US2599547A - Machine for packaging wire forms - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1952 w. F. FEYRER 2,599,547

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS Filed July 18, 1945 1'6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi-G. 4

FIG; I

INVENTOR Mum/v ff? m5? AT'TQRN E Jun 10, 1952 w. F. FEYRER 2,599,547

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS Filed July 18, 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 23/ 2242 I 227 I ATTORN Y FIG. 5

June 1952 w. F. FEYRER 2,599,547

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS Filed July 18, 1945 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 10, 1952 w. F. FEYRER 9,547

MACHINE F QR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS Filed July 18, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY June 10, 1952 w. F. FEYRER 7 MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS Filed July 18, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 10, 1952 w. F. FEYRER MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS l5 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 18, 1945 w GE INVENTOR MuMM/T/fvfim? ATTOR? EY June 10, 1952 w. F. FEYRER MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 18, 1945 FIG. l9

ATTORN Y FIG. 20

June 10, 1952 w. FEYRER ,599,547

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS FIG. 22

W. F. FEYRER MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS June 10, 1952 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed July 1a, 1945 mm OE INVENTOR 4 Mil/4M f/Z YfiF/i ATTO R N June 10, 1952 w. F. FEYRER MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed July 18, 1945 PM OK IQ @Hl IIIIIII INVENTOR Mu MM iffy/r0? ATTb RN E June 10, 1952 w. F. FEYRER 2,599,547

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS Filed July 18, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet l1 F IG:'. 2 9

INVENTO M14 mmf/i mffi LG ATTOR Y June 10, 1952 r w, FEYRER 2,599,547

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS I Filed July 18, 1945 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 FIG. 35

' FIG. 3!

INVENTOR Mu MM fifty/mt ATTOR EY June 10, 1952 I w. F. FEYRER 2,599,547

MACHINE FOR PACKAGING WIRE FORMS Filed July 18, 1945 l5 Sheets-Sheet 13 FIG. 3 7

INVENTOR 259 275 M: A A4 iff /rm FIG. 38 ATTOR EY Patented June 10, 1952 William F. Feyrer, Englewood, N. J assigncr to Nathan L. Solomon, Englewood, N. J

Application. July 1.8, 1945,, Serial No. 605,680,

21 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for shaping,processing and packaging wire-forms. More particularly, the invention deals with machines of; this type and kind wherein wire-forms are grouped and counted at a packaging station, and a packaging element, such for'example as, a card, is" delivered to the station for arrangement of the wire-forms thereon in. predetermined arrangement, and then the packaged or mounted forms discharged from the machine. Still more particularly, the invention deals with machines of the class described, wherein a single source of power is. employed for actuating the several. mechanisms of the machine. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together withv the accompanying drawings. in. which certain embodiments of the invention-are; disclosed, and in which the separate parts: are designated by suitable reference characters in eachof the views, and in which:

Fig 1 is a plan view diagrammatically illustrating the complete machine assemblage.

Fig. 2 is a side view diagrammatically illustrating themachine, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa wiring diagram of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view diagrammatically showing the stripper mechanism and drive arrangement, the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the outlet side of the loading mechanism taken on the lines 5-5 of Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 29, showing diagrammatically, the product holder platenin three different positions in full lines, with the lever for actuating the same shown in part in dot and dash lines in two positions, and in full lines in the third position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the main slide and platen of Fig. 5, showing the platen in the top lifted and holder position, with part of the construction broken away andin section, the

view being taken from the opposite side or" the showing in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an end and sectional view of the main slide and platen assembly, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, as viewed in the direction of the arrows 1-? of Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional detail, a main slide detent taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the hopper of the machine, with parts of the construction broken. away and in section.

Fig. 10 isa side and sectional view of thehopper shown inFig. 9, with parts of the construetion broken away and. in section, and illustrating the removal; of the lowermost product or card of thestack from the hopper.

Fig. 111 is a fragmentary end view of thel op per as viewed in the direction ofthe arrow ll|| of Fig. 10, part of the construction being shown insection.

Fig. 12 is an end view of the hopper and platen, as viewed in the direction of the arrow 92-42 ofgFig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of the holder as shown in Fig. 15, with part of the construction broken away and'in section.

. Fig. 1% isaside, view of that part of the machine shown in Fig. 15, with part of the construction broken away. i

Fig. 15 is anend view of the structure shown in Fig. 14, part in section, the section being on the line l5l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a partial section on the line 15-46 of Fig 18, showing the operation of loading or mounting the products.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 16,; showing the parts in a differentposition.

Fig. 18 is an end and sectional View substantially on the line 16-48 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 19 is atop plan view of the counting and staggering mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view of the part of the mechanism shown in Fig/19 on the line it. ofsaidfigure.

Fig. 21is aside view of thccounting and stag} gering mechanism shown in, Fig, 19.

Fig. 22 is an. end viewoi the counting. and staggering mechanism shown in, Figs. 1 9,and. 21.

Fig. 23 is an, elevation, and sectional detail view, on an, enlarged, scale, showing theudriving connection between the main drive and; the packaging mechanism, and disclosing theset stop clutch employed.

Fig. 24 is a partial section on the line M s-2.4

'Of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 25-25 of'Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is an end view of a band, guiding and cam setting mechanism with part of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 27 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 26, the view being taken on the line 21-4! of Fig. 26, with parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 26, showing only a part of the construction and with parts in a different position.

Fig. 29 is a plan view of the product counting and staggering mechanism, the product loading and dispersing mechanism, the hopper, product ejecting mechanism, and. other associated parts of the machine.

Fig. 30 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modified form of counting, grouping and staggering mechanism.

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary end view of the counting mechanism shown in Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is a side view of the counting mechanism shown in Fig. 31.

Fig. 33 is an end view of the modified grouping mechanism shown in Fig. 30.

Fig. 34 is a side view of the grouping mecha= nism shown in Fig. 33.

Fig. 35 is a fragmentary end view of the modified staggering mechanism shown in Fig. 30.

. Fig. 36 is a plan view substantially of the framework of the grouping and mounting mechanism of the machine, omitting most of the works in order to clearly illustrate the frame.

Fig. 37 is a side view of the structure as seen in Fig. 36, with parts of the construction broken away and in section; and

Fig. 38 is an end view of a part of the structure shown in Fig. 36, looking at the right-hand end of the frame.

My present invention deals with a machine which first forms and then processes wire-forms, such for example as bobby-pins, these steps of forming and'processing being disclosed in the application of Jean R. Taplinger, Ser. No. 540,732, filed June 16, 1944, now Patent No. 2,589,518, issued March 18, 1952, and further to the counting, grouping and staggering of the products or wire-forms preparatory to packaging these forms or to mounting the staggered groups upon a mounting card in staggered relationship to each other, and finally to automatically eject the packaged or carded products from the machine.

In view of the fact that the forming and processing mechanism of the machine, from a specific standpoint is the subject of a separate application, this part of the machine is only diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, except insofar as showing the modification of employing a single drive for all of the mechanisms of themachine. Further means is provided to pass wire-forms or other products freely through what I will term the packaging and dispensing unit of the machine for discharge from the band or conveyor substantially in accordance with the teachings in the application herein identified.

Briefly stated, it may be said that the machine first produces a series of shaped and processed products arranged and spaced on a conveyor band, then to count and segregate predetermined quantities of said product on the band to form groups of said products, then in counting and segregating the groups, and further in staggering said groups one with respect to the other, then in packaging or carding the staggered groups, and finally in ejecting the package or card from the machine.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, represents an endless band or conveyor, which passes around spaced pulleys 5| and 52 arranged in the spaced relation shown, and driven from one power source or drive, for example, an electric motor, as at 53, through an elongated drive shaft 54 suitably supported and having bevelled gear drives to the pulley shafts, as at 55 and 56.

At 51 is shown the machine for producing wire forms, such for example, as bobby-pins, in accordance with the teachings in the application hereinbefore cited. The band he passes through the machine 51, as taught in said application, through a tempering oven 58, guide discs 59, under the nozzle 66 of a coating mechanism to coat the products or wire-forms, then under the nozzles 6! of a blower mechanism to remove surplus coatings, then through a baking oven 62, and then through the packaging apparatus or unit 63. This last unit is illustrated in detail throughout the accompanying drawings, and is diagrammatically shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. .After passing through the unit 63, the band passes through a stripper mechanism 54 for the purpose of stripping or removing the wireforms from the band when such forms are permitted to pass freely through the unit 63. The stripper mechanism is of the type disclosed in the application hereinbefore referred to, and is driven from the drive shaft 53 through a takeoff on the shaft of the pulley 52, as generally indicated by the reference character in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The stripper mechanism simply comprisestwo spring pressed rollers designated by the reference character 66 in Fig. 4 of the drawing driven through belt and pulley mechanisms, as shown in Fig. 4, to engage and strip the wire-forms from the band, should such wire forms prevail thereon.

The motor 53 is located adjacent the forming machine 51, and has a take-oif chain and sprocket construction 61 onto a shaft 68, geared to the shaft 54 through the intermeshing bevel gears at 69. lso geared to the shaft 58 as at 10, is a supplemental elongated drive shaft 7!, for driving the shaft '72 of the packaging unit 63 through the intermeshing gears 13 and 14.

The sprayer and blower mechanisms are driven from the shaft 54 by gears through a speed-up gear box 15 and other associated drives, as indi cated diagrammatically in Fig. 1. From the foregoing, it will appear that the entire machine operates from the single source of power drive, and the forming machine 51 may be operated through a sliding dog-tooth clutch as at 11.

Before proceeding to describe the packaging and dispensing unit, it would be well to refer to the diagrammatic showingof the electrical wiring diagram in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In said figure, the source of supply is controlled by a switch 13, and i9 represents the resistance of .the oven 58; the resistance of the baking oven 62; 8! a resistance for softening the coating material on the band prior to scraping the material therefrom by scrapers diagrammatically illustrated at 82 in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

In the diagram, the electric motor 53 is in circuit with the source of supply through the wires 53, and controlled by a switch 53". The illustrations in full lines in Fig. 3 is an electrical diagram for the unit machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be apparent, however, that in some instances, it will be desirable to provide independent drives for the sprayer and blower mechanisms, as well as the band, feed and stripper mechanism, and in such instances, separate motors, as indicated in dotted lines at 53a and 53b will be employed, and in circuit with the source of electric supply, more or less in accordance with the teachings in the application hereinbefore referred to, where separate motors are employed to actuate different mechanisms 'dflftlieemachmez It iwillsiurthersbeiapparenttthat aseparatetdrivex may also be provided. fon'the 'paekaging mechanism; However; it is desirable that Ia definite synohronism of operation. be. provided between the forming mechanism? and packaging mecha-nism.

(.o lmfz'ngv "dispersing and. packaging. unit This unit.-may-=' be more generally classified as a packaging or carding unit. This-unit? comprises armairrframe 83, note-Figs. 3'6 and 37, the frame being more -or less box shaped' in form, and" in this frame is suitably supported the shaft 12 'havihgits-* drive gear T4 meshing'with the pinion or: gear 1:3"011 theshaft 'I'IL rotate--ons'the shaft I2, and is engaged with the shaft' through a? clutch 84 which is shown in-fdetailin Figs. 23' to'25 inclusive; This clutch comprises a longitudinally sliding disc 85'and"a pin 56 thereon, adapted to mesh with a pin 81 embedded in thehub of the gear'lt; When said pair of pins are adjacent each other, asshown in Fig. 23,.rotationofthegear M bytlie-gear It efiect positive rotation of" the drive shaft 12.

However; wlien said pins are disengagedrelative to-e'achother, as shown in Fig. 25, thelarge gear can no longer efiect said rotation of the drive shaft. A plurality of springste normally urges the slide disc 85 towa-rd the large gear I l, as may be appreciated, viewingFig. 23", saidsprings being partially supported in suitable sockets in the disc 85 andin a hand wheelie, securedto the main shaft; Connection and disconnection of the clutch is effected by a; plunger 9| being s'hifted into: the lowered: position shown in Figs. 23 and 24 by ahand operated lever' 92- pivoted' to the frame 83 as' seen" at 93,, note Fig; 36, said lever having a rounded end entering a slot 95 in said plunger. Supported in connection with the frameis' a spri'ngdetent '95, note Fig. 23, adapted to enter the groove 9-! ofthe plunger'sl, in order to maintain the latter in the lowered position shown in" Figs. 23.211101 24, and. adapted to enter the. groove 93' of the plunger to maintain. the 5 'Iatterin a rai'sedposition shown in Fig; 25. When this" plunger is in th loweredposition of. Figs. and 24, springs 89 force the sliding disc 85 toward the front of the carding machine and thereby'movethe pin B6 fully into the pathoi the pin 81 on the large gear T4,. to effect rotation of the main shaft I2.

It will be apparent, that when the plunger is in the raised position, it is brought into alinement with thecanr surface 59" of the disc 85, thus causing thedisc to? move to the left against the actionof the-springs- 89, preventing clutchingengagement through the pins 35 and 8'!" and allowing the gear 14. torotate freely Onzthe shaft.

The actuation of. the lever 92: will. be later deiscribed:

Counting M eclianism A counting mechanism Hill; note Fig. 1, and bestseen in Figs. '19 through 22 inclusive, and 29-, includes a cam IIII suitably secured? to the main shaft 12, adapted to vertically reciprocate a counter-slide 1-0-2 in a suitable channel I833 of The gear "It is free haszatlchanrrels. Ii 0?, .thezbottomzof whic'his slightly beyond the outer face?- I [All of the;head..I'Il6;1where1- by? the: counter-finger I12: may be lookedzinrthe channel, :as by" the screw" H3, and yet. permit longitudinal movement of saiddover-tailedtslide and finger" I I2: without? interference: by the: head. I063 The stop' finger is provided: withyan elongatedslot M4? to permit. initial. vertical settin thereof, note Fig.-.2l.

.Aisuitable hardened finger H5 is secured-zine suitable socket. "I I'Ii at. the lower. end; of. the counters-slide. Hi2; audit is adaptedto engage with the. periphery of the cam I III. It will: appear from. a consideration. of. Fig. 22, thatthei cam has thre'e active surfaces or lobes .operatingiupon the finger I: Id to raisethe sliderIiIZ; three times upon eaclxrevolution of. the shaftlal The gear ratio. provided: between the unit- 6 3i and" the form:- ing machine Eifiuissuch that the shaft I2: rotates once: for each; eighteen revolutions of the form.- ing. machine 57, thus causing the cam' IrilI to segregate eighteen pieces of the product on. the band fill into three groups of. six. It will" here be understood that other segregations and group'- ings may be provided by appropriately control.- ling the ratio of drive and the types of" cams employed. That is. to say, thenumber' of" prodiucts in each group and the number of groups may be determined.

The adjustmentof the screw IE9 is to arrange the finger H2 inthedesired position with respect to the products on the band, via, the points I II of the finger II2 should raise. immediately in back of the last piece of product in a group, so that. a minimum of space isprovided between said group. and: the next or; lead. piece of the. product for the" succeeding group; This part of theunit 63 serves to: effect an initial. counting; grouping and: dispersing of the product whichis to be carded.

Considering Fig; 22, it will appear that the points I ll oi thefinger ll2iare adapteditostramdie the band. to in engaging a product'or wire form, such for example as the bobby-pin II'8 illustrated in said figure-i111 the grouping of the products, as later described.

Staggering mechanism Preferably. the groups of products, see groups Hm, I lab and I lilo in Fig. 29, arestaggeredrel'atively" to each other and transversely relative to the band 50, to have a better appearance on the product holder or card, and to have slots offset somewhat on the card to lessen the likelihood of the card creasing or breaking; To thi's end, the present invention providesa' novel staggering. apparatus including a pair of slides H9 and H9 adapted to reciprocate transversely of the machine in a channel I wherein theyare retained by plates I2I, said reciprocation being efiected by arms I22 and I22, note-Fig/22; having sliding pivotal couplings with slides H9 and H9; as at- !22" and suitably pivoted at I23 and I23. The slides H9 and llil' are provided with primary heads I24 and IN respectively. The headsmove vertically in channels I25 and I25 of the slides, and a suitablesetting is achieved by elongated slots I25 and I26 and set-screws I21 and I 21, note Fig. 22.

supplemental heads or the clove-tailed portions [3'0 and I thereof, control. the relative po'siiright. The spring I35 tioning of flanged staggering blocks Itl and I3! with respect to the products H8 in the movement of the groups of products into staggered relationship with respect to each other. It will be apparent that one of the groups of products may be centralized in the machine, whereas the other groups may be staggered one to the right and the other to the left. In order to effect this operation, I provide a disc I32, note Fig. 22, having a plurality of adjustable cam lobes I33 on one side of the disc and a plurality of similar lobes I34 on the other side thereof. The lever I22 carries a roller I35 arranged to operate on the cam lobes I33, and the lever I22 carries a roller I35 adapted to operate upon the cam lobes I34. When all of the cam lobes are set in an intermediateposition, the entire mechanism would function to centralize all groups of the products transversely with respect to the band 50. However, when a cam lobe set low engages with the roller of one lever, and the opposed lever engages concurrently a cam lobe set high, the products will be moved either to the left or to the supports rollers I35 and I35 in engaging the disc I32 and the cam lobes.

Considering Fig. 22, it will appear that two opposed cam lobes I33 and I34 have a common setting, whereas the other two opposed pairs have high and low settings Which provide in the cycle of operation of the machine the staggered rela tionship of the groups of products shown at I Ilia, I I8?) and I IIic in Fig. 29.

Modified counting and staggering mechanism In Figs. 30 to 35 inclusive, I have illustrated amodified and simplified form of counting, staggering and dispersing mechanism comprising a counter mechanism, Figs. 39, 31 and 32, including a counter-finger I35 reciprocated vertically relative to a band I! by a slide I38 and a cam I39 similar to the counter mechanism hereinbefore described in detail. The slide I38 is of sufficient weight to normally drop by gravity into engagement with the cam I39 and to ride the irregular surface thereof. However, this modilied form of counting and staggering mechanism differs from the form hereinbefore described, at least in one important respect, by providing a unitary multi-grouping mechanism including a vertically reciprocable slide I40 carrying a plurality of fingers I II, I 6! and MI settable into divers longitudinal and vertical positions through the media of dove-tailed blocks M2, M3 and IM respectively. The dove-tailed blocks are slidable longitudinally'in a single channel I45 and are locked in the desired longitudinal position concurrently with locking of said fingers in vertical position by block clamping screws I66 operating in elongated slots I41 as clearly seen in Fig. 34. By viewing Figs. 30 and 34, particularly it will be appreciated that the cam lobe I48 lifts the finger MI into a position to intercept a lead group of product and to maintain the same in the position I49 of Fig. 30 while the band continues traveling While lobe I55 through the further rotation of the cam moves the finger IGI up into position to intercept a second group of product I49, and thereafter, lobe I5I lifts the lowest finger Il up into position to intercept a third group of product I49 while the band continues to travel, whereupon slide hi9 drops down into engagement with the lowermost lobe I52, and all three fingers are cleared with respect to the band 55a and the groups I49, I49 and I49 which they just collated upon the band. This low lobe I52 on the cam is of sufficient length to maintain the fingers in the clear position with respect to the band until the just collated three sets are entirely clear of the three fingers and the next succeeding lead group is closely approaching finger I lI". whereupon the latter is again lifted up into intercepting position. Now, it should also be particularly noted, that the multi-grouping mechanism just described in detail, serves the function of accurately spacing the groups longitudinally of the band concurrently relative to each other, as may be seen by observing the spacing between both sets of three groups shown in Fig. 30, and between the end set of grouped product in the multi-grouping apparatus and the succeeding set just made up by the counting mechanism, viz., serves to close in the spacing between the groups made up by the counting mech anism.

Staggering of the groups of product is effected by the mechanism as shown in Fig. 30 and 35 and includes a pair of levers I53 and I53 pivoted, as seen at I5 5 and I54, said levers having rollers I55 and I55 respectively at the lower end thereof adapted to be maintained in constant rolling contact with the cam I56, as by a spring I57. These levers I53 and I53 are provided with multi-station staggering blocks I53 and I58 at the upper end thereof. Staggering block I58 is provided with a plurality of faces I55, I59 and I59, while the mating staggering block I58 is provided with a plurality of matching faces I58, I69 and IE5, note Fig. 30, adapted to move the three groups of product of the rnulti-grouping mechanism station into staggering position transe versely relative to the band, as shown by the three groups, in the leaving position, as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 30. Arcuate movement of levers I53 and I53 with associated staggering blocks I58 and I58 respectively, from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 35 into a top closed position to work on opposite ends of grouped product and to effect a staggering thereof, is accomplished by lobes Ifii and I5! engaging the rollers I55 and I55. The staggering mechanism is operated briefly just as the third or final group I49 assumes its position adjacent the finger It I. This modified form of counting, grouping and dispersing apparatus of Figs. 30 to 35 inclusive, may be used in lieu of the counting, grouping and staggering mechanism of Figs. 19 through 22 inclusive.

Loading apparatus The loading apparatus of the unit 53 may be seen best in Figs. 13'through 18 inclusive, in Fig. 29, plus slight fragmentary showings thereof in Figs. 5 through 8 inclusive. This mechanism is supported in a suitable box I62 including side walls I 53 and Hi l. End walls I55 and I65 of the box I62 are each provided with three slots, as noted in Fig. 29, adapted to support stop plates I57, I51 and I5? for vertical movement within the box I52, said stop plates being provided with slots I63 at the bottom thereof, note Figs. 14, 16 and 17, adapted to envelope the band 59, and thereby effectively stop groups of product carried by the band underneath the box I92. Vertical movement of said stop slides is controlled by the cams I58, I55 and I59" respectively upon the shaft I'Ii'i, this shaft in turn being rotated in unison with the main shaft "I2, as by the sprocket drive Ill, note Figs. 5, l5 and 29. This drive is arranged to effect a concurrent one to one rotation of shafts I19 and I2.

"The oamszaresultably Sha edto sucoessitielv drop the stop :plates :into the path of incoming roups of roduct and to lift them cl ar of, or above the band at a pred te m ned p i t in the cycl of the machine. Fig. 1 ,for example, discloses lowpoints of cams I69 and 11-69" in en n ement with the pins H2 and H12! of the ,stop rslides 6 a d 1 he eby op sl de; H m intainse ou a inst moveme t w th the band .50, and wher b the op sl de E-l is n loos t ontoastop u t e mo ment he gr up 1 wi t e an hilea highe l be section o e cam I69 is still in engagement withthepin 1.12 o rt es p slid 61 toem in ai the l tter: in he rai edm o n the es n lxd sn ly clear ftthe iderasection he eo ano nt-o n agemen with the ns ep slide 7. wher pon a r ims section inwthe am 169 permits it :to quickly move ve tica by ere i n o n erce in o ition wi h s e t to the e d a w h i b S e e n X4 a ns r h r vel with, the b mii ri a predetermined length of time.

It willloe understood that inthe operationof the mechanism shown in Fig. 18. all the ,plates are normally raised position :and then one plate. fo r example, the plate 161' dropsldownwa dlygto check the group X, the other plates be? ing raised to clear the group X asit advances withthe loanol. The plate l 61 then drops, stopping the roup ..X--2 and so :forth.

Staggering and, backing mechanism invention provides ;a novel staggering and back; 1

ine mechanism, including :a bell crank 1:13 :having -a.roller H4 at its :upper end, maintained by aasprine 11:5 in constant engagement with :a cam 116 secured to the shaft ill]. At its lower end, said bellgcizank is provided with ajlink conne ti n ill to a lever l-ll s our d toasecondary shaft 1:79, "said secondary shaft in turn being m vid d-W th a p ura i y of s a eri and backins-fine is 1 8. 1 8 andwll l adiasent the s op plates, asseen in Me .18- he o erative time of the am l s developed so h t 1 1 5 -..e atedmec ani m:throueh the sha t l I preferab y concurrentl move all; h ees eeering-and back s fir-lee siro thei etractedlposi io sh wn in es; an 5 nto the op ativeqp iti n of File 1 is providedwith inner backing iaces si ch th f o w a Fisu r bl z slishtlt' dlfi r ntamu e pl e to e ec and in d w he stag at onship f he roups ill .50 Each of said fingers 180, I80 and i Mea illsb an H80, when. all three fingers are moved :into the .operative position of Fig, 216, as will be readily appreciated. Thedesired '=arcuate position is achieved as by a set screw connection l8! shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The faces lall'a of the fingers are adapted to overlie the upper surfaces of the grou s of product to limit upward movement thereof, These faces serve very effectively to back up groups of pins as a card 482 noteaFig. 16, is forced into thelgrouped iow i a a r s rtly tobe e cribed.

Pressing Meohanism lower ends to links 1| as and i881, isaid llinkfi in turn being on ecte to the slide 183 seat m9 note Fi .16, and attheir forw rd end to s d walls 1'63 and 1:54 aslby the-stu s "wand -9 01. note Fig- 1e. Thep ssinesl de I83 i p o with a oluitalityroi slots 194, n tefiiszre..ivr ins oivot pin ends o -th fin e s :2 2" and L92", as may be seen best-in i 3; :endsl'fi- The fin ers I92 i shown ns ct onin Bis-n 5 These fingers are normally u zged downwardly, as viewed in Fi 16,4125 s rin s lea, ad us ed and backed 'bystnds 11.94, a d "downward ment be n imi ed by- .adius ah e sc ws normally the pressing slide and-fing rsare k l a raised inoperativ position unt l all r up o pins are :mioperlygrouped .by th :s opzs idesmanil also sta ered and backed loathe thank ng fingers, wheneupon cams I 96 andrl 51. .onvs'hsft il'lq. see Figs. )14, lorandals, partioiilarly duringo'o-r tation of shaft :llll engagelinlzs M18 and 11:88; to moverthe slide 1&3 into the alowered-anositlon of Fig: .16, and .therebyipress fingers ;l;92,@l92 and 192" into overl in en agement with ithe upner ends of "grouped product 1130 move and .advantae geously control open ends of said grouped most not when the latter 15110311311 onto "a :Qfllid nr the like. Retraction of :said pressing :slide and eaLss oiated rpressing fingers from the ladllancedor or teratiize ;position of .Eig. :16 into the iinopell 'Lwe position ofuEie. 1721s preferably,cefisBBtedponome rently with the lifting of stop gs'lides and :netrao tion of staggering and. checking lnneers to :their inoperative positions.-

As a safety @pnecaution, I ':pi:o.vide1;a;oam 191. note Figs. '15, i16:and:1l:8; wto concurrently alift all of said step "plates [:61', 1 51. :and [15:1?" jinto a raised inoperative position and .to 'maintain :the same .in said .raised position even though :the cams I69, 159 and 159" would momally allow them otherwise :to .drop, said .cam SE91 extends :between the side walls 'andpiMoted-thenein :witha pin 198 which in turn :has a handle 'zlflfiu'forzmanually rotating :the same. The -cam 513.91 operates in a rectangular cutout12min each of the slides ore-stop .plates, :andis adapted :to .engagetmhe :top walls of said cutouts. Thus, when the camglfi'l is moved from the lowered position note Fig. 16 in a counter-clockwisedirection to 200, it simultaneously zlifts all three step :plates an zaprpneciahle "extent and .fully sclear aahone therbond and groups of product carried by-zthe band. allow iiree passa e :of product to the strippers! onEissiandfl.

Card controlling; .cm amitus A novel hopper a251,! providedzloy ithe gpitesent intention to .ystore -;a .large tquantity-sof provd uot holders :such as the card la8.=2;orzthe like fQlollSfi in the machine, :and to facilitate-automatic aremoval. of cards, ;one;,at:a time, ,-from the. point 10f storage ;;to :points of loading andexpulsion. flihe shopper 720;] in :its present :prefiemted :fonn, :lin ,oludes a box with :side walls dog-sand 1B2 channels lior longitudinally locating :and islidably supporting :end -plates @203 nnduviluiif rrespectivmly,

said two walls and end plates bein of anonfiguration and 'location to easily accommodate and golden stack 10f superposed .cards. .iRlates 12.03 and 42.03 are secured in said wenticalshan- ,nels. as :by screws 204, with-suitameaeloneated slots 205 permitting desired verticalsettin inf the end plates with respect to the side walls. To facilitate minute adjustments of said end p tes :203 "and 1293'. u the lattera eipro io eo with screws 2 1 Wei-lyin the s de, .Thus total arately drop the end plates a few thousandths of an inch. it is merely necessary to loosen said screws the desired extent, using a feeler gauge underneath the screws, then loosening the side screws 294 until the end plate drops into the lowered position permitted by the adjusting screws, and conversely by rotating the screws in the opposite direction after loosening the side screws, it is possible to accurately lift the end plates the desired extent. The side walls rest directly upon the top faces of the rails 2b? and 201', note Fig. 12, at which point they are se-= cured to holding bars 208 and 262 respectively, with the latter thoroughly secured to the rails as by screws 209 fastened through elongated slots 2I0 and thence threaded into rails 20'! and 201" while connection of side walls 202 and 262 to said holding bars is effected by screws 2!! and 2! l extending through elongated slots 2l2 and 212', in said bars, note Figs. 9 and 10. This construction provides location of the hopper 2m in various positions longitudinally of the rails. To prevent the hopper from shifting transversely relative to the rails, the end walls are preferably made of just the same width as the space between the rails 26'! and 20?.

A plurality of L-shaped fingers 253, Bit and 2l3, note Figs. 10 and 12, having vertical sections fitting in suitable slots in the wall 2% of the hopper (Figs. 9, 10 and 11) and longitudinal sections extending across the bottom of the hopper (Figs. 9, 10 and 12) serve to prevent cards from dropping out of the bottom of the hopper. These fingers are secured to the rear plate as by screws 214 while elongated slots therein permit relative vertical fitting of fingers. The 1ongitudinal sections thereof are preferably made long enough to extend under the front end plate 203' and at this point form an outlet opening, as seen at US, Fig. 10 of the drawing, equivalent to the thickness of one card 82, and thereby provide an outlet port for only one card at a time. Accurate setting of this port is achieved with the screws 2% at the upper end of rear and front plates in the manner hereinbefore described.

Signal In order to apprise the operator when the stack of cards in the hopper is getting low, the present invention provides a relatively simple signal including'a spring arm 2H3 mounted upon and insulated from the side wall 282 upon insulation block 211. This spring arm has one finger 2H3 extending within the hopper through the opening 2l8 to engage sides of cards within the hopper when said stack of cards is of sufiicient height to reach same and thereby concurrently push this finger and the associated secondary finger 2l6 on the spring arm 2l6 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 12, until the secondary finger is entirely free from contact with the side wall 232, thereby breaking electrical contact. However, when the stack of cards falls below the level of the lowermost section of the finger 216, it-allows the latter to move to the right, as viewed in Fig. 12, until the finger 2H5" engages the side wall 202, thereby completing an electric circuit to an audible signal 219 and/or visible signal 2H3, as diagrammatically illustrated by the wiring in Fig.

10 of the drawing.

Card controlling mechanism 12 at a time from the hopper, transporting said one card from the hopper to an intermediate loading position below the grouping mechanism, and thereafter to an ejecting position, see Figs. 5 and 29. This mechanism in its present preferred form, includes a main slide 220 of generally H- shape, having sides 22! and 222, note Fig. '7, with a central and integral connecting web 223 adapted to pivotally support a pair of shafts 224 and 225 and to confine a pair of eccentrics 226 and 221 and gears 228 and 229 against lateral movement, as viewed in Figs. 5 and '7. Said pair of gears are meshed with a rack 230 to be rotated with the shaft and eccentrics thereon when the rack is reciprocated to the right and thence to the left, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6. These eccentrics serve to provide a four point support for a main platen 23! and serve, as shown in Fig. 5, to move said platen from the lowermost position at the right hand side to the intermediate position at the left hand side and thence into a fully raised position shown centrally of Fig. 5. The position shown centrally of Fig. 5 is the showing of the machine in the particular cycle of operation of the shaft 12. and right of the slide 220 of Fig. 5 are also shown in full lines for clarity of the illustration, but these positions in reality would be dotted line positions of the parts. Side plates 232 secured to the main platen 23! as by screws and studs 233 and 234 respectively, and extending into channels 235 in the side walls 22l and 222, serve to prevent lateral or longitudinal misalinementof the platen relative to the main slide. This alinement is supplemented by studs 236 extended from main platen 23I downwardly through suitable apertures in the web 223 and screwed at the lower end into a pair of longitudinally extending plates 23?, see Figs. 6 and 8 particularly. This latter pair of plates project from the web and underlie the eccentrics, thereby serving to pull the main platen downwardly when the high section of the eccentric is moved from the'middle position to the right hand position shown in Fig. 5. The

' rack 230 is connected to a backing member 238 as by screws 239 and the latter in turn is connected to a pusher block 240 as by studs 24L the latter being accomplished first, this pusher block in turn having a pin connection 242 with a large drive lever 243 that has a pivoted and sliding connection 244 at its lower end to part of the main frame, as seen in Fig. 5. A block 245 is slidably mounted on the lever 243 with a rectangular slot,

and the block 245 has a pivotal connection as at 246, on an eccentric plate 247, secured to the outer end of the main shaft 72. This drive lever is such that the pivot 246 on the eccentric plate through the sliding block 245 serves to oscillate the lever 243 to and from the dot and dash positions of the lever 243, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Now it should be particularly noted that the present invention in its preferred form provides details in this mechanism for advantageously moving said platen into various vertical levels and to stop the main slide and platen in divers positions longitudinally of the rails while said lifting and lowering of the main platen occurs. This mechanism includes the provision of a key 248 (Fig. 7) preferably extending substantially throughout the full length of the rail 201' and backed by a plurality of springs 249, longitudinal shifting of the key 248 being prevented by a plu- 'rality of studs 250 having free axial sliding movement in the rail 20'! and having a threaded connection in the key 248. A secondary function of The positions at the left this key is to prevent the driving connection from lifting the main slide and its associated parts vertically within the rails and to maintain said main slide and associated parts in close sliding association with the under or supporting sections 25! and 25! of the rails 261 and 201'. Said springs 249 yieldingly push the key 248 against the main slide 220 and thereby maintain the latter in de sired frictional association with the rail for pur poses about to be described.

The rack 235 is maintained in proper horizontal association with gears 228 and 229 as by straps 252 and 252 joining the side walls and secured thereto, note Figs. 6 and 7. Thus the bottom Wall of the backing member 236 is free to slide horizontally over the top faces of said straps 252 and 252, thereby maintaining rack teeth in proper pitch engagement with the gears.

Turning of the eccentrics 226 and 22? and concurrent lifting and lowering of the main platen 23! into divers predetermined positions and at predetermined points in the travel of the main slide 225 along the rails 22'! and 22'! is accomplished through the provision of a rear stud 253 and a front stud 254 on the rack 236 adapted to engage the cross-straps 252 and 252 respectively, and through the provision of a roller type detent 255 also adapted to engage the cross-straps 252 and 252'. Operation of these various elements is effected in cooperation with a spring pressingkey 248 against the slide 226 in order to cause the side wall of the slide to have a continuous frictional sliding lit with side wall 222. The roller type detent 255 includes an inverted U- shaped yoke (Figs. 6, 'l and 8) having vertically sliding fit on a projection 256 at the rear end of the block 245 and retained upon the latter by the plate 25'! and screws 252, note Fig.- '7. This yoke is provided with integral projections 255 rotatably supporting a pair of rollers 266 which are held in place thereon by cotter pins. The yoke is normally urged upwardly by a spring 26! socketed in the projection and underlying the central section of the yoke sufficiently to bring the rollers 250 into contact with the bottom faces of the rails 262 and thereby permitting the top projection 263 on the yoke to engage against the rear face of the cross-strap 252 to push the entire slide and platen machanism during a predetermined cycle of the machine. The release of this detent, namely, movement of the projection 263 below and out of registry with the cross-strap 252, is effected by rollers 26!! engaging said rails 262, Figs. 5, 6 and 7, which serve to move the detent 255 downwardly until the projection 263 is entirely clear of the cross-strap 252 (as the slide is being moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, and to the right of Fig.

General operation of mechanism is as follows:

During movement of the complete slide 226 and platen 23! from the ejecting position at the right hand side, Fig. 5, the stud 254 of the rack 235 engages the cross-strap 252', whereupon the arm 243 as it is rotated by the eccentric 24! serves to pull the slide and platen rearwardly. Throughout this travel from the ejectin position to the card pick up position, eccentrics 226 and 22l, gears 228 and 229, and rack 232 are conditioned or positioned to maintain the platen in its lowermost position. However, after the slide has been moved to its extreme rearmost position by the stud 254 and arm 243 and the arm begins to move in a clockwise direction about its pivot, connection to block will cause the rack the card controlling '14 to be moved slightly to the right (Fig. 5) while the slide is frictionally held by a spring pressed key 248 until the stud 254 is moved away from the cross-strap 252' and until the projection 263 of the detent 255 engages the cross-strap 252. During this slight movement of the rack, the gears 228 and 229 are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction approximately ninety degrees to move the lowest sections of the eccentrics out of registry with the under side of the main platen and to concurrently move the gradually increasing higher section of the eccentrics approximately half way around. The four eccentrics are each simultaneously moved an exact extent so that an even lifting of all four corners of the main platen is achieved. Further, a very accurate control of the lift of said eccentrics is achieved by reason of the abrupt and positive engagement of the projection 263 with the cross-strap 252. It should be noted that the slide and platen are stationary longitudinally of the rails while the gears and eccentrics are rotated ninety degrees and while the main platen is being lifted to the intermediate condition shown at the left of Fig. 5. When the platen 23! is in the lowermost condition (position at right in Fig. 5) platen 23! is entirely clear of the product being accumulated in the carding mechanism when it reaches this middle station, and entirely clear of the lowermost card in the hopper as it sweeps rearwardly under the hopper to the rearmost position. However, as the platen is lifted into the intermediate condition by the eccentrics, the top face of the platen comes into engagement with the lower face of the bottom card I82 in the hopper and pusher edges 23 l on the platen are slightly to the rear of the rear edge of the card. Slots 264, note Fig. 12, in the top of the main platen 23! clear the three fingers 2l3, 2l3' and M3" of the hopper when the main platen is lifted into the intermediate condition. cross-strap 252 and begins to move the main slide 222 and platen 23! tothe right, as viewed in Fig. 5, pusher edges 22! push the lowermost card from the bottom of the stack of cards in the hopper through the port 2! 5, note Fig. 10,- toward the carding station. As the slide and platen move into the latter position, the rollers 266 ride downwardly on the rails 262 to pull the projection 263 out of registry with the crossstrap 252 and as the projection 253 becomes free of the cross-strap 252, spring pressed key 248' ing condition. When the rack, gears and eccentries reach this position, under'impetus of the ecmaintained against longitudinalshifting by keys.

After the dentent 255 engages the

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