US3174669A - Web guide means for blank forming mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March 23, 1965 P. ZERNOV 3,174,659

WEB GUIDE MEANS FOR BLANK FORMING MECHANISM Filed April 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [F0 /9 go INVENTOR.

175 7'5? ZEe No BY March 23, 1965 z ov 3,174,669

WEB GUIDE MEANS FOR BLANK FORMING MECHANISM Filed April 17, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 57-512 ZEEA/Ol/ United States Patent 3,174,669 WEB GUHDE MEANS FGR BLANK FGRMENG MEQHANISM Peter Zernov, Wauwatosa, Wis, assignor to Zerand Corporation, llienomonee Falls, Win, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Apr. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 273,726 6 Claims. (Cl. 226-117) This invention relates generally to carton blank forming mechanism which has a pair of continuously active metering feed rolls for feeding a web to a pair of intermittent feed rolls, and between which pairs of rolls a web loop is built up during an operation by the mechanism on the web. More particularly, this invention relates to means located between the pairs of metering and feed rolls for accurately supporting and guiding the web.

In prior art mechanism of the above general type, considerable difiiculty is often experienced in accurately guiding the rapidly moving web, particularly where a loop is required to be built up in the web. The web sometimes shifts from one side to the other, and also tends to pivot laterally either about the brake bar, if such is used, or about the intermittent feed rolls.

Accordingly, the present invention provides guide means between the pairs of metering and intermittent feed rolls for overcoming the above shortcomings and difi'iculties of prior art mechanisms. More specifically, the present invention provides a curved apron having side guide walls which keep the web square in respect to the feed rolls, and which prevents lateral pivoting of the web.

These and other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, in section of mechanism embodying the present invention;

FTGURE 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, but on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4- is a sectionai view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one of the side walls shown in the other views, but on an enlarged scale; and

FXGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line f-6 in FIGURE 2, but on an enlarged scale.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, the carton blank forming apparatus includes a cutter creaser press P having a base 1 which supports the upper, fixed platen 2 on the four vertical corner posts 3. A lower platen 4 is vertically reciprocable on these posts by the two pairs of eccentrically driven connecting rods 5 (only one shown) which are journalled at the lower ends of crankshafts 6 (only one shown) of the base.

One of the platens carries the cutting and creasing die '7 while the other carries a base plate 8.

The press also includes a pair or" intermittent feed rolls IF, IFU, a pair of continuously active metering feed rolls F, FU, and an intermittently acting brake bar BB. Only one roll of each pair of intermittent and metering rolls is positively driven, as follows. The feed roll F has a gear 10 on the end of its shaft which is driven from gear 6c through gears 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16; gears 12 and 13 are fixed to a cam shaft 17 while gears 14 and 15 are both fixed to shaft 18. A gear 19 on the end of the feed roll IFU is then driven through a gear 20 from another gear 21 fixed on roll F. These gears and shafts are all suitably journalled in the side walls S and S1 of the press, and if further reference to them is deemed necessary, or desirable, reference may be had to my co- 3,174,569 Fatented Mai. 23, 1965 ice pending US. application Serial No. 256,020, filed February 4, 1963 entitled Drive Mechanism For Carton Blank Forming Press, issued as US. Patent No. 3,169,456, on February 16, 1965. It is believed suflicient to say here that a thrust link 22 is vertically reciprocated by a cam 23 on shaft 17 to cause the brake bar to intermittently clamp and stop the web W. Another thrust link 24 is actuated by a cam 25 on the shaft 17, to in turn cause the feed roll IF, through the pivoted bracket 26, to open and thereby stop the feed of the web.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the brake bar BB is clamped against its cooperating bar BBU, and the intermittent teed roll IF is open.

The metering rolls act to continuously feed the web at a precise and constant rate, while the intermittent feed rolls only act to feed the web intermittently. More specifically, the lower intermittent feed roll 1F is swingable, due to the action of cam 25, into and out of nipping engagement with the driven upper roll IFU. The lower roll is driven only through the web and a certain amount of slip may occur between rolls IF and IFU when the web is of a certain tautness. The cam 26 causes the brake bar to stop the web when the intermittent rolls are open and not feeding, as when the press is forming the blank. In other words, generally speaking, the bar clamps the web when intermittent feed rolls are open; and the bar is open when said rolls are in closed feeding position.

During the time the bar is holding the web, the continuously active metering rolls cause a loop L (FIG. 1} to be formed in the Web.

instead of the type of intermittent feed rolls described above and in which one moves relative to one another to create nipping engagement or release of the web, other types of intermittent feed rolls can be utilized with the present invention. For example, that type of intermittent feed rolls which are variable in speed to provide an intermittent web feeding action may be used. In that case, the use of a brake bar may be eliminated because the intermittent feed rolls when stopped may function to hold the web and permit loop formation.

With the above type of apparatus, a free loop is thus formed in the web and used up many times per minute, and it is this free loop that has presented difficulties in accurately guiding and controlling the rapidly moving web. The tendency for such a web is to swing laterally or actually pivot sideways about the intermittent feed rolls or about the brake bar when they are acting to clamp and hold the web,

It has heretofore been proposed to use side walls as guides on the straight or flat portion 39 of the feed table. This has not solved the problem, however, for at least two reasons, (1) when the web is straight or uncurved, its edges often do not have sufficient strength to withstand the pressure and as a result they rupture and cannot guide the web, and (2) the guiding action of the side walls is located too closely adjacent the point where pivoting tends to occur and it is insuthciently effective to provide the necessary holding and guiding ability.

In accordance with the present invention, a curved apron 34 is provided between the metering rolls F, FU and the intermittent feed rolls IF, IFU, and the free loop L forms below this apron, and the web then passes over the apron and is supported thereby. This apron has a vertical attaching plate 35 welded to each end by which it is secured to the side walls S, S1.

As it passes over the apron, the web is formed into a curve which provides considerable stiffness or lateral rigidity to the web in this area, even though the web stock is of light gauge and does not have much body. A pair of side guide walls 36 and 37 are provided over the 3 apron, one being located on each side of the web. The lower edges of these walls are curved so as to be complementary to and lie closely adjacent the upper curved surface of the apron. These walls are laterally adjustable (as will appear later) across the width of the apron so that the edges of the Web bear firmly against them.

In other words, the web is trapped between the walls as it is guided by and moves rapidly past them. The walls must be readily adjustable so as to accommodate various widths of web stock, which widths vary from roll to roll.

Guide means, now to be described, are also provided over the fiat portion of the table, and this guide means together with the apron side walls, are adjustable together laterally, as follows.

A manually adjustable, threaded shaft 40 extends transversely above the flat portion 30 of the table and is rotatably mounted in the side walls S, S1 of the machine by suitable bearings 41 and 42. A handwheel 4-3 is fixed to one end of the shaft for adjustment by the operator. The shaft has oppositely pitched threaded portions 44 and 45 on which are threadably engaged the blocks 46 and 47, respectively. Longitudinally extending strips 48 and 49 are secured to the bottom of the blocks and are spaced a small distance above the fiat table portion 39. It will be noted that these strips extend over the apron 34 and are of sufiicient width so as to overlay a portion of the web (FIG. 3) which passes beneath'them. A guide rail 51) is secured in the groove Silain the lower side of each strip, and these rails bear tightly on the fiat portion 30 to prevent the web from running therebeneath. The rails are forced against the table portion 30 by means of the three set-screws 51 which are held by the lock nuts 51a. The inner side surfaces of these rails are in exact alignment with the inner side surface of their respective apron guide walls, so that they form, in effect, a continuous surface for guiding the web edges.

The side walls 36 and 37 are rigidly fixed by cap bolts 53 to a block 54 that in turn is fixed by cap bolts 55 to the overhanging portion of the longitudinal strips 48 V and 49. By turning handwheel 43 in one direction or the other, the guide rails and their aligned side Walls 36 and 37 are moved inwardly together toward one another, or are moved outwardly together to accommodate different web widths. Thus the web edges bear firmly against the longitudinally aligned inner surfaces of the apron side walls and their respective guide rails.

It will be noted that the side walls of the apron are located immediately after the metering rolls in respect to direction of web travel. At this location they are particularly eflective to prevent web swinging in a lateral direction and about the closed intermittent feed rolls,

as an axis. The web is kept square with respect to the rolls and is accurately guided at all times with no dam age to the web edges.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing'out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention,

I claim:

1. In carton blank forming apparatus having acutting and creasing press into which a web is fed, a pair of metering feed rolls and a pair of intermittent feed rolls for said web and between which pairs the web is intermittently built up into a loop and then drawn taut when the intermittent feed rolls are acting to feed the web, a curved apron between said pairs of rolls and over which the web is formed into a curve as it is drawn taut and travels over said apron, and a pair of side guide walls over said apron and between which said web is guided, said walls bearing against the opposite edges of the curved portion of said web, the lowermost portion of said metering feed rolls being located approximately at the same height as the lowermost portion of said apron and adja cent thereto, whereby said loop is formed below said apron and said web is always in contact with said apron and located between said apron side guide walls.

2. In carton blank forming apparatus having a cutting and creasing press into which a web is fed, a pair of meter'ing feed rolls and a pair of intermittent feed rolls for said web and between which pairs the web is intermittently built up into 'a loop and then drawn taut when the intermittent feed rolls are acting to feed the web, a lower and downwardly curved apron between said pairs of rolls and having an upper curved surface over which the web is formed into a curve as it is drawn taut and travels over said apron, and a pair of side guide walls over said apron surface and between which said web is guided, and means for laterally adjusting said walls to bear against the opposite edges of the curved web, the lowermost portion of said metering feed rolls being located approximately at the same height as the lowermost portion of said apron and adjacent thereto, whereby said loop is formed below said apron and said web is always in contact with said apron and located between said apron side guide walls.

3. In carton blank forming apparatus having a cutting and creasing press, a pair of metering feed rolls and a pair of intermittent feed rolls for feeding a web to said press, an intermittently acting brake bar located between said pairs of feed rolls for stopping said web and building a web loop between said pairs of rolls, a curved apron between said pair of metering rolls and said brake bar and over which apron the web is drawn taut by action of the intermittent feed rolls when the brake bar is released, and a pair of side guide walls over said apron and between which said web is guided, said walls bearing against the opposite edges of the curved web, the lowermost portion of said metering feed rolls being located approximately at the same height as the lowermost portion of said apron and adjacent thereto, whereby said loop is formed below said apron and said web is always in contact with said apron and located between .said apron side guide walls.

4. In carton blank forming apparatus having a cutting and creasing press, a pair of metering feed rolls and a pair of intermittent feed rolls for feeding a web to said I press, an intermittently acting brake bar located between said pairs of feed rolls for stopping said web and building a web loop between said pairs of rolls, a curved lower apron between said pair of metering rolls and said brake bar and having an upper curved surface over which the Web is drawn taut by action of the intermittent feed rolls when the brake bar is released, and a pair of side guide Walls over said apron and between which said web is guided, and means for laterally adjusting said walls to bear against the opposite edges of the curved web, the lowermost portion of said metering feed rolls being located approximately at the same height as the lowermostportion of said apron and adjacent thereto, whereby said loop is formed below said apron and said web is always in contact with said apron and located between said apron side guide walls.

5. In carton blank forming apparatus having a cutting and creasing press into which a web is fed, a pair of metering feed rolls and a pair of intermittent feed rolls for said web and between which pairs of rolls the web is built up into a loop, a curved apron between said pairs of rolls and over which the web is drawn taut by action of the intermittent feed rolls when the brake bar is released, a flat table also between said pairs of rolls and extending rearwardly from said apron as a continuation thereof and over which the web travels as it leaves said curved apron; and a pair of laterally spaced, web edge. guide means extending longitudinally over said aprorr and said flat table and between which means said web is guided, said means adapted to bear against the opposite edges of said web, the lowermost portion of said meter-' ing vfeed rolls being located approximately at the same:

height as the lowermost portion of said apron and adjacent thereto, whereby said loop is formed below said apron and said web is always in contact with said apron and located between said apron side guide walls.

6. In carton blank forming apparatus having a cutting and creasing press, a pair of metering feed rolls and a pair of intermittent feed rolls for feeding a web to said press, an intermittently acting brake bar located between said pairs of feed rolls for stopping said web and building up a Web loop between said pairs of rolls, a curved apron between said pair of metering rolls and said brake bar and over which the web is drawn taut by action of the intermittent feed rolls when the brake bar is released, a flat table also between said pairs of rolls and extending rearwardly from said apron as a continuation thereof and over which the web travels as it leaves said curved apron; and a pair of laterally spaced, web edge guide means extending longitudinally over said apron and said flat table and adapted to bear against the opposite edges of said web for guiding thereof, the lowermost portion of said metering feed rolls being located approximately at the same height as the lowermost portion of said apron and adjacent thereto, whereby said loop is formed below said apron and said web is always in contact with said apron and located between said apron side guide walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,072,122 Montgomery Mar. 2, 1937 2,595,325 Baumgartner May 6, 1952 2,616,689 Baumgartner Nov. 4, 1952 2,652,247 Kane Sept. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 498,343 Canada Dec. 15, 1953

Claims (1)

1. IN CARTON BLANK FORMING APPARATUS HAVING A CUTTING AND CREASING PRESS INTO WHICH A WEB IS FED, A PAIR OF METERING FEED ROLLS AND A PAIR OF INTERMITTENT FEED ROLLS FOR SAID WEB AND BETWEEN WHICH PAIRS THE WEB IS INTERMITTTENTLY BUILT UP INTO A LOOP AND WHEN DRAWN TAUT WHEN THE INTERMITTENT FEED ROLLS ARE ACTING TO FEED THE WEB, A CURVED APRON BETWEEN SAID PAIRS OF ROLLS AND OVER WHICH THE WEB IS FORMED INTO A CURVE AS IT IS DRAWN TAUT AND TRAVELS OVER AND SAID APRON, AND A PAIR OF SIDE GUIDE WALLS OVER SAID APRON AND BETWEEN WHICH SAID WEB IS GUIDED,

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