US2821826A - Coupon inserting machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb, @1958 .1.v L. STUBBLEFIELD coupon INSERTING MACHINE s Sheets-She et 1 Filed D50. 7, 195

m rvsmon annie i mgr-an.

ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1 958 J. STUBBLEFIELD 2,821,826

coupon INSERTING MACHINE Filed Dec. '7, 1955 5 SheetsSheet 2 9 3 INVENTOR 11i. szwzz-ze ie z (z ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1958 J. L. STUBBLEFIELD COUPON INSERTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 -Filed Dec. 7, 1955' INVENTOR 1 si'uZlezfzeld ATTORNEY /oo 5%; l a 2 United States Patent COUPON INSERTING MACHINE James L. Stubblefield, Denison, Tex. Application December 7, 1955, Serial No. 551,638

11 Claims. (Cl. 53-120) This invention relates to a machine of extremely simple construction by means of the operation of which coupons are automatically inserted into cartons, after closing of the cartons.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a coupon inserter which is best adapted for use in inserting coupons into filled cartons of the so-called end tuck type after the end closure flap is in a closed position; however, the machine is also adapted for use with other types of cartons and for inserting a coupon therein either after or prior to complete closing of. the carton.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inserter which is readily adapted for use in applying coupons to cartons of the type in which butter and oleomargarine are packaged and which, due to its unique construction, may be readily attached to a conventional packaging machine and driven by a novel power takeoff from the drive of such machine, although the inserter is additionally adapted for use alone and maybe readily operated by any available rotary driven shaft.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, looking toward the left-hand side of the coupon inserting machine and showing the machine supported on a part of a conventional packaging machine to function as an attachment thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in vertical section, looking toward the other, right-hand side of the machine;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, partly in section, of the coupon inserting machine, looking from right to left of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the packaging machine and illustrating the power takeofi connection whereby the coupon inserting machine is driven by the packaging machine;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view through an intermediate portion of the coupon magazine;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the coupon magazine, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 8-8 of Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine shown removed therefrom.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the coupon inserting machine in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 10 and includes a base 11 which, in the application and use of the invention as herein 2,821,823 Patented Feb. 4, 1958 flange 15 at its upper end which is secured by fastenings 16 to an upstanding rear portion 17 of a supporting bracket, designated generally 18. The supporting bracket 18 has a forwardly extending bottom portion 19 which extends from the lower portion of the rear part 17 thereof and which terminates in a front portion 20 which is disposed transversely with respect to the forwardly extending portion 19. The front portion 20 includes a horizontal bottom flange 21 and an upstanding inner flange 22, which flange 22 rises from the inner or back edge of the bottom flange 21, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The standard 14 has an upper rear portion in which the intermediate portion of a bearing sleeve 23 is secured, so that the axis of said sleeve is disposed crosswise to the plane of the standard 14, as best illustrated in Figure 3. A shaft 24 is journalled in the sleeve 23. As seen in Figure 3, the sleeve 23 has a lubricating port 25 in an upper portion thereof.

The bottom edge of a bar 26 is suitably secured to the upper surface of the base 11 in spaced apart substantially parallel relation to the standard 14. A bar 27 is secured detachably to the outer side of the upper portion of the bar 26 by fastenings 28 and has an upper longitudinal edge portion disposed above the upper edge of the bar 26'and which is provided with a longitudinally extending inwardly opening groove or channel 29. The bar 27 constitutes one of a pair of guide strips, the other strip 30 of which is detachably secured to the inner side of the standard 14 by fastenings 31 and at a level so that the inwardly opening longitudinally extending groove 32 thereof is disposed at the same level as the groove 29. Grooves 29 and 32 provide guideways for slidably receiving the longitudinal side edges of an elongated plate forming a blade carrier 33. As best seen in Figures 2 and 9, the rear end of a blade 34 is secured in overlapping relation to the forward end of the carrier 33 by fastenings 35. Blade 34 forms an extension of the carrier 33 and is of a lesser width than said carrier, as seen in Figure 9.

As seen in Figure 2, an angular bracket 36 has a horizontal leg 37 adjustably secured by a fastening 38 to the upper side of the base 11 and longitudinally thereof. The other shorter leg 39 of the bracket 36 extends upwardly from the leg 37 and is disposed to the rear of the base 11. One end of a pull spring 40 is anchored to the bracket leg 39 and the other end thereof is secured to a depending extension 35a of one of the fastenings 35 for urging the carrier 33 and blade 34 rearwardly of the machine 10. An abutment or cushioning member 41 is secured to the inner side of the upper portion of the upright bracket leg 39 and is disposed in the path of movement of the rear end of the carrier 33, to be engaged thereby for limiting movement of said carrier and blade to a retracted position under the biasing action of the spring 40.

The carrier 33 is provided on its upper side adjacent its rear end with a rearwardly facing detent shoulder 42 behind which normally engages a pawl 43 forming the lower leg of a bell crank which is pivotally mounted at its apex by a pivot element 44 to the lower end of a lever 45, as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The upper end of the lever 45 is fixed to an end of the shaft 24 to swing in unison therewith, as best seen in Figure 3. A spring 46 is wound on the pivot element 44 and has one end extending upwardly therefrom and bearing against the machineframe.

-:-a-pin 47'whichextends-laterally from the other upwardly ...extending arm- 48 Y of the -bellcrank in a direction away ,detachably fixed .to and extendsxinwardly; from.the-2standard Hand is disposed forwardly:ofandintthe path of forwardmovement of the pin-47 buttermihatesl so as to be cleared by the bell crank 43,. 48,- asseen' in Figure 3. Alever stop 51 is detachably fixed to and extends inwardly from the standard l4, above the stop 50, for .a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

A disk-like valve member 52 has a bracket arm 53 secured by a fastening 54 to a lug 22a of :the bracket portion 22 and is thus supported immovably relative to A pipe constituting a hollow shaft and designated 55 extends through and is journalled in the central portion of the valve member 52and has a disk-shaped movable valve member 56 fixed theretoand disposed on one side of the stationary valve member 52. The ends of the hollow shaft 55 are closed and sealed by detachable caps 57. A lever arm 58 is detachably and adjustably fixed to one of the caps 57 'and extends upwardly therefrom. The hollow shaft 55 is provided with a tubular extension 59 which communi-" cates with. the bore thereof and'which extends downwardly therefrom, adjacent the other cap 57. An-expansion coiled spring60 is disposed on the pipe 55 between the stationary valve member 52 and the cap 57 to which the lever arm 58 is secured, for urging theshaft 55 through the valve member 52 in a direction for displacing the valve 56 toward said valve 52,'as best seen in'Figure 6.

As seen in Figures 5 and 6, the stationary valve member 52 has an elongated arcuate groove 61 disposed therein and which opens through the side thereof which faces toward the valve member 56. A nipple 62 extends from a part of the periphery of the valve member 52 and connects with an end of a suction conduit 63 whichleads from any suitable source of suction, not shown. The other end of the bore of the nipple 62 extends into the valve member 52 and communicates with the groove 61 thereof. The valve member 52 is also provided with a bleeder port -64 which extends transversely therethrough and which is circumferentially spaced from the groove 61, as seen in Figure 5. The valve member 56 has a radially extending .passage- 65 the inner end of which communicates with the bore of the hollow shaft 55 and the outer end of which is turned laterally to open outwardly through the face of the valve member 56 which faces the valve member 52,v as best seen in Figure6.

,The tubular extension. 59, has a lower portion 59a which is disposed ata slight angle to the upper portion thereof which extends from the pipe 55, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2. A pair of suction cup members 66 is secured to,the.t ubular portion 59a in spaced apartrelation to one another. Said members 66 communicate with the bore of the tubular arm 59 through inner faces of said members which open inwardly or rearwardly with respect to the machine and which constitutes the only communication of the tubular arm 59a with the atmosphere.

A chute, designated generally 67, has a flared upwardly opening mouth 68 and includes a front wall 69 and a rear wall 70, flared upper portions of which form the flared parts of the mouth 68. As best seen inFigure 2, the chute 67 has a closed bottom 71 or may be open at the bottom thereof to rest on a surface of the packaging machine 13, by means of which the lower end of the chute could be closed at the same level as the bottom 71 and at a desired level beneath aligned openings 69:: and 70a ofthe front and rear walls- 69 and 70, respectively. The; front wall 69 has an inclined extension 72 which extends upwardly from the upper;part thereof which forms aportion of the. mouth '68 and which termi- 4 mates in an inturned lip 73 which is secured by suitable fastenings detachably to the underside" of the bracket portion 21, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. A strap member 74 extends rearwardly from the lower portion of the chute 67 and is secured by a fastening 75 to the forward end of the bar 27 for securing the chute immovably relative to the frame of the machine 10.

The inclined wall 72 has inwardly or rearwardly extending side flanges 76. The wall 72 is also provided with an elongated slot 77 which extends longitudinally thereof to accommodate the swinging movement of the tube portion 59a therethrough, as best illustrated in Figure 3. The slot 77 is provided with longitudinally spaced enlarged portions 78 for accommodating the suction heads 66. A housing 79 is supported by and extends from the forward side of the wall 72 to house the tube portion 59a and suction heads 66 in a retracted position of said parts, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The housing 79 has an open upper end in which the upper portion ofthe tube 59 is swingablyaccommodated.

-A-lever arm 80 has an upper end fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 24 and extends downwardly therefrom. The rear end of a connecting rod 81 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the lever 80 andthe forward endiof said connecting rod 81 is pivotally connected to the outer end of the lever 58. The lever 80 is composed of threadedly connected extensible end sections 80a 'and' 80b, as best seen in Figure 2, whereby the length 'of said lever and the travel of the connecting rod 81 maybe varied for varying the extent that the hollow shaft 55 is turned relative to the extent of turning movement of the shaft 24. An arm 82 has a rear end adjustably clamped to the shaft 24, beyond the lever 80 .and is provided with a slot 82a at its forward end which is loosely engaged by a fastening 83, carried by the upper end of a connecting rod 84 for connecting the rod 84 to the arm 82. The other lower end of the connecting rod 84 is pivotally connected to one end of a bar 85, as best seen in Figure 4, the opposite end of which bar 85 is secured detachably to the connection of a connecting rod 86 to a split ring 87. The ring 87 is journalled on a cam disk 88 which is eccentrically fixed to a drive shaft 89 of the packaging machine 13 so that the connecting rod 84 of the machine 10 will be reciprocated vertically in unison with the connecting rod 86 of the machine 13. The upper end of the connecting rod 86 is connected to and operates suitable mechanism 96 by which end tuck closureflaps 97 of cartons 98 are closed immediately before such cartons are conveyed toward the discharge end of the machine 13 and after filling of the cartons.

A magazine or hopper 90 is secured, as by brazing, to the bracket 18 adjacent the open bottom of said hopper or magazine. As best seen in Figure 7, the magazine 90 has sidewalls 91 and 92. The side wall 92 is provided with a relatively Wide slot 92a which extends from end to end thereof. Rod members 93 are secured to the inner-sides of the walls 91 and 92 and extend longitudinallythereof and have inturned lower ends 93a which extend 'to slightly below the level of the open bottom 94 of said magazine, as seen in Figure 8. The rods 93 of the wall 92- straddle the slot 92a thereof. The magazine -90 contains a stack oficou'pons 95 which are supported therein by: the inturnedrodends 93a, as seenin Figure 8.

Assuming that the parts of thefmachine 10 are in the positions as illustrated in Figures l and 2 withthe eccentric cam 88 in a bottom dead'center position and the blunt forwardend ofthe inserter'. blade 34 in a fully retracted position behind'the chute67 and in alignment with the openingsi70a and 69a thereof,-as the eccentric moves upwardly from its bottom 'dead center position anppward thrust is'exertedby thecam-88, ring87 and bar,85 on ;the j-connecting rod 84-for displacing said connecting I rod upwardly to swing the arm: 82' upwardly' for turning theist-raft. 224.2111 a counterclockwise direction 5 as seen in Figure 1 and clockwise as seen in Figure 2. Assuming that a coupon 95 is disposed in the lower portion of the chute 67 so that its intermediate portion is disposed at approximately the level of the openings 69a and 70a, as the shaft 24 is turned in the aforementioned direction the lever 45 is swung forwardly and as the pawl 43 is engaging behind the detent shoulder 42, the carrier 33 with the blade 34 will be displaced forwardly so that the blunt forward edge of the blade 34 will enter the chute 67 through the opening 70a and will engage the intermediate portion of the coupon 95 so that said intermediate portion will be carried by the leading end of the blade 34 through the front wall slot 69a. A carton 98 is supported on rails 99, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, in front of the chute 67 and at a proper level so that the inserter blade 34, carrying the folded coupon 95, after passing forwardly through the opening 690 will enter the carton between the flap 97a of its end closure 97 and the top wall 98a, which is located adjacent said closure flap 97a. Further movement of the blade 34 will cause the coupon 95 in its folded condition to be fully inserted into the carton 98 before the pin 47 strikes the abutment 50. When this occurs, the bell crank 43, 48 will be swung clockwise as seen in Figure 2 about its pivot 44, against the action of the spring 46, which has been urging the pawl 43 downwardly tomaintain it in engagement with the detent shoulder 42. When the hell crank is thus rocked clockwise against the action of the spring 46, the pawl 43 will be lifted out of engagement with the detent shoulder 42 to permit the spring 40 to rapidly return the carrier 33 to its full line retracted position of Figure 2 with the inserter blade 34 retracted out of engagement with the carton 98 and chute 67, for a purpose which will hereinafter be apparent. It will be understood that the inserter blade 34 is retracted relative to the coupon 95 which is left in the carton 98. Almost immediately after the pawl 43 is lifted to disengage the cletent shoulder 42, the lever 45 will contact the stop 51 to prevent a lashing forward movement of the lever after the load being propelled thereby is released.

At the same time that the lever 45 is swung forwardly to effect the insertion of a coupon into a carton 98, the lever 80 is also simultaneously swung forward to cause the lever arm 58 and the hollow shaft 55 to be turned counterclockwise as seen in Figures 2 and 5. The valve member 56 and the tubular arm 59 will be turned with the shaft 55, the tubular arm portion 59a and the suction heads 66 moving upwardly through the slot 77 and enlargement 78, respectively, toward the bottom of the magazine 90. The passage 65 of the valve member 56 will move counterclockwise from its dotted line position of Figure 5 and will come into registry with the right-hand end of the groove 61 before the suction heads 66 contact the bottommost coupon 95 of the stack of coupons contained in the magazine 90, so that said bottom coupon will be gripped by the suction heads 66 upon contact therewith and at which instant the cam 88 has reached its top dead center positionand the pawl 43 has been released from the shoulder 42.

As the cam 88 commences its downward travel, a downward pull is exerted on the connecting rod 84 and lever arm 82 to turn the shaft 24 in the other direction or counterclockwise as seen in Figure 2, so that the levers 45 and 80 will be turned in the same direction to swing rearwardly. When this occurs, a pull is exerted on. the lever arm 58 by the connecting rod 81 to turn said lever arm, the shaft 55, valve member 56 and the tubular arm 59 clockwise as seen in Figure 2. At the commencement of this movement, the passage 65 will be in communication with the groove 61 near the left-hand end thereof as seen in Figure 5 so that suction will be maintained in the suction heads 66 as said suction heads swing downwardly from the magazine 90 with the bottommost coupon which will thus be extracted from the bottom of the coupon stack and from engagement with the rod ends 93a. During the initial portion of the downward swinging movement of the tube portion 59a the passage 65 will move out of registry with the groove 61 to shut off the suction. However, the suction will be maintained until the passage 65 thereafter moves into registry with the bleeder port 64-, whereupon the suction is released in the suctionheads 66 and immediately before said suction heads pass through the openings 78 so that the coupon 95 will be disengaged and left against the inner side of the inclined Wall 72, from which position it will slide by gravity down into the chute 67 and into the position occupied by the coupon previously inserted by the blade 34, as previously described. The cycle of operation will be completed when the arm 59 is returned to its position of Figure 2. It will be apparent and as previously explained that the inserter blade 34 will be retracted out of the chute 67 before the coupon, last extracted from the magazine 90, will have reached a position in the chute 67.

During the last mentioned movement of the shaft 24 and levers 45 and 80, the lever 45 will have returned to its position of Figure 2. As the lever 45 approaches its position of Figure 2, swinging rearwardly or counterclockwise, the pawl 43 will strike the cam surface 100, which extends downwardly and forwardly from the upper edge of the shoulder 42, so that the bell crank 43, 48 will be rocked clockwise on its pivot 44 against the action of the spring 46 until the tip of the pawl 43 clears the rear end of the cam surface 100, whereupon the spring 46 will rock the bell crank counterclockwise to swing the pawl 43 downwardly behind the shoulder 42, preparatory to repeating the forward inserting movement of the carrier and blade, as previously described.

The packaging machine 13 includes a mechanism, not shown, actuated by reciprocation of the connecting rod 86 for feeding the cartons 98 from left to right as seen in Figure 4 in a step by step motion, so that the cartons after passing the assembly 96, where the closure flaps 97 are tucked in, are next pushed along the rails 99 to the position of the carton 98, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, where the carton is disposed to have a coupon inserted. After the dwell period of the carton while the coupon is inserted, as previously described, said carton 98 is pushed by the next following carton off of the rails 99 onto the upper flight of the belt of an endless conveyor 101, by which the filled carton containing the coupon is conveyed from left to right as seen in Figure 4 away from the coupon inserter 10.

It will be readily apparent that the parts 88, 87, 85, 84, 82 merely constitute one means for oscillating the shaft 24 to efiect operation of the machine 10 and that any other suitable means for oscillating the shaft 24 could be provided. Likewise, other suitable means synchronized with the oscillation of theshaft 24 may be provided for intermittently feeding filled cartons to a position in front of the chute 67 so that a coupon can be inserted into the filled carton by operation of the machine 10 as previously described.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereafter defined by the appended claims. t

I claim as my invention:

1. A coupon inserting machine comprising a frame,

shafts journalled in said frame and disposed substantially parallel to one another including a rear shaft and a forward shaft, drive means for oscillating said rear shaft,'an inserter blade disposed in said machine below the level of said shafts, means reciprocably mounted in the machine;

for carrying said inserter blade, means connecting said. blade carrier means to the rear shaft for displacing the blade forwardly of the machine when said rear shaft is turned in a first direction, a tubular arm fixed to and depending from said forward 'shaft, suction head means carried by said tubular arm and communicating therewith,

valvemeans including a stationary part supported by the machine frame and adapted to be Connected to a suction means for supporting the bottom of the coupon stack adjacent the open bottom of the magazine, link and lever means connecting said shafts forcausing the forward shaft to be oscillated simultaneouslywith the rear shaft and in the opposite direction whereby when said rear shaft is turned in said first direction said tubular arm 'will be swung upwardly toward the magazine bottom and the movable valve section will be moved into communication with the suction conduit to provide a suction in'said suction head means for gripping the bottomrnost coupon of thestack as the rear shaft completes-its movement in'the first direction, said tubular arm being swung downwardly and away from the magazine botto'mwhereby the bottommost coupon is extracted from the 'magazine by the suction engagement of said suction headmeanstherewith as the forward shaft is initially turned in "the opposite direction by turning of the rear shaft inthe opposite, second direction, said movable valve sectionassuming a position, as said tubular arm is swung downwardly, for venting the tubular arm to the atmosphere to release the suction in said suction head means for releasing" the coupon therefrom, means disposed to receive the'co'upon released by said suction head means and for conveyingthe coupon by gravity to a position in front of said inserter blade to be engaged by said inserter bladeupomthe subsequent forward travel of the inserter blade and inserted therewith into a carton disposed'in front of' the nserter blade, andspring means for rapidly rturning the inserter blade and the carrying means thereof'to a 'fully retracted position as said rear shaft approachesthe extremity of its movementin said first direction.

2. A coupon inserting'maching 'as in claim '1,"s"aid means connecting the rear shaft and blade carryingmeans comprising a lever fixed to and'depending from said rear shaft, a pawl pivotally supported by said lever, saidblade carrying means including adetent portion behind which said pawl engages for displacing'said carrier means and blade forwardly of the machine when said rear shaft "is turned in the first direction,- and means c'ar ried byfihe frame and pawl for'liftingand disengagingthe pawl from said detent portion as the'c'arrier and -blade"approach a forwardmost projected position and as the rear shaftapi preaches its extremity ofmovement in' thefirst direction to permit a rapid return of the carrier means anddnserter blade to a fully retracted position by said springmeans.

3. A coupon insertingrnachine in claim lcam means for lifting said 'pawl as the lever thereof is swung with the rear :shaftin -the opposite direction for causing the pawl to pass over said-detent portion, andaspring urg ng said pawl downwardly for returning the pawl'toa pOSllIiOIl behind said detentz portion after the pawl has cleared said cam means.

4. A coupon inserting-machine as in claim 1-said coupon receiving means comprising a chute h'avinga"portron disposed between the'forward "endi of the' ins'erter blade in the retracted position thereof and the cartoninto which a coupon is to be inserted'and in whi'ch chuteportion a coupon is adapted'to be disposed to be engaged by the inserter blade 'when displaced forwardly; "said chute having an inclinedz' wallforminganextension of theupper end thereof; said inclined'fwall being pi'ovidedwith an opening through whichfsaid tubular arm and section head means are swingably movable'and onwhicli thecoupons are depositedaby. saidisuction head means during swinging movement thereofsaway-from the magazine.

, 5. A;coupon inserting machine asiin claitn lj' said -forward shaft having a tubul'an portioni providing a passage "connecting passages of'said tubular arm and said movable 'valvesection, said movablevalve section being fixed to said forward shaft, and said stationary valve section providing ajournal for theforward shaft.

' 6. In combinationwith a conveyor portion along which filled' 'cartons are cbnveyedin a step by step movement, a

'coilpon inserting machine comprising a reciprocably meumed'i'nserter blade disposed in alignment with a dwell 'pos'ition'bf the cartons, a coupon holder located between a forward end of the blade, in a retracted position thereof, and-the carton dispos ed in alignment therewith, for holding a coup'on'iri'a position to be engaged by the inserter blade and insertedinto'the carton as said inserter blade moves forwardly 'of 'the'machine and toward the carton, said coupon holder having an open upper end through which-coupons are received singularly and conveyed by gravityto' a position'to be engaged by said blade, a magazine forming a-part bf-the machine and disposed above said coupon holding' m'e'ans and adapted to contain a stack bf'coupons and having 'an opening in the bottom thereof, a suction extractor means swingably supported by said machine and connected to a suction conduit, valve means'for-regulating"thesuction in said suction extracting means','mea'nsforoscillating said suction extracting means whereby said extracting 'meansis swung upwardly into the open botto 'm'of the"'maga'zine to engage and extract the bottommbst coupon therefrom by a suction engagement therewith, said valve means' breaking-the suction in said extracting means as'said extracting means is swung downwardly forrcleasing the coupon for discharge by gravity 'into s'aidholderyand means for reciprocating said inserter blade including 'an oscillating part connected to and opcratingin unison with said extractormeans' for advancing the bla'de to insert a coupon'in a carton as said extractor means is swung upwardly toengage a coupn to be extracted from the magazine.

7. Ina combination as defined byclaimd, said means for reciprocating theinserter blade including sp'ring means for rapidly retracting said'inserter blade from the carton and coupon holder' as said coupon extractor approaches the upper extremity of its movement toward the magazine.

'8. In a combination as 'defined by claim 7, said first mentioned portion of the'means for reciprocating said inserter blade including'a pawl, and means for disengaging said pawl 'as the inserter blade reaches a fully projected position to permit an unimpeded rapid retraction of said blade.

9. In a combination as defined by claim 6, said coupon holding means including opposite walls-having aligned openings thereinthrough which said inserter blade is movable,

10. In a combination asdefined by claim 6, said coupon holding means including opposite walls having aligned openings therein through which said inserter blade is movable, an inclined wallmember forming an extension of the open upper end of said coupon holding means and having an opening therein through which said extractor means is swingably movable in its travel toward and away from the magazine, said inclined wallbeing adapted to receive the extracted coupon when released by said extractor means for guidingthe coupon by gravity into the holder means. I

11. A machine'of the character described comprising a frame, shafts journalled in said frame and disposed substantially parallelto one another and including a rear shaft and a forward sh aft, drive means connected to and oscillating said rear shaft, a' guideway forming'a part of said frame, a blade supporting carrier reciprocably mountedin said guideway below the level of said shafts, means connecting said carrier to the rear shaft for displacing the'c'arrier forwardly of the' machine when the rearsha'ft isturned' in a first directi'onfa tubular arm fixed to and depending from said forward shaft, suction headmeans carried"by' said tubular arm and communicating therewith, valvemeans including a stationary part supported by the frame and adapted to be connected to a suction conduit and a movable part carried by said forward shaft and communicating with said tubular arm, a magazine supported by said frame adapted to contain a stack of sheets and having an open bottom and including means for supporting the bottom of the stack adjacent the open bottom of the magazine, link and lever means connecting said shafts for causing the forward shaft to turn simultaneously with the rear shaft and in the opposite direction whereby when said rear shaft is turned in said first direction said tubular arm will be swung upwardly toward the magazine bottom and the movable valve section will be moved into communication with the suction conduit to provide a suction in said suction head means for causing the suction head means to grip the bottommost sheet of the stack as the rear shaft completes its movement in said first direction, said tubular arm being swung downwardly and away from the magazine bottom for extracting the bottommost sheet from the magazine by the suction engagement of the suction head means therewith as the forward shaft is initially turned in the opposite direction by turning of the rear shaft in the opposite, second direction, said movable valve section assuming a position for venting the tubular arm to the atmosphere to release the suction in the suction head means for releasing the sheet therefrom as the tubular arm is swung downwardly, means disposed to receive the sheet released by said suction head means and for conveying the sheet by gravity to a position in front of said guideway, means for disconnecting said carrier from the means connecting the carrier to the shaft as said rear shaft approaches the extremity of its movement in said first direction, and spring means connected to the frame and carrier for rapidly moving the carrier rearwardly to a fully retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 769,927 Zeh Sept. 13, 1904 870,501 Farnham Nov. 5, 1907 871,133 Molyneux Nov. 19, 1907 955,112 Abrams Apr. 12, 1910 1,627,920 Milmoe May 10, 1927 1,641,406 Alden Sept. 6, 1927 1,824,378 Smith Sept. 22, 1931 1,909,050 Ferguson May 16, 1933 MilmOe May 16,

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