US2885680A

US2885680A - Stapling and punching machine

Info

Publication number: US2885680A
Application number: US610598A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank M Harrison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-09-18
Filing date: 1956-09-18
Publication date: 1959-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 1976-05-12

Description

May 12, 1959 1 F. i. HARRISON 2,885,680

STAHL-ING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Filed sept. 18, 195e INVENToR. @ANA/M HAAR/.sa/v

n ArroRN-y United States Patent O 2,885,680 STAPLING AND PUNCHING MACHINE Frank M. Harrison, Walterboro, S.C. Application September 18, 1956, Serial No. 610,598 1 Claim. (Cl. 1-2) The present invention relates to the manufacture of containers and more particularly to machines for stapling, punching, and/or performing other operations on market baskets while in mat form.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved apparatus. for use in the making of market baskets and more particularly, splint baskets made of wood Veneer strips, etc., and having reinforcing bands or the like stapled or riveted about their upper edges, wherein opposite sides of the blanks or mats from which the baskets are made are simultaneously stapled and/or have other operations performed thereon.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of an apparatus, embody-A ing the invention, for stapling and punching holes in splint basket mats and showing a mat ready to be moved into stapling and punching position, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a basket made from a mat similar to the mat shown in Fig. l.

Although the invention may be embodied in an apparatus `for performing various operations on a basket or like blank or mat it is herein shown and described as embodied in an apparatus for simultaneously stapling the reinforcing bands along opposite parallel sides of a wood veneer splint basket mat and simultaneously punching handle receiving holes in the mat adjacent to the reinforcing bands. The mat shown in Fig. 1 or the drawings and designated by the reference character M is adapted to be made into a rectangular market basket having a detachable wire bail type handle similar to the basket B shown in Fig. 2.

In accordance with present practice, baskets ofthe typev shown are fabricated by first forming the rectangularly shaped blank or mat M by weaving suitable veneer strips or splints in a well established manner. The ends of the laterally extending

strips

10, 11, 12, 13, 14 of the mat are then interposed between reinforcing

bands

15, 16 and secured to the bands as by stapling. The mat is subsequently folded along longitudinal lines adjacent to the inner edges of the two outermost longitudinal extending

strips

17, 13 of the mat which strips are turned upwardly to form the sides of the basket. Thev loose ends of the

side forming strips

17, 18 are turned inwardly to form the end walls of the basket and the loose ends of the longitudinal ,strips 20, 2l, 22 intermediate the side strips are turned upwardly and are interwoven with the inturned portions of the side strips and attached intermediate the reinforcing

bands

15, 16 also as by stapling or some similar operation. The handle receiving slots 23, 24 are punched in the central laterally extending split 12 adjacent to the reinforcing bands either before or after the mat is folded.

The machine shown and described therein is especially designed vfor simultaneously stapling opposite sides of basket mats and punching the handle receiving holes therein at the same time. Generally speaking, the machine comprises a pair of work carriers or mat trays substantially alike in each adapted to receive and support a woven mat while the reinforcing bands are stapled in position and the handle receiving slots simultaneously punched therein. The mat trays are supported upon a runway for movement to and from a position underneath the stapling and punching heads of the machine. The machine also, preferably, includes means for automatically actuating the stapling and punching heads as the trays properly position the mats thereon underneath the heads.

Referring to the drawings,'the machine includes a frame comprising two

upright side members

30, 31 supported on a transversely extending base 32 and connected intermediate their ends at about table height by a pair of transversely extending rigid bars 33, only one of which is shown in the drawings, connected to the respective side members. The bars 33 have their opposite ends bolted to brackets which brackets are in turn bolted to the inner faces of the side members. The upper ends of the

side members

30, 31 are bifurcated or slotted as at 35, 36 for the reception of the plate-like ram 37 and are connected together by a crown member 38 the ends of which are received in the upper ends of the slots 35, 36 and bolted in position therein. The xed transverse rigid bars 33 form the support for a longitudinally extending runway including a pair of angle irons 39, 40, in the upstanding flanges of which form rails upon which the mat trays T are supported by flanged Wheels 41 for movement into and out of the stapling and punching position underneath the stapling and punching heads. The angle irons 39, 40 which form the runway for the mat trays are connected by suitable brackets 42 to the transversely extending frame members 33, preferably by being clamped thereto in such a manner that they can be adjusted transversely of the machine towards and from each other to better accommodate trays of different widths and in turn mats of different sizes for the making of baskets of diierent sizes. While the mat trays shown are provided with wheels to facilitate their movement along the angle irons 39, 40 it will be understood that the wheels can be omitted and the trays merely slidably supported in suitable runway, or other types of anti-friction supporting means may be employed as desired.

Opposite ends of the ram 37 are each connected in a similar manner by a suitable connecting rod or pitman 43, to an eccentric 45 tixed adjacent to opposite ends of a transversely extending drive shaft 47 rotatably supported in the lower ends of the

side members

30, 31 and adapted to be driven from an electric motor 48 through a flexible belt drive not shown. The connecting rods, eccentrics etc. are located to the outside of the

side members

30, 31 and only the parts on the near side of said machine show in the drawing. The rear end of the ram 37 is continually urged into its elevated position by a tension spring 49 connected to the pitman 43 and to the side member adjacent thereto. A similar spring, not shown, biases the far end of the ram upwardly ina similar manner.

The stapling heads of which there are tive along each side of the runway for the mat trays, are designated gen# erally by the reference character 8. The stapling heads shown are commercially available from St. I oe Machines, Lne., St. Joe, Michigan, but they may be of any commercial construction. In View of the fact that the stapling heads per se form no part of the present invention, they are not shown and described in detail. Since the stapling and punching heads at opposite sides of the machine are construction and the manner in which they are supported and operated and only those at the far side of the machine as viewed in Fig. l will be described and the corresponding parts on the near side designated by the `same reference character with a prime mark aiiixed thereto. The two end heads ofthe line stapling heads on each side of the tray runway are adjustably connected to longitudinally extending members 50, 51, respectively, projecting from opposite front and rear sides of a transversely extending member 52 to which they are adjustably clamped for movement transversely of the machine. The transversely extending platelike member 52 is bolted to the rear or left-hand edges of the

side members

30, 31 as viewed in Fig. l. The central stapling head is adjustably connected to the transversely extending member 52 and forms a guide for the punch 54 which makes the handle receiving slot in the side of the mat adjacent thereto. The movable or operative portions of the two end stapling heads on each side of the machine are adjustably connected as by

brackets

75, 76, 77, 7S to longitudinally extending plate-like members S5, 56 projecting from opposite sides of the transversely extending ram 37 to which they are adjustably clamped in a manner similar to that in which the members 50, 51 are adjustably iixed to the member 52. The movable portion of the central heads on either side of the machine is adjustably connected as by a bracket 80 to the ram 37 and carries the punch 54 on its respective side of the machine. The fact that both the stationary and movable portions of the stapling heads or apparatus at either side of the machine are supported for relative adjustment longitudinally of the runway for the mat trays and that the heads at opposite sides of the machine can be relatively adjusted transversely of the runway, allows the machine to be set up to operating upon mats of diflferent patterns and sizes.

The die 60 at either side of the machine for the cooperating punch 54 is secured to a longitudinally extending member 61 adjustably connected as by clamp plates 81 to the transversely extending members 33 so that they can be moved to accommodate mats of diiferent sizes. The members 61 also form the anvils or clinch blocks of the stapling apparatus. In the particular basket shown the two end staples on either side are positioned diagonal with respect to the length of the reinforcing strips and the center staple, which is offset to one side with respect to the slot for the handle, is positioned normal to the length of the reinforcing strips, but these are mere matters of design as is the fact that the stapling heads on opposite sides of the ram are of a diterent hand with respect to one another.

Auxiliary equipment for the stapling heads includes suitable Wire feeding apparatus of commercial construction designated generally by the reference character F and suitably supported on the inner sides of the

end members

30, 31 and operated by pawl and ratchet mechanisms, the pawls of which are connected by mechanism including levers 62 to the ram 37.

The mats M may be woven on the trays T but they are preferably formed at some other location and brought in stacks or bundles to the stapling apparatus on trucks or the like. At the stapling 4apparatus the mats are placed on the trays by operators at opposite ends of the machine and the trays alternately moved into stapling and punching position underneath the stapling and punching heads. As the trays are moved into stapling and punching position they close one or the other of two switches connected to one or the other of the members 33 in position to be engaged by suitable adjustable trips or stops on the respective trays. Only the switch 65 carried by the right-hand or front member 33 and the stop 66 on the right-hand tray T which actuates the switch 65 are shown on the drawing. The switches 65 are in parallel circuit with one another and the closing of either switch establishes an electric circuit for the motor 48 which causes the drive shaft 47 to make a single revolution. As the shaft 47 approaches its starting position a trip 67 adjustably secured to it opens a switch 68 in series circuit with the switches 65 thereby disconnecting and stopping the motor. The opening of switch 68 opens a delayed closing timing switch (not shown) in series circuit therewith which prevents reenergization of the motor .4 upon the reclosing of switch 68 as the trip 67 coasts or drifts thereby and gives the operator time to retract the mat tray. Alternatively any form of single revolution clutch mechanism having a holding circuit or similar interlock to prevent successive operation of the driving shaft without retraction of the particular tray underneath the stapling and punching heads at the time of the last stapling and punching operation may be substituted for the control described. The forward positions of the trays, that is, their positions underneath the stapling and punching heads is determined or limited by adjustable stops underneath their rear corners which engage abutments adjacent to the runways. Only the stop 70 and the abutment 71 for the right-hand tray T appears in the drawing. Alternatively the runway for the trays may be continuous or semi-continuous in which event a succession of trays may be moved therealong in a single direction and halted instantaneously during the punching and stapling operation. Y

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that a simple inexpensive stapling and punching machine has been provided which performs a multiplicity of operations on two or more sides of a basket mat simultaneously, and with a minimum of time and effort on the part of the operator or operators. While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and it is my intention to hereby cover all adaptations, modifications and uses which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a basket fabricating machine, a frame comprising two spaced side members, a iirst transverse member extending from one of said side members to the other and xedly secured thereto adjacent to their lower ends, means adjustably connected to said first transverse member forming a runway extending transversely of said irst transverse member, a second transverse member above first transverse member extending from one of said side members to the other, a plurality of rst longitudinal members extending lengthwise of said runway adjacent to said side members, means connecting said rst longitudinal members to said second transverse member for adjustment relative to one another, a plurality of stapling heads connected to each of said longitudinal members for adjustment lengthwise of said runway, a plurality of clinch blocks connected to said rst transverse member for adjustment relative to one another, a ram slidably supported in said frame above said second transverse member, means for reciprocating said ram, a plurality of second longitudinal members extending lengthwise of said runway adjacent to said side members, means connecting said second longitudinal members to said ram for adjustment relative to one another, means adjustably connected to said second longitudinal members for actuating said heads upon reciprocation of said ram, a work carrier adapted to hold a basket blank, means supporting said work carrier on said runway for movement to and from a position in which `a blank carried thereby has a plurality of its sides underneath a plurality of said stapling heads, and means for automatically actuating said ram in timed relation to the movement of said work carrier.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,254,779 Craig et al. Ian. 29, 1918 1,612,176 Campbell Dec. 28, 1926 1,612,207 Norton Dec. 28, 1926 2,070,704 Anderson Feb. 16, 1937 2,509,870 Larsson May 30, 1950 2,554,026 Harrison May 22, 1951 2,569,355 Tubbs Sept. 25, 1951