US2461327A - String closure affixing machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 8, 1949. s. KILINSKI 2,461,327

' STRING CLOSURE AFFIXING} MACHINE Filed 001:. 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Feb. 8, 1949. s, K $K I 2,461,327

STRING CLOSURE AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 17 W (P mmwuwm A )ORNEYS Feb. 8, 1949. s. KlLlNSKl 2,461,327

' STRING CLOSURE AFFIXING MACHINE I Filed Oct 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR AX'ITORNEYS Feb. 8,

s. KlLlNSKl 2,461,327

STRING CLOSURE AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 12, 1944 5 Sheets-s 4 aauumumgmlm ENTo STRING CLOSURE AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 8, 1949 PATENT OFFICE ST-RING CLOSURE AFFIXING MACHIN E Stanley Kilinslri, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Baltimore Paper Company, Kansas City, Mo., a

corporation of Missouri Application Octcber r2, 1

.10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for attaching button and string iastenings to wrappers and similar articles.

In machines for attaching button and string fastenings, a paper or fiber button is spaced from the wrapper or other sheet material to which it is to be attached by a washer; and the button and washer are secured in place by means of an eyelet or grommet which is used also to anchor one end of a string. On articles having double button and string fastenings, the string wraps around the second button on another part of the'articl-e and is usually wrapped back and forth between the two buttons. On single button iastenings, the string passes around the package and the free end is wrapped around the button after being pulled tight around the package.

It an object of this invention to provide an improved machine of the character described, more particularly to provide a machine that will-connect diiferent lengths of string to the .button. The string is supplied from :aspool 'or'o'ther source by a threader that moves the end of the string into position to be gripped under the button when the eyelet or grommet is secured in place. The threader then moves away and m asures out'a predetermined length, of string which is automatically cut off and the operation repeated for the next button fastening.

In machines of the prior art the string was always out to the same length by shears which were located in a fixed position on the machine. One feature of th s invention relates to a construction by which the shears for cutting the string. are always at the same location on the machine, but

length of string between the eyelet connectechanism and the shears .can be quickly and conveniently changed over a wide range. On packages such as are used for wrapping remnants in department stores, the length of string desired may be relatively short, but on moving picture reels that have a paper strip wound around and outside 05, protection, a very long string is neces- This machine can be used for different of wrapping having various lengths ofistring nout changing any of the mechanism'other g1 that determine the course he after .it leaves the threader.

Another object of the invention is to provide cl of the character indicated with a F1136 der that moves along a curved path. Such a for the threads makes it possible to conveni ntly control the length of string that is pulled out from the threader by locating abutmerits inside of the curve along which the end of 944, Serial No. 558,443

the threader travels. The tendency of the' string is to move inward and form a chord across, the are along which the end of the threader travels. Abutment means located just inside this arc or curved path can be used to break up the course of the string into any number of short chords the total combined lengths of which-approximate the length of the curved path along which the thread-' or moves.

Another feature of the invention relates tosimple cam-operated mechanism .for causing a threader to move along a straightlline or an am having a very long radius of curvature during the latter part of the travel of the threader. This permits the threader to move the string into position for cooperation with the eyelet or grommet setting mechanism along a substantially (straight path even though the course of the threader as it measuresout the string is along a path of comparatively short radius of curvature.

ther objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out :as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all 'the'views;

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa machine made in accordance with this invention for attaching button and string iasteni-n'gs with strings of different length.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the mechanism for attaching the button and string to a wrapper, envelope, or other article by means of an eyelet or grommet.

Figure .3 is an elevation of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 2,?but in a 'difierent position. r

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with a gear shown iii-section and with-the string engaging member in a different position. 7

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the gear and cam mechanism of Figures 3 and 4 when viewed from the right.

Figure 6 is aeperspective view of the back of the machine shown in Figure Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown a in Figure 6 but viewed from a diiTerenta-ngle.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the cam mechanism for controlling the final part of the movement of the threader.

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a p rtion. ofithe structure shown in Figure '6.

The machine shown inFigure 1 includes various roll mechanisms .20 for feeding strips from which buttons and washers are punched automatically in a position to cooperate with eyelet or grommet attaching mechanism designated generally by the reference character 2!. The eyelets are fed from a container 22 having feed mechanism connected with a drive shaft of the machine by a belt 23.

Power for operating the machine is supplied to a drive shaft 24 through a pul1ey25. A crankarm 26 is connected to one end of a shaft 21 which is driven from the pulley 25 through bevel gears 28, one of which is keyed to the drive shaft 24. The crank-arm 26 is connected by a link 30 to a block 3! fastened to a die 32 which slides in bearings 33.

The construction of the apparatus for punching the buttons from strips of paper or other sheet material, and for feeding these strips, will not be described since it is not necessary for a complete understandin of this invention. Such apparatus is illustrated in Trenchard Patent No. 1,522,760, issued January 13, 1925. This invention is an improvement on the machine illustrated in the Trenchard patent, and in the earlier Trenchard Patent No. 1,258,829, issued. March 12, 1918.

The portion of these earlier machines that is important in connection with the present invention is illustrated in detail in Figures 2 to 5. A die 34 cooperates with the die 32 and is operated from the main drive shaft 24 through mechanism similar to the parts 26-33 of Figure 1. These mechanisms cause the dies 34 and 32 to be brought together once for each revolution Of the main shaft 24. Further means are provided for automatically'feeding an eyelet 36 to the machine and positioning the eyelet upon a slidable pin 3'! which is loosely mounted in a centrally bored hole in the die 32. The pin 31 is held, when uncontrolled," in the extended position shown in Figure 2, by a spring 38. For the purpose of this application. the eyelet feeding and button and washer forming means may be disregarded and attention confined to the means for adding the string to the complete combination of button, washer and wrapper, or other sheet material to which the button and string fastening is to be applied.

The attachment of the string to the wrapper or other sheet material, may be effected by looping the string around the pin 31 before the dies have been brought together to upset the eyelet.

It will readily be observed how this is effected when the reinforcing washer 39 is placed upon the die 34, as shown in Figure 2, and the eyelet 36 and fastening washer 40 are placed upon the pin 31 of the die' 32 before the' dies are caused to approach each other. If the wrapper or other sheet member be then inserted between the dies, and the dies be caused to come together, then the string 42 which has been previously wound upon the pin 31 is caught between the sheet material and the reinforcing washer 46 and firmly held there by the flanges of the eyelet 36. g V

The means for wrapping the strin 42 around the pin 31 comprise a hollow gear 46 mounted in a suitable housing and rotated concentrically about the pin 31. The opening through the gear 46 is of sufiicient size to permit the die 32 to pass therethrough. This gear is rotated from a jack shaft 35 by a gear 41 which drives the hollow gear 46 through an idler, not illustrated, and the gears are preferably of such size that the hollow gear 46 rotates at a greater angular speed than the jack shaft 35. The gear 46, with its associated parts, will hereinafter be termed the looper, and the looper preferably makes four revolutions to one revolution of the jack shaft 35. Power is supplied to the jack shaft 35 by a chain drive 48 from the main drive shaft 25 (Figure 6) at a one-to-one speed ratio.

Referring again to Figures 2-5, means are provided on the gear 46 for grasping the end of the string 42. This string-grasping means comprises a substantially U-shaped member 49 which is urged against the recessed face of the gear 66 by springs 50 (Figure 4), but which is adapted to be extended from the face of the gear in the proper moment when it is to grasp the end of the string 42.

The parallel sides of this Ushaped member 46 extends through the gear 46 and are fixed to a ring 5! that has a cam face 52 on its side away from the gear 46. The ring 5! is held away from the gear 46 by the springs 56 and its movement is limited by the U-shaped member 49 which can be moved no further by the springs after it enters the recess in the face of gear 46, as shown in Figure 4. When the end of the string is placed between the U-shaped member 49 and the left hand face of the gear 46. and the member 49 has moved in against the face of the gear, the string is firmly gripped.

Means are provided to control the movement of the U-shaped member 49 into and out of contact with the side of the gear 46 for the purpose of threading the string 49 into position to be gripped by member 49. This means comprises an abutment 54 that is connected with the end of a lever 55. The lever 55 contacts with a cam 55 on the jack shaft 35. This cam 56 causes the abutment 54 to move into the path of the cam face 52 of the ring 5! once for every revolution of the jack shaft 35. This means that the abutment 54 moves into the path of the cam face 52 once in every four revolutions of the looper. The abutment 54 causes the cam face 52 to displace the ring 5| toward the left in Figures 2 to 4, and to move the U-shaped member 56 into the position shown in Figure 2 so that a device com-- prising a threader 59 can insert the end of the string 42 into the space between the member 46 and the left hand face of the hollow gear 46.

After the end of the string 42 has been gripped by the looper, the threader 59 moves away from the looper mechanism and thread is drawn out through a guide 66 from a spool of string 62, shown in Figure 6.

The threader has a head to which the leader line of reference character 56 leads in the various figures of the drawing, and has a radially extending portion or support comprising an arm 64 with a hub 65 secured to an oscillating shaft 66. The head 56 is located on one side of the arm 64 and is thus offset from the arm 64 in a direction parallel to the axis of shaft 66. The oscillating shaft 66 is rocked back and forth by a pinion 68 (Figure 7) that meshes with a rack 70 which slides in a bearing blocl: H (Figure 6) mounted on a bracket '12 which is free to oscillate on the shaft 56.

The rack bar H! is connected at its upper end to a crank pin I4 secured to a crank T5 but adjustable lengthwise along a slot in the crank "i5 for regulating the length of the stroke of the rack bar 16. The crank 15 is rigidly secured to one end of the main drive shaft 24 which is driven by the, pulley 25. It will be evident that this mechanism causes the threader arm 54 to rotate through an angle and back again to its starting position during each revolution of the drive shaft 24.

that is'held by the loeper is indicated by the'reh erence character 49; The: threader head 59" from which the-string- 4'2 extends is positioned beyond the: cutter means or" shears 98 that sever: the

string.

As: the thr'eader arm: 64 moves the threader head" 59A along a circular course aboutthe axis" of th-e' shaft iifi asa c'entergthe string fl'will tend to--move-inwarci and form ach'ord'of the arcuate th'reader path unless the string strikes-againstobst'ru'ctions that prevent it from moving inward.- If-enough such obstructions or abutments are provided" just insidethe path of moverrientof" the threader head- 59: the-- course of the string will comprise a series or short chords-thatwill approximate the circular path of the threade'r headin'total-length.

A plate 82;.which is preferably circular; is rig 1 idly-fastened to the'frame of'themachine; and

there are radialarms 8 attached to the plate 82"b'y bolts-'85; These-boltsthread into openings inth e plate 82. The arms 86 are preferably slotted so that they can be adjusted lengthwise. If arlonger-adj'ustmentis required than can be obtained fromthe slot, the bolts 85 canbe inserted in holes tfi n'earer the center of the plate 82.

At the outer ends of-the arms 84- there are abutments comprising pins 81 that extend out from the arms- 8 far' enough to contact the string -42 when it moves inward fr'om the circular pathtraversed by the head 59 f the threader. When it is desired to have along length ofstring;

a large number of arms 34 are used and they are ad-ju'sted to extend far enough out-from the plate 82 so that the abutments or pins 8'! are-"on the insideof the curved path followed by the thread er head-59 and as-clo'se 'as possible to the path with'outactually obstructing the movement'ofjthe tnreaderhead. This condition is shown-in'Fig ure' :6"which illustratesithe machine-adjusted to:

measure outthe longest length of strint, possible. The way in which the'iength of string is increased' by use" of more of the arms 85 is brought: out gra hically Figure 9 wherethe:

greater string-1 length obtainedby using. three more: armsfllt isindicated in dotted-line's.

When a shorter length oi-stringds wanted; the armsffii are movedinward to decrease their radial extent; or? if still i shorter 'length of" string is wanted; some or most of the 'arm'sB i are-removed fromsthermacninen Figure 9 shows the lengthof string that will be obtained with only 'two 'of'the" armsfi lattached'to the plate 82; In the particularmach'ine illustrated, the shortbotton'i arm' 8d isalways' used in order to prevent the initialrunof string'from the looper inember ifi from strik'-- in'g "against other parts of the: mechanism under the machine; At'least oneother arm '84 near'thecutter or shear mechanism 95 is desirable in order to have: the final run of 'stringenter the shear mechanism Qil at the proper angle. Wit-h just twoarms 8 in' thelocation shown in Fiure 'l, theimach-ine i's adjusted-to cut one'of the snortestlengths of string; The specific structure illustratedi'inxthe drawing-man be adjusted to cut string of anyz'len'gthiiromt30 to 54 inches in length; but it will beev-ident that otherreinbodiment's ofthe'invention can be eonstructedto pro videistringarlengthsswithirr different :rangess The shears 96 that cut the string are" best" Snowman: Figure-'7' Tl'i'eyinclude a lower blade" 92 that islrigidly secured to'a head 93. This head is ias't'ene'd to'an arm 9'4 by'screws 95ithat extcnd through a} slot so as to permit adjustment of the lengthofithe shears. The arm Q' i ha's' a clamp" 96 at itslower end and is fastened to a square'bar 'i 'l by this clamp" 96.

The -bar" 9 E cylindrical end' portions in beari-n'gs fii tthat are connected to the stationary frame of'the machine. The'bar 9? is rocked in these bearings by a crank iii?! fastened to the uppers-end of the'b'a'r 9?; This crank I has'a pinliilconnected'by' a link I02 with a lever I03 that rocks about a fulcrum I05 supported from the main frame. A spring I06 at the rearward end of the lever I03 is anchored to the main" frame by a stud I01 and holds a roller I98 at the forward end of the lever I53 in contact with a camIOBin the shaft 2 3.

The shears 86 include also a movable blade III that rocks. on a pivot H2. The blade III is held-' in an open: position, as shown in Figure-'7, by spring H32 There is an integral extension IIlthat projects downward from the movable I I I- into a position adjacent an abutment I'Iti' Brackets I'll-secure the abutment M5 to the frame of the: machine.

Each revolution of the'cam I89 rocks the square bar ."Q'WandmoVes the shears -99 toward the right infFi'gure'YL This movement causes the extension iM tostrike the abutment Ilt and move the upper-blade III; downward to close the shears 99- clip the string 42" at a point that leaves [3 just therigh't amount of string extending from the threader for cooperation with the looper at the end of the return movement of the threader.

Figuresfi and-9 show the threader construction. The head 59 is connected to the arm 64 by a pivot H9. The rearward end of the head 5'? is connected by a link I 2! to one end of a rocker arm I22 that oscillates about a pivot !23carried by the'arm 64 near its hub. A. cam follower comprising a roller I25 on one end of the-rocker arm I22 rides up on a fixed cam I26 as the threader approaches the looper mechanism:- The cam I26 is connected with the 'mai frame of the machine.

As the roller I25 moves up on the cam I26, thearm I22 isrocked clockwise in Figure 8, and this-motion is transmitted through the link I2I tothe threader head 59. The rocking movement of the head 59 as its pivot IIG swings in an arc causes --the' upper end of the head 55, from which the string extends, to move along a straight line; or'curve having a long radius of curvature, depending upon the shape of the cam I28; A spring I28 tensioned between the end of the arm 64 and the rearward portion of thehead 59' moves the rocker arm I22 and head 59 back into' their'original position as the arm64 swings away from the looper mechanism and the-cam follower I25 1eaves the cam I26.

This cam actuated movement of the head 59 makes it possible to have the end of the string enter th'elooper along a straight or substantially straight line without requiring that the arm 54 be of great length. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the arm IE6 is short enough tO-swingunder a machine that has a low frame; the typeof machine with which the operator is seated while at work. 7

The course'of the string is shown in Figures 6' and-8f; From the-spool 52 the string izvpasses' up behind the plate -82 and comes through" an opening I39 in the center of the plate. The string then passes through a tubular guide |3l (Figure 8) that extends through the threader arm 6d. The tubular guide l3! extends out far enough to permit the string 42 to pass in front of the rocker arm l22. A short distance beyond the tubular guide l3l, the string enters another tubular guide I32 which extends substantially the entire length of the threader arm 64. At the outer end of the threader arm the string 42 passes fromthe guide I32 to the threader head 59 in which it is gripped between the side of the threader head 59 and a spring I34. This spring and the side of the threader head comprise the uide 60.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, but various changes and modifications can be made, and some features of the invention can be used without others Without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for attaching a string to a sheet article, looper apparatus for holding an end of the string, fastening means for securing the end of the string to the article at a predetermined location, a threader that moves toward the looper to deliver the end of the string and then away from the looper to draw out a length of string,

said threader comprising a radially-extending 5:

portion and a head that moves along a curved path and that is ofiset from the radially-extending portion in a direction at an angle to the plane of said curved path, string-abutment means on the inside of the curved path of the threader head and in position to contact the string as said string moves inward as a chord of the curved path, and a shear for cutting the string.

2. Apparatus including in combination fastening means for connecting an end of a string with n a sheet article, a threader including a support and a head that is oiiset from the support and that moves along a curved path to deliver an end of string to the fastening means and then away from said fastening means along the curved Path to draw out a length of string, an abutment on the inside of the curved path that prevents the string from maintaining a straight run from the fastening means to the threader head as the threader head moves away from the fastening means, and a support on which the abutment is adjustable toward and from the path followed by the threader head.

3. The combination with a machine that attaches an eyelet to a sheet article and secures the end of a piece of string to the article by said eyelet, of a threader that delivers the end of string to the region of the eyelet for the connecting operation, and supporting means on which the threader travels about an axis and along a curved path to draw out a length of string after the end is secured to the article by said eyelet, said threader including a radiallyextending portion and a head oifset from the radially-extending portion in a direction parallel to the axis of the curved path-along which the threader travels.

4. Apparatus comprising fastening means for connecting an end of string to an article, a threader having an ofiset head that moves along a curved path to deliver an endof string to the fastening means and then moves away from said fastening means along the curved path to draw out a length of string, an abutment on the inside or the curved path along which the threader headtravels, an arm by which the abutment is supported, and adjustable means for holding the arm in different positions to locate the abutment in position to be struck by the string when the string has shifted into different chord positions as the threader head travels along its curved path away from the fastening means.

5. The combination with apparatus for attaching an end of string to an article and then cutting the string at a distance from said article,

of means for measuring out a predetermined and adjustable length of string that the apparatus will cut oif for each article, said means comprising a support that moves an offset threader head of the apparatus along a curved path away from the region where the end of the string is attached to the article, a plurality of arms, pins extending from the arms and across the plane of the curved path that is followed by the threader head and into position to be struck by the string so that the course of the string is held to a broken line comprising a number of chords as the threader head travels along its curved path, supporting means for the arms, and devices for adjusting the arms to change the distance of the pins from the path of the threader head and thus control the length of string included in the total number of said chords.

6. A string-attaching machine including apparatus at a fixed station for fastening the end of a string to an article, a threader that delivers the end of the string to the fastening apparatus and then moves away from the fastening apparatus and back to a fixed location, an abutment about which the string passes and into contact with which the string is drawn by the threader, and adjustable means for changing the position of said abutment and thereby altering the length of string between the fastening apparatus and the threader when the threader is in its retracted location.

'7. The combination with apparatus at a fixed station for attaching string to an article, of a threader that carries an end of string into position to be operated upon by said apparatus and then moves away from the attaching apparatus to draw out a length of string, cutting means at a fixed'location from the attaching means for cutting off the length of string attached to the article, and measuring means for determining the length of string between the article and the cutting means at the time the string is out, said measuring means including an arm, an abutment on the arm for contact with the string, and a connection from which said abutment is supported, the connection being adjustable to change the position of the abutment and the resulting length of the string.

8. A machine for connecting predetermined lengths of string to articles, said machine including attaching apparatus that connects a free end of a string to the article while the string is connected to a ball or other source of supply, cutter means for severing the string from the supply source, a threader supported for movement between the attaching apparatus and the cutter means for moving the string to the cutter means, abutment means for determining the length of string between the cutter means and the article at the time the string is severed and means for adjusting said abutment means to change said length of string.

9. A machine for attaching string to articles, said machine including fastening apparatus that securesthe string to thearticle, a threader head.

for successively supplying an end of a string to said fastening apparatus, an arm on which the threader head is carried, a shaft by which the arm is supported, operating mechanism for oscillating the arm about the axis of the shaft to shift the threader head along a curved path toward and from the fastening apparatus, a cutter for severing the string near the threader head when the threader head is away from the fastening apparatus, and cam means for moving the threader head with respect to the arm to carry the threader head into an operative relation with the fastening apparatus at one end of each oscillation of the arm.

10. The combination of fastening apparatus for securing an end of a string to a paper or other sheet article, a looper for holding the string while it is acted upon by the fastening apparatus, a threader for delivering the end of the string to the looper and then pulling out a length of string on the return movement, a pivot about which the threader has a limited rocking movement, a shaft, a crank arm angularly movable about the shaft and carrying said pivot near its outer end, operating mechanism for moving the arm angularly about the axis of the shaft as a center, a cam and a cam follower, one of which is relatively fixed and the other of which is car REFERENCES CITED The following references file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS are of record in the Number Name Date 519,075 Spencer May 1, 1894 383,223 McGrath Mar. 31, 1906 1,001,445 Richardson Aug. 21, 1911 1,370,551 Novick Mar. 28, 1921 2,075,672 Stark Mar. 30, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,978 Great Britain 1913

Images