means whereby selective operation of one or more of the punches therein is effected upon actuation of the operating means. However, the

latter type of perforating device usually involves 1 a complicated, costly construction incapable of simple and easy manipulation and operation by inexperienced operators and hence are entirely unsuited for general ofiice use.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a durable multiple perforating device of the kind exemplified herein which is not expensive to manufacture and is simple in construction and which may be easily and quickly manipulated so as to affect accurate adjustment of it punches to thereby affect the perforation of sheets or the like at any selected locations and in any number within the range of the device and further, one in which theselection of punches to be operated may be easily determined and quickly effected by inexperienced operators.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple perforating device of the character described with' novelly constructed means on its plurality of punches which may be easily and quickly engaged or disengaged with an operating element so as to effect selected actuation of any one or all of said punches.

Another object of the invention is to Provide a multiple perforating device embodying sturdy and relatively inexpensive die plates and punch standards embodied in an integral structure intended for easy lateral adjustment on their base.

Another object is to provide a perforating device with' a novelly constructed base embodying efficient means to provide easy precision adjustment and securement of a plurality of punch standards.

A further object of the invention is to provide a perforating device of the character described with a novelly constructed base and removable receptacle to receive waste resulting from operation of the punch or punches carried thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a multiple perforating device with an operating element of a kind which is selectively positioned easily so as to effect operation of one or more of a plurality of punches therein.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by Way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principle thereof and which are considered to be the best modes for applying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principle may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a multiple perforating device embodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the perforating device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the base.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a standard, taken on line 65 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken on line ll of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a multiple perforating device embodying other features of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on line Ill-4D of Fig. 9, showing the punch standard partly in elevation.

Fig. 11 is a, vertical sectional view taken substantially on line llll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line I2-l2 of Fig. 11 but illustrating the link in an elevated or inoperative position.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. showing a modified form of standard and link construction, and illustrating the link when disengaged in dotted lines and partially broken away.

Fig. 14 is a sectional detail view taken on line I4I4 of Fig. 13.

The perforating device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, has a substantially rectangular base ll formed with its margins turned downwardly as at 12 so as to provide an elevated support upon which are mounted, for lateral adjustment thereon, a plurality of punch standards indicated as at l3 and I3. The standards, best illustrated in Fig. 6, are identical in construction and each includes a substantially solid body l4 having a portion of its bottom face offset upwardly, as at l5, and having a die plate l6 suitably secured firmly to its bottom face, as by machine screws l1, so as to provide an integral structure.

The die plate l6 consists of a substantially elongated strip of sheet material, such as hardened steel, and it is suitably apertured, as at I8, in its rearwardly extending end portion so as to receive freely therethrough the threaded stem 19 of a square-headed bolt 2|. As shown, the aperture H3 in the die plate [6 is in registering alignment with a lateral T-slot 22 formed in the top face of the base II and the square head of the bolt 2| is located therein in such manner that its head is engaged in the enlarged portion of the T-slot 22 so that when a thumb nut 23, threaded on the upwardly extending threaded stem IQ of said bolt, is tightened downwardly, the die plate and consequently the standard I3 is firmly secured in any position of lateral adjustment upon the base ll. Proper alignment of the punch standard is assured preferably by striking a pair of tongues Ifia downwardly on the lateral edges of the dieplate for sliding engagement in the T-slot 22. Accurate selective adjustment of the standards [3 and 13' along the base II is best effected by the provision of a gauge marking 24 on each die plate which cooperates with scale markings 25 on a scale 26 secured, as by screws 21, to the top face of the base I I as best illustrated in Fig. 2.

The body !4 of each standard has a suitable guide opening, as at 28, to receive for free vertical reciprocation therein a punch 29. The upper end of the punch 29 carries firmly a transverse pin 3! which extends outwardly on each side thereof and is journalled in downwardly turned side walls 32 of a link 33. The link 33 preferably is formed of sheetmaterial, such as sheet steel, and it includes the spaced side walls 32, a connecting front wall 34 and a top wall 35, the latter being formed integral with and bent substantially at right angles to the front wall 34 so as to lie between the side walls 32. The side walls 32 of said link 33 extend rearwardly of the punch 29, as shown, and snugly embrace opposite sides of an ear 36 formed integral with the body I4 of the standard and extended upwardly therefrom. The link 33 is suitably fulcrumed to the ear 36 preferably by means of a pin 37 which is securely anchored in its side walls 32 and extends through an enlarged opening 38 in said ear so as to provide a loose pivotal mounting therefor.

The top wall of the link 33' extends rearwardly a short distance beyond the Vertical plane of the pin 31 so as to overlie the top inclined surface of the ear 39. Accordingly, when the link is in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 with the punch 29 in an elevated position, the rear portion of the top wall 35 bears firmly against the top surface of the car 36 so as to limit upward pivotal movement thereof, which movement is effected by the tendency of a compression spring 39, surrounding the punch 29, to expand.

Movement of the punch 29 downwardly so as to perforate a, sheet or sheets inserted into the gap 49 provided between the die plate 16 and the elevated bottom face I5 of the standard body is effected by manual actuation of a suitable operating element such as a reciprocably rotatable shaft 42 having an operating arm 43 firmly secured on one end thereof. The extent to which a sheet may be inserted into the ga 49, so as to control the location of the perforation with respect to the edge of the sheet may be variably determined by an adjustable stop plate 4| secured as by a screw 41a to the side of the standard body M.

The operating shaft 42 preferably is non-circular in cross-section, as shown, and it is intended to be extended through a similarly shaped opening in each of a pair of wings 44 formed as extensions of the side walls 32 of each of the links 33. It should be evident at this time that upon applying manual pressure downwardly at the free end 45 of the arm 43, the shaft 42 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction sufiiciently to cause downward movement of both links 33 in unison so as to thereby effect a multiple punching operation. The compression springs 39, on each punch, return the operating element to its initial position when pressure is removed from the arm 43. The shaft 42 preferably has one of its faces lying closely against the top surface of the top wall 35 of each of the links so that the pressure exerted upon rotation of said shaft is transmitted to said top wall 35 and most of said force is absorbed thereby, thus relieving the Wings 44 of excessive strain. Inadvertent bending upwardly of the rear end of the top wall 35 of each link resulting from repeated use, is averted by extending a pin 46 through the Wings 44 at a position to dispose the pin in close contact with the outside face of said top wall, as shown.

Perforation of the sheets through operation of the punches in the manner described hereinabove is affected by providing a die-opening 41 in the die-plate IB beneath and in vertical alignment with the punch 29. The waste material passing through the die-opening 41 drops down into the base I I through one of a plurality of waste openings 48 formed in said base and is received in a receptacle 49 best shown in Figs, 4 and 5. The receptacle 49 preferably consists of an elongated trough-like member formed of sheet material and closed at its ends and it is frictionally retained within a lateral channel 59 formed in the bottom face of the base, as shown. It is preferred, however, that one wall of the lateral channel 59 be provided by a removable bar 5! which is secured to the bottom face of the base as by screws 52 and preferably terminates short of the ends of said base so as to leave at least the end portions of one of the side walls of the receptacle 49 exposed for a purpose to be described presently. The bottom surface of the base ll adjacent the wall of the lateral channel 59 is suitably cut away, as at 53, adjacent each end of the receptacle 49 so as to expose end portions of the other wall of the 7 receptacle. Thus means is provided whereby the receptacle may be grasped at either end and withdrawn from the lateral channel "for the purpose of-emptying itof waste.

A primary featureof the present'form-of perforating device resides in the fact that either one or both of the punches shown in the present illustration may be rendered operative or inoperative in a very simple and eificient manner, so as to enable the perforating device to be used for perforating a sheet with fewer holes than there are punches on the base. To accomplish this, the shaft '42 of the operating element may be slid easily laterally relative to the base so as to withdraw it from its engagement with the wings 44 of, for example, the link 33 on standard l3. Thereafter, manipulation of the operating arm 43 Will cause operation of the punch carried in the standard l3 only, the'punc'hin the standard l3 remaining inoperative. It will thus be apparent that the instant form of perforating device is easily adapted for use in performing a plurality of perforations in a sheet or s'heets'at any desired position or in any'spaced relation and that iii-desired, sheets may be perforated with a single perforation only. It s'hould be understood also that more than the two standards illustrated can be arranged on the base H in which event, all or any lesser number may be operativel-y engaged by the operating shaft 42.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. '9 to 12 inclusive, the

multiple perforating device there shown includes the base 'II which is constructed like the one described hereinabove and its various parts are identified by corresponding numerals. In this disclosure, the perforating device is provided with a plurality of like punch standards 54, each "preferably formed of sheet material, such as-sheet steel, suitably bent to provide spaced apart side walls 55 and top and bottom walls 56 and 5! respectively. The bottom wall 51 is secured, as by "rivets 58, "to a spacer plate 59 welded or otherwise firmly attached to the top face of a die-plate 6|. Thetop and bottom walls 56 and 51 are suitably provided with aligned guide openings to re- :ceive and guide a punch '62 having a transverse "pin 63 firmly anchored at its upper end. A tension spring 64, arranged around the punch '62 between the top wall 56 and pin 63, retains the punch normally in the elevated position shown. A link 65 is associated with each punch and said links preferably are formedof sheet material such as sheet steel bent to provide a top wall 56 and depending side walls 61. The link 65 is fitted over the upper end of the punch '62 in such manner that the transverse pin 63 extends through enlarged openings 68 in the side walls thereof so as to provide a loose pivotal connection between the link and the pin.

The rearwardly extending end of the link '65 normally lies between a pair 'of upstanding ears 6-9 formed as extensions of the side walls 55 of the standard 54 and its side walls are provided with irregularly shaped openings H which normally are in registering alignment with circular holes 12 in each of the embracing ears 59. .An operating shaft 33, forming a part of an actuating element is extended normally through the aligned openings ll and holes 12 in all of the standards 54 and associated links 65 and said shaft 73 is formed in cross-section to conform to the shape of .and fit snugly into the holes "H whereby said links are rotated downwardly in unison so as to lower their associated punches 62 upon partial r0- tation -of said shaft when the operating arm l4 thereon is-depressed. The instant constructionis characterized further by the provision "of means whereby the strain of operation, while perforating sheets, is transmitted directly to the related link 65. Accordingly, the top wall 66 of the link is in direct contact with the upper end of the related punch 62 and as a result the-connecting pin 63 is subjected to no strain during a perforating operation.

In the event any one or more'of the punches 62 are to be rendered inoperative so that a number of perforations to be performed in the sheets interposed therebeneath maybe less than the number of punches on the base, the operating shaft 13 is withdrawn laterally until it is disengaged from the link -65 of the punch to be rendered inoperative. The disengaged link is then swung about its fulcrum 63-458 upwardly into a position substantially as illustrated in Fig. 12. The shaft 13 may then be reinserted into the circular holes 12 of the related ears 69 so as to provide an adequate bearing therefor.

The standards 54 are, of course, laterally 'ad- ,justable on the base II in the same manner'as in the device described hereinabove and the die plates 61 are therefore provided with squareheaded bolts 2! and thumb nuts 23 for ooperative binding engagement in the T-slots 22 of said base.

The punch standard and link construction illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 and intended to be mounted upon the base I previously described, is substantially like that shown in Fig. 10 but, in this instance, the standard 15 is formed of a solid piece of material, such as aluminum, and is provided with a pair of lugs or ears [6 each having a circular hole 11 therethrough to receive the operating shaft 13 which also engages firmly in an ir-' regular opening 78 provided in a relatively .solid 'link 19 disposed therebetween. The link 19 extends forwardly of the ear 16, as shown, and is suitably cut out, as .at 8|, to provide depending side walls 82 at its front end only, which receive therebetween the upper end of the punch .62. A transverse pin 63' on said punch extends through enlarged openings 83 in the link side walls 82 so as to provide a loose pivotal connection between the link and punch.

It is preferred that the link 19 also be formed of aluminum or other relatively soft material, consequently a wear plate 84 is secured firmly on the bottom face of the top wall thereof, within the cut out 81, for bearing contact with the top of the punch 62' during a perforating operation of the device.

Upon lateral withdrawal of the operating shaft 13, the link :9 may be swung upwardly about its pivot 63-83 into substantially the dotted line position illustrated so as to render its related punch inoperative when the shaft 13 is again r-otated to actuate the punches remaining connected therewith.

In each of the embodiments disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the base H is provided with a lateral groove 84a, which lies beneath the front margins of the die plates arranged thereon, to "frictionally receive a gauge bar 85 useful in 10- cating a sheet relative to the punches.

Frorn't'he foregoing description, it will be apparout that the present invention facilitates easy adjustment of a plurality of perforating elements on a base and embodies a durable structure wherein one or more of the perforating elements may be disassociated from a common actuating element easily and in a simple and efiicientman- 'ner without the use of tools andby inexperienced the ear on its related standard, said links having projecting Wings with openings, and an operating element including a shaft selectively extended through said projecting wings.

3. A perforating device comprising a base, a T-slot co-extensive with the length of said base, a plurality of plates arranged on said base each having a die opening, a standard of sheet metal bent to provide a top and bottom with guide openings therein and projecting ears mounted firmly on each plate, means on said plates engaged in the T-slot to secure the plates in a selected position of lateral adjustment on the base, punches supported in said guide openings, a link pivotally connected at one end to each punch, and an operating element journalled in said ears and engaged with the links.

4. A perforating device comprising a base, a slot co-extensive With the length of said base, a plurality of plates arranged on said base each having a die opening, a standard of sheet metal bent to provide a top and bottom with guide openings therein and projecting ears mounted firmly on each plate, means carried in said plates and engaged in the slot to secure the plates in any position of lateral adjustment on the base, punches supported in said guide openings, 2. link of sheet metal bent to provide a top and depending side walls pivotally connected at one end to each punch, and an operating element journalled in said ears and engaged with the side' walls of said links.

5. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standards thereon each provided with a guide opening therein and projecting ears, punches supported in the guide openings, a link associated with each standard and pivotally connected to each punch, and an operating element journalled in said ears and removably engaged with selected of said links.

6. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standards thereon each provided with a guide opening therein and projecting ears, punches supported in the guide openings, links one fulcrumed on each punch, and an operating element removably engaged with all of said links and ears.

'7. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standards each provided with a guide opening therein and spaced apertured ears, punches supported in the guide openings, links one pivotally connected at an end to each punch, said links overlappingthe ears on the related standard and having openings registering with the apertures in said ears, and an operating element including a shaft journalled in the apertured ears and engaged in the aligned openings.

8. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standards each provided with a guide opening therein and projecting apertured ears.

. punches supported in the guide openings, links one pivotally' connected at an end to each punch, said links normally lying between'the projecting ears on the related standard and having openings registering with the apertures in said ears, and an operating element including a shaft selectively journalled in the apertured ears for engagement with the aligned link openings.

9. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standards each provided with a guide opening therein and projecting apertured ears, punches supported in the guide openings, links one pivotally connected at an end to each punch, said links having openings to register with the apertures in said ears, and an operating element including a shaft selectively journalled in the apertured ears for engagement with the aligned link openings.

10. A perforating device comprising a base, a guide co-extensive with the length of said base, a plurality of plates arranged on said base each having a die opening, a standard having openings therein and upwardly projecting ears mounted on each'plate, means carried in said plates and engaged with said guide to secure the plates in laterally adjusted positions on the base, punches supported in said openings in the standards, a link fulcrumed on each punch, and an operating element journalled in said ears and engaged with the links.

11. In a perforating device, a base, a channel in the top face of said base, standards slidable on said base each supporting a punch and including die plates having tongues guided in the channel, said base having openings underlying the die plates, a channel in the bottom face of said base and with which said openings communicate having one of its said walls formed by a member attached to said base and a receptacle for waste material frictionally retained in said last named channel.

12. In a perforating device, a base, a channel in the top face of said base, standards slidable on said base each supporting a punch and including die plates having tongues guided in the channel, means on each die plate engaged in the channel to retain the standards in selected positions on said base, said base having openings underlying the die plates, a channel in the bottom face of said base and with which said openings communicate having one of its said walls formed by a member attached to said base and a receptacle for waste material frictionally retained in said last named channel.

13. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of standards thereon each provided with a guide opening therein, punches supported in the guide openings, links non-detachably conected none to each punch, and an operating element removably engaged with a selected one or more of said links.

14. A perforating device comprising a base, a standard thereon provided with a guide opening,

' a punch supported in the guide opening, a link standard mounted on said base having at least one apertured ear, a punch supported in each standard, a link having a Wall rested against a top end of said punch, said link having a loose inseparable connection with the punch, and an operating element joumalled in said apertured ear and selectively engaged with the link operable so as to move the link to actuate the punch.

17. In a perforating device including a standard having a reciprocable punch guided therein, an operating element, a link to selectivel connect said operating element with said punch, said link being directly engageable with the punch so as to effect a punching operation thereby when actuated upon operation of the operating element, and means connecting said link and said punch to prevent relative displacement.

18. A perforating device comprising a base, a standard provided with a guide opening therein and an aperture, a punch supported in the guide opening, a link non-detachably connected at an end to the top end of the punch, said link having an opening adjacent its other end to align with the aperture, and an operating element including a shaft pivotally connecting said link to said standard and actuable to move the link relative thereto.

19. A perforating device comprising a base, a standard provided with a guide opening therein and an aperture, a punch supported in the guide opening, a link non-detachably connected at an end to the top end of the punch, said link having its other end disposed in overlapping relation to said aperture, and an operating'element including a shaft pivotally connecting said standard to said link, said shaft being journalled for free rotation in said aperture and having an operative connection with the link so that said link is moved through an are when said shaft is rotatably actuated.

20. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of one-piece standards each including a body and a die plate mounted on said base for lateral adjustment thereon, a punch mounted in each body, an operating element, and links fulcrumed on each punch for selective engagement by the operating element'so as to efiect operation of selected punches.

21. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of one-piece standards thereon each including a body and a die plate, each body having a guide opening therein, punches supported in the guide openings, links one pivotall connected to each punch, and an operating element removably engaged with selected of said links.

22. A perforating device comprising a base, a plurality of one-piece standards, each including a body and a die plate, each body having a guide opening therein, punches supported in the guide openings, links one pivotally connected at an end to each punch, and an operating element including a shaft selectively engageable with said links to actuate selected punches.

EMIL KERN.

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