US3161221A - Apparatus for punching slat assemblies - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1964 A. c. TAYLOR 3,151,221

APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING SLAT ASSEMBLIES Filed Oct. 25. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira 21 23 29 INVENTOR ATTORNEY$ Dec. 15, 1964 c, TAYLOR 3,161,221

APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING SLAT ASSEMBLIES Filed Oct. 25. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 g g A 50 $1 52 INVENTOR A real G/unJe; 721710 /dmu MJMvW/W ATTORNEYS Dec. 15, 1964 A. c. TAYLOR 3,161,221

APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING SLAT ASSEMBLIES Filed Oct. 25. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR A/{red Char/es 7 7 BY JWXY MWQZZM Y 771M 41 ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPARATUS; FDR PUNQHENG SLAT ASSEMBLIES Aifrerl (Zharles Taylor, Qlayiield, Brisbane, Queensland,

Australia, assignor to Hunter Douglas International (Quebec) Ltd, Montreal, Quebec, (Ianada Filed Get. 25, 1961, Sex. No. 147 ,621. (Ilaims priority, application Austraiia, Get. 28, 1969, 66,069 6 Ciairns. (Cl. HE -lit) This invention relates to apparatus for punching slat assemblies, and it has more particular reference to apparatus for punching the rolled-edge joints of certain types of slat assemblies which are usable for awnings, screens, blinds, doors or the like.

it is well-known to provide an awning or the like in which a number of narrow metal slats are joined side by side in parallel relationship, each slat having each longitudinal edge rolled for hooked engagement with an oppositely-rolled edge of the slat immediately adjacent on either side to form hinged connections. To prevent adjacent slats from sliding longitudinally relative to one another, it is customary to punch each joint on the inner face of the assembly near to each end thereof, this operation having been done to date by manual punching or pinching of each individual joint. It will therefore be appreciated that considerable time, care and effort have been required for this purpose up to the present time, with resultantly high operational costs.

The present invention has been devised to simplify the procedure in punching slat joints of this type, and it accordingly has for its principal object the provision of apparatus of relatively simple and inexpensive construction which may be used with ease by even an unskilled operator to achieve rapid and accurate punching.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the aforementioned type for punching slat joints, such apparatus lending itself to semi-automatic operation in a most reliable and efiicient manner. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter apparent.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides broadly in apparatus for punching rollededge joints of slot assemblies, including a punch-mounting frame adapted to be moved transversely across the slat assembly and having an engagement member adapted to engage contact portions of the slats; a punch mounted on the frame and adapted to occupy a punching position adjacent a slat joint when the engagement member is engaged with a contact portion of a slat, and means for actuating the punch when it is in a punching position so that the adjacent slat joint will be punched. Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one end of a table having fitted thereon slat-punching apparatus in accordance with the invention, the table being shown partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, also broken away, of the table, slat assembly and slat-punching apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the inner side of the slat-punching apparatus, with the punch thereof in inoperative attitude, and

FIG. 4 is a broken-away, outer side elevation of the slat-punching apparatus, showing the punch in operative attitude.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown one end of a fiat, rectangular table 10 mounted on legs 11 and supporting a slat assembly 12 of which the slat joints are to be punched. The end of the table it) which is shown is provided with slat-punching apparatus, as illustrated, while it is to be understood that the other end of the table which is not shown also has thereon slat-punching apparatus which is of identical but oppositvely-arranged construction.

The slat assembly 12 is of normal rectangular shape, being made up of a series of parallel narrow metal slats 13 of arcuate cross-section, each of which has its longitudinal edges oppositely rolled, each edge of a slat 13 being engaged hingedly with an oppositely-rolled edge of an adjacent slat to form a joint 14. As shown in FIG. 4, each slat 13 has one edge 15 simply rolled in the direction of curvature of the body of the slat, but the other edge 16 is oppositely rolled adjacent a longitudinal shoulder of the slat, with the result that the joints 14 protrude on that side of the assembly 12 on which the slats 13 have their centres of curvature. This is the inner side of the assembly, whereas the other or outer side of the assembly is that which is normally arranged to face upwards in an assembled awning. As previously mentioned, the joints 14 are to be punched on their inner faces, and the assembly 12 is therefore disposed on the table It so that the inner side thereof faces upwards, the protruding joints 14 then also facing upwards.

At the end or transverse edge of the table 10, there is fixedly mounted an edge-mounting strip 17 lying fiat along the edge of the table and extending inwards for a short distance, while a vertical edge-retaining bar 18 is secured outwardly thereof so that the end of the slat assembly 12 may lie on the strip 17 with the ends of the slats l3 retained on the table and aligned by the edge retaining bar 18. Each end of the edge-mounting strip 17 extends beyond the table 10 and has secured thereto at right angles a horizontal, longitudinal and outwardlyextending supporting bar 19 having at its outer end a mounting block 2% for a transverse guide rod 21 arranged parallel to the edge-mounting strip 17 but spaced outwardly thereof and at a slightly higher level. It is to be understood that the word longitudinal" is used herein relative to the direction of the length of the table It and slats 13, while transverse has reference to the direction at right angles to or across the table 10 and slats l3.

Mounted for sliding movement along the guide rod 21 is a punch-mounting frame, indicated generally by the numeral 22. For this purpose, there is provided a pivot sleeve 23 closely slidable along the guide rod 21 and pivotable thereabout, the sleeve 23 also passing through and welded to an upstanding longitudinal frame arm 24 which extends over the edge-mounting strip 17 but may be raised above the strip 17 and moved pivotally clear thereof outwardly of the end of the table 10 by pivoting the sleeve 23 about the guide rod 21. In this regard, an upward extension plate 25 0f the frame arm 24 is provided at one side, hereinafter referred to as the front side, with a Weighted block 26 adapted to hold the frame arm 24 normally over the strip 17, but a pivot-control rod 27 extends upwards from the block 26 and has an upper knob 28 so that the punch-mounting frame 22 may be pivoted as aforementioned about the guide rod 21. At the same time, a draw-control rod 29 extends forwards from the frame arm 24 and has a front hand knob 30 whereby p 3 v I V the frame arm 24 and punch-mounting frame 22 may be drawn backwardsor forwards transversely with sliding movement of the pivot sleeve 23 along the guide rod 21.

Secured to the rear face of the extension plate 25 and extending rearwards thereof is a mounting bracket -31 for a solenoid 32,.the' latter being supported thereon with its core 33 arranged in vertically slidable manner. The upper end 34 of the solenoid core33 extends freely above the housing for the coil of the solenoid 32, while the lower end 35 of the solenoid core '33 passes through an aperture in the solenoid mounting bracket 31 and is therefore free to move reciprocably past and parallel to the frame arm 24 directly above the edgemounting strip 17. A bar.36

through the lower end 35 of the solenoid core 33 has at each end a light tension spring 37 extending vertically upwards and connected to a respective upper mountinghook' 38 secured to a top plate39 of the coil housing of the a solenoid 32. Thus, the solenoid core 33 will normally be maintained in the uppermost position shown in FIG. 3 by the action of the springs 37 except when the solenoid 32 is actuated as hereinafter described.

To the rear face. of the frame arm 24 directly beneath the solenoid core 33, there is secured a punch-mounting block 40 having therethrough a vertical, round-section aperture 41 coaxial with the solenoid core 33, this aperture a slat joint 14. The upper end of the punch 42 extends above the top ofthe punch-mounting block 40 so that its upper extremity may be struck by the descending solenoid I 'punch 42, while release of the button 64 will de-energise v 4 v v of the spring 59, the rear end of the trip-mounting block 52 will normally be in a raised attitude, while the front end of the trip rod 53 will bein its lowermost attitude, the trip-mounting block 52 being urged by the spring 59 against a limiting stop lug 6t) on the punch-mounting block 49. The adjustable clearance screw 50 of the yoke member 44 will be located in a recess 61 in the upper surface of the trip-mounting block 52 in rear of the pivot axis 5L The punch-mounting block 40 also has at its rear end a mounting plate 62 for a microswitch 63 arranged with its contact button 64 adjacent the rear end of the trip rod 53 and inline therewith when the latter is in its afore- V mentioned normal attitude in which the front end is lower -most.' Standard electrical connections extend from the microswitch 63 through a lead 65 to the contacts of the solenoid 32 in a contact box 66, the latter, also having standard electrical connections (notshown) to a supply of mains electricity. Thus, depression of the contact button 64 of the microswitch 63 will cause thetsolenoid 32 to be actuated to move its core 33 downwards against the the solenoid 32, and the core 33 will be returned to uppermost position'by the springs 37. The 'microswitch 63 may be mounted adjustably by means of] screws in slotted holes in the plater62 so that its location and that of the button The free inner end 3 0 a slide shoe 67 secured adjustably as to height by means 64- relative to the rear end of the trip 'rod' 53 may be adjustably varied. 1 1 v of the frame'arm 24 is provided with of bolts in slotted holes through the frame arm 24 andan core 33, andit has fixed to its upper end a' yoke member] 44 disposedv at an angle to the punch-mounting block 49, as illustrated.

The front end of ma ors member 44 has a vertical aperture 45 slidably accommodating a guide pin 46 secured to and extending upwards from the punch-mounting block upward shoe-mounting arm 68. The slide shoe 67 has a a non-abrasive lower contact surface adapted to ride across J the slat joints 14 so that the latter may support the punch- 40, a compression spring 47 about, the pin 46 and, between the yoke 44 and block 40 acting normallyto maintaintheyoke 44 in uppermost position in which its rear portion engages under a washer 48 mounted adjustably as to height on a limiting pin 49 of the block 40. The rear extremity of the yoke 44 is vertically bored and tapped to accommodate .screW-threadedly an adjustable clearance screw 50 44 as previously mentioned.

On the inner side of the punch-mounting block 40, there t against the edge-retain ng bar 18. The rear edge of the is a horizontal pivot-pin 51 providing a pivot axis for a trip-mounting block 52 arranged paraliel to the block' -t) and adapted to be movedpivotally in a transverse plane. I The lower section of the trip-mounting block 52 beneath the pivotpin 51'hasna lengthwise bore housing a slidable trip rod 53 which extends f'romeach end thereof, and the front end of the trip rod. 53 has fixed thereto an upwardly extending guide and stabilising lug 54. having an aperture through which may pass slidably a guide pin 55 secured-to on the spring-mounting plate 56, while its front end is secured by a pin 58 to the trip rod 53. In'this way, the

trip rod 53 will normally be urged in a forward direction to a foremost position in which the guide and stabilising lug 54v-is spaced in front of the front end of the trip-mounting block 52. 7 1

The pivot pin 51 is disposed towards the front endof the trip-mounting block 52, and a front tension spring 59 connects the upper front portion of the block 52 to a forward position on the punch-mounting block 40. By virtue mounting frame 22Qd uring sliding movement. At the same time, at the front of the frame arm '24 directly above the edge-retaining bar 18, there is aroller'69 adapted to enhaving its plain rolled edge 15 towards the front of the 'table and the other rolled edge 16 (adjacent the slat shoulder)" at the rear, the endsof the slats being align'ed rearmost slat is then hooked over a fixed hook strip 71 secured to the edge mounting strip 17, while'at spaced positions along the rear edge of the table 10, the slat edge is similarly engaged with adjustably-p ositioned hook strips On the other hand, to grip the (front edge of the foremost slat or any other slat in front of the machine, the

guide rod 21 has a loose sleeve 73 with a catch bar' and knob75, a hook'76 thereof being engaged over and nto the rolled slat edge. By pullingthe knob 75 forwards, the catchbar 74 may be drawn forwards to stretch the slat assembly to desired tautness ofthe joints, and when the bar 74 is then released, it will remain in'this stretched position because the sleeve 73 is arranged to hag/e a lever-type, frictional catch action onv the guide ro 21; 7

f If the punch-mounting frame 22 is initially taken to its ,rearinost position, the" roller 69'wil1ride on .the'ramp and will support the frame with the slide shoe 67 and trip rod 53 above theslat assemblyL The punch-mountframe-22may thenlbe drawn forwards by. the hand knob 30 of the draw-control rod 29 until'the trip rod 53 I and punch 42 pass the firstor rearmost edge; whereupon the roller 69. Willhave moved oif'the ramp '70, and the slide shoe 67 will be in contact withthe slat joints. The

front end of theutrip rod 53 will then be down against the slat and will come in contact with the first protruding joint 14, this being the initial or contact attitude of the trip rod 53, the punch 42 then being slightly in rear of the same joint 14. Further forward movement of the knob 30 will cause the trip rod 53 to be depressed rearwards until it reaches an engaged attitude at which it depresses the contact button 64 of the microswitch 63, and at which also the punch 42 will be directly over the slat joint in a punching position. Thus, if the power is on, the solenoid 32 will be actuated to move the core 33 downwards to strike the punch 42 so that the punchtip 43 will strike and punch the two adjacent uppermost sheet metal rolled portions of the two slat edges constituting the joint 14.

As the punch 42 moves downwards, the attached yoke 44 and clearance screw 50 also move down so that the clearance screw 50 will strike the trip-mounting block 52 and cause its rear end to move down and its front end up as it pivots about the pivot pin 51. Thus, the front end of the trip rod 53 will be raised clear of the joint 14, whereupon the spring '7 will return it forwards to a position ahead of the joint, as shown in FIG. 4, while the rear end of the trip rod 53 will move clear of the microswitch button 64, so that the solenoid 32 will be dc-energised and the core 33 will return to uppermost position.

The punch 42 and yoke 44 will thus also return to uppermost position by virtue of the spring 47, whereupon the clearance screw 50 will also be uppermost, and the spring 59 may return the trip-mounting block 52 to engage the stop lug 60. The trip rod 53 will then be again in line with the contact button 64, with its front end lowermost ready for contact with the next joint. This sequence of operations will be repeated as the apparatus is drawn forwards across the slats of the slat assembly, each joint being punched as the trip rod 53 comes to engaged attitude. As the punch-tip 43 is located at a short distance from the edge-retaining bar 18, the series of punched depressions or perforations in the slat joints will lie in a straight line which is spaced from and parallel to the edges of the slats. The slat assembly 12 may then have the opposite ends of the slats punched in the same manner by the identical but oppositely-arranged apparatus at that end of the table, the direction of movement of the apparatus for the punching operations being the same.

If desired, slat assemblies punched in this manner may also be provided with locking rivets of the type described 111 our Australian patent application No. 44,244/58, so that a double locking action will be achieved, and also added attractiveness will be given to the ends of the joints.

While apparatus as described and illustrated will therefore be found very effective in achieving the objects for which the invention has been devised, it will of course be understood that this particular exemplary embodiment of the inventionis illustrative only and may be subject to many modifications of constructional detail and design. The invention will be understood to embrace all modifications and variations as lie within its scope and ambit, as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assemblies, including a table adapted to support a slat assembly, said table being provided with an edge-retaining bar and an edge-retaining means in parallelism across the table and adapted to retain the slats thereon with their ends in alignment; a guide rod, a punch-mounting frame mounted for sliding movement across the table on the guide rod in such manner that the frame may be moved transversely across the slats at or near to the end of the assembly; an engagement member associated with the frame and adapted to engage successive contact portions of the slats; a punch mounted on the frame above the slats and adapted to be moved downwards on to the latter, the punch occupying a punching position above a slat joint when the engagement member is engaged with a contact portion of a slat; and means for actuating the punch when it is in a punching position to cause it to move downwards to punch the slat joint therebeneath.

2. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assemblies according to claim 1, wherein the guide rod is spaced from the punch of the punch-mounting frame, the latter having a pivot sleeve fitted slidably and pivotally on the guide rod so that the frame may be moved slidably along the guide rod or pivotally raised about the axis of the guide rod and sleeve to raise the punch clear of the slat assembly, said punch-mounting frame being provided with a slide shoe adjacent the punch and adapted to bear slidably against the slat assembly when the frame is moved slidably in its pivotally lowered attitude.

3. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assemblies according to claim 1, wherein there are provided means for securing the slat assembly on the table in a stretched condition, said means comprising fixed hook members at one side of the table adapted to be engaged with the free rolled edge of the end slat of the assembly at that side, and adjustable hook means at the other side of the table adapted to be engaged with a slat on that side and to be secured in a desired position to tension the assembly, said adjustable hook means being mounted for sliding movement on the guide rod.

4. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assemblies, including a table adapted to support a slat assembly, said table being provided with an edge-retaining bar and edge-retaining means in parallelism across the table and adapted to retain the slats thereon with their ends in alignment; a guide rod, a punch-mounting frame mounted for sliding movement across the table on the guide rod in such manner that the frame may be moved transversely across the slats at or near to the end of the assembly; an engagement member associated with the frame and adapted to engage successive contact portions of the slats; a punch mounted on the frame above the slats and adapted to be moved downwards on to the latter, the punch occupying a punching position above a slat joint when the engagement member is engaged with a contact portion of a slat; and means for actuating the punch when it is in a punching position to cause it to move downwards to punch the slat joint therebeneath, the guide rod being spaced from the punch of the punch-mounting frame, the latter having a pivot sleeve fitted slidably and pivotally on the guide rod so that the frame may be moved slidably along the guide rod or pivotally raised about the axis of the guide rod and sleeve to raise the punch clear of the slat assembly, said punchmounting frame being provided with a slide shoe adjacent the punch and adapted to bear slidably against the slat assembly when the frame is moved slidably in its pivotally lowered attitude; wherein the means for actuatmg the punch includes a punch-actuating member consisting of a solenoid device having its core arranged to strike the punch to move it against the slat joint when the punch is in a punching position and connector means comprising electrical switch means associated with the engagement member and electrically connected to the solenoid, the switch means acting to actuate the solenoid to operate the punch each time the engagement member is engaged with a contact portion of a slat; the engagement member being a trip member normally urged towards the slat assembly.

5. Apparatus for punching rolled-edge joints of slat assemblies according to claim 4, wherein the trip member is pivotally mounted and also spring-loaded for sliding movement relative to the frame and punch between an initial contact position in which it may make contact with a slat joint and an engaged position in which the punch s in its punching position, operation of the punch when it is in this position acting to clear the trip member pivotally from the slat joint in a direction away from the slat assembly and joints so that the trip member may return slidably under the action of its spring-loading to its initial 7 References Cited by the Examiner position ready for contact with another slat j oint. it s UNITED STATES PATENTS 6. Apparatus for-punchmg rolled-edge oints Q1 slat assemblies according to claim 4, wherein the trip member 211701609 3 Nedal is space d from: the switch mea'risin i ts'ipitial position but 5 5 N H W111 move shdably nto contact therewith 111 its Sflld en- 702 443 1/54 a G tB gaged position so that the solenoid wiilbe actuated to rea H operate the punch, the latterrthen'ac'ting to clear the tnip I l Y a I member piyotall'y' from the switch means .to 'de-energiz'e MICHAEL R N P i Examiner the solenoid. 10 CHARLES W. LANHAM,'Examinr.

Claims (1)

1. APPARATUS FOR PUNCHING ROLLED-EDGE JOINTS OF SLAT ASSEMBLIES, INCLUDING A TABLE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A SLAT ASSEMBLY, SAID TABLE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN EDGE-RETAINING BAR AND AN EDGE-RETAINING MEANS IN PARALLELISM ACROSS THE TABLE AND ADAPTED TO RETAIN THE SLATS THEREON WITH THEIR ENDS IN ALIGNMENT; A GUIDE ROD, A PUNCH-MOUNTING FRAME MOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ACROSS THE TABLE ON THE GUIDE ROD IN SUCH MANNER THAT THE FRAME MAY BE MOVED TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE SLATS AT OR NEAR TO THE END OF THE ASSEMBLY; AN ENGAGEMENT MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRAME AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SUCCESSIVE CONTACT PORTIONS OF THE SLATS; A PUNCH MOUNTED ON THE FRAME ABOVE THE SLATS AND ADAPTED TO BE MOVED DOWNWARDS ON TO THE LATTER, THE PUNCH OCCUPYING A PUNCHING POSITION ABOVE A SLAT JOINT WHEN THE ENGAGEMENT MEMBER IS ENGAGED WITH A CONTACT PORTION OF A SLAT; AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE PUNCH WHEN IT IS IN A PUNCHING POSITION TO CAUSE IT TO MOVE DOWNWARDS TO PUNCH THE SLAT JOINT THEREBENEATH.

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