US3485387A

US3485387A - Book handling mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3485387A
Application number: US761046A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hans A Sickinger; Albert E Sickinger; Armin E Schmidt
Original assignee: Hans Sickinger Co
Current assignee: Hans Sickinger Co
Priority date: 1968-09-20
Filing date: 1968-09-20
Publication date: 1969-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 1986-12-23
Also published as: CA922746A

Description

Dec. 23, 1969 H. A. slcKlNGER ET AL y 3,485,387

BOOK HANDLING MECHANISM s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1968 2 lv( l IP55-.Q NN H@ NN N mr ,.wurwm. A ,I n @gf N www u ,u a MYWR Q Dec. 23, 1969 H. A. slcKlNGER ET Al. 3,485,387

BOOK HANDLING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1968 Dec. 23, 1969 F'iled Sept. 20, 1968 H. A. SICKINGER ET AL BooK HANDLING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 iii- INVENTORS.

United States Patent O 3,485,387 BOOK HANDLING MECHANISM Hans A. Sickinger and Albert E. Sickinger, Bloomfield Hills, and Armin E. Schmidt, Warren, Mich., asslgnprs to Hans Sickinger Co., Pontiac, Mich., a corporatlon of Michigan Filed Sept. 20, 1968, Ser. No. 761,046 Int. Cl. 365g 47/52, 57/081 U.S. Cl. 214--1 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION i Field of the invention The invention relates to transfer mechanisms for spiral or similarly bound -books which are delivered from the binding mechanism and are to be stacked with the binders of alternate books facing in opposite directions so that the stack will be even.

Description of the prior art Spiral binder applying machines conventionally deliver the successive bound books with the same orientation. In the past it has been necessary for an operator to manually reverse every other book before the books are stacked so that they will stack evenly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a ramp which receives successive books from the binder applying machine. A flat-sided receptacle is mounted at the lower end of this ramp and is rockable 4between two positions. In the rst position the open end of the receptacle is aligned with the ramp so that a book will slide into the receptacle. In its second position, the receptacle is reversed so that the book will slide out, and in this position the upper flat `surface of the receptacle is aligned with the ramp. The next book delivered to the ramp will thus slide over the receptacle and will not be reversed, A`first sensing switch on the ramp will be responsive to passage of the first book which enters the receptacle to cause said reversal of the receptacle, which will discharge the -irst book in its reversed position. A second switch responsive to travel of the second book across the top of the reversed receptacle will cause the receptacle to be returned to its irst position, so that the third book will be handled like the iirst book and the fourth book like the second book, etc. Thus, the `books will be delivered with `their bindings in alternate positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a front elevational perspective view of a spiral binder applying machine incorporating the transfer mechanism of this invention, the receptacle being shown in its receiving position;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view in perspective of a portion of the mechanism, the receptacle being shown in its discharge position;

FIGURE 3 is a side cross-sectional view in elevation of the transfer mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a rear cross-sectional View in elevation taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3, and

3,485,387 Patented Dec. 23, 1969l ice FIGURE 5 is a Wiring diagram of the transfer mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The transfer mechanism is shown as being mounted in a spiral binder applying machine generally indicated at 11 in FIGURE l, this machine having a frame generally indicated at 12 adapted to rest on the floor. Components of the machine are described in greater detail in copending application Ser. No. 662,013, filed Aug. 21, 1967 by Hans A. Sickinger and entitled Holding and Releasing Mechanism for Spiral Binder Applying Machines, this application being assigned to the same assignee as the present application. Briefly, frame 12 has left hand and right hand'upright side plates 13 and 14 between which are disposed the main machine components. These side plates are secured together by appropriate cross members such as the upper member 15, shown in FIGURE 1. A wire guide tube 16 is secured to the upper portion of frame 12 adjacent the left hand end thereof, this tube being adapted to guide a wire 17 fed from a spool (not shown). The wire is led downwardly by a pulley 18 to a wire coiling tool 19. The coiling tool has a mandrel surrounded by a slotted member, the wire being coiled by the mandrel and exiting at the right hand end of the tool in the form of a spiral binder which, as it turns, will pass successively through a series of holes in a package of sheets and covers which then become a book 20 (FIG- URE 2) having a spiral wire binder 21.

In order to hold the package of sheets and covers in place for binding, they are initially placed on a pair of hooks 22 and 23. Hooks 22 and 23 will enter holes 24 which are provided in the sheets and covers for the purpose of using the sheets in a ring book. The hooks are secured to a rockable shaft 25, this shaft being actuated by a piston and cylinder motor 26. Hooks 22 and 23 are thus shiftable between an upper position as shown in FIGURE 1 in which they support the package and. a lower position in which the bound book will drop by gravity from the hooks. When the package is initially mounted on the hooks it is clamped firmly in the area of the spiral binder holes by a pair of elongated clamping and spiral guiding members 27 and 28. Member 27 is fixed while member 28 is swingable, being carried by a pair of rods 29 and 31 which are secured to a rockable shaft 32. FIGURE l shows the clamping members in their open position, and after the package is mounted on the hooks member 28 will be swung downwardly to clamp the package in position for binding. After the `binding has taken place and the cutting means indicated at 33 and 34 have cut and properly bent the ends of the binder, member 28 will be swung upwardly and hooks 23 and 24 rocked to release the bound book.

It should be emphasized that this particular spiral binder applying machine is not the only one which could be used with the transfer mechanism of this invention. The machine has been described in order to show the problem which arises when all bound books are discharged in the same orientation from a binding machine :but cannot be stacked until the binding edges of alternate books are reversed.

The transfer mechanism comprises an inclined ramp 35 which is secured between the forward portions of frame members 13 and 14. This ramp has a forwardly facing vertical portion 36 which enables the operator standing in front of the machine to even up the edges of the sheets and covers before they are placed on hooks 22 and 23. Ramp 35 is inclined downwardly and rearwardly, and a receptacle generally indicated at 37 is rockably mounted in general alignment with the lower end of the ramp. Means for mounting the receptacle 37 comprises a base plate 3S extending between frame members 13 and 14 (FIGURE4) and supported thereon by bracketsr39 and 41. The plate carries a pair of bearings 42 and 43 which support a pair of

coaxial shafts

44 and 45 respectively. Receptacle 37 is secured to the facing ends of these shafts as seen in FIGURE 4. More particularly, the receptacle is box-shaped with flat upper and

lower plates

46 and 47, a closed end 48 and an open end 49. The size of receptacle 37 is such that it will amply accommodate a sing-le book 20 which enters opening 49.

Receptacle 37 is so mounted on

shafts

44 and 45 that plate 47 thereof is approximately in a diametral plane of said shafts. When receptacle 37 is in its receiving position, as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 3 and in FIG- URE 4, plate 46 will be above plate 47, whereas in the discharge position shown in dot-dash lines in FIGURE 3 and in FIGURE 2, plate 46 will be below plate 47. A clearance aperture 51 is provided in base plate 38 to permit the swinging of receptacle 37 between its positions.

Base plate'38 is approximately parallel to ramp 35, and

plates

46 and 47 of receptacle 49 are also parallel to these members in both positions. Means are provided for adjusting the distance between base plate 38 and the lower end of ramp 35. This means is seen best in FIG- URE 3 and comprises a plurality of studs 52, each having a shoulder 53 at its upper end supporting the lower end of ramp 35, a projection 54 on the stud entering an aperture in the ramp. The lower ends 55 of the studs are threaded and are secured to the upper portion of -base plate 38 by means of nuts 56 and 57. Thus, by adjusting nuts 56 and 57 on stud 52, the distance between the lower end of ramp 35 and base plate 38 may be adjusted. This in turn will adjust the transverse distance between

plate

46 or 47 and the lower end of the ramp.

The means for rocking receptacle 37 between its positions comprises a piston and cylinder motor 58 secured to one side of base plate 38, the piston rod 59 of this motor carrying a rack 61 traveling in guides 62 and 63 (FIGURE 4) and on a bed 64 carried by the base plate. A gear 65 is mounted on shaft 44 outside bearing 42 and meshes with rack 61, Extension of piston rod 59 will thus cause rack 61 to move from its solid line to its dot-dash line position in FIGURE 3, causing receptacle 37 to move from its solid line to its dot-dash line position.

Means are provided for limiting the stroke of piston 59 and thereby controlling the dot-dash line position of receptacle 37. This means comprises an upright member 66 at the upper end of bed 64 and carrying an adjustable stop I67 in the form of a member threadably mounted in upright 66 and carrying a block nut 68. The lower end of this stop has a rubber bumper 69 which will be engaged by the end of rack 61, The rack and gear are partially enclosed by a transparent protective guard 70 (FIGURE 2).

The means for controlling the shifting of receptacle 37 is seen schematically in FIGURE and comprises a normally open upper sensing switch 71 and a normally closed lower sensing switch 72. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, upper sensing switch 71 is secured to the rearward surface of plate portion 36 and has a sensing element 73 which extends through a slot 74 in ramp 35. Sensing element 73 is inclined in such a manner that it will not interfer with the travel of a book sliding on ramp 35, but will be actuated thereby to momentarily close switch 71.

Switch 72 is mounted on a bracket 75 carried by a portion of frame 12 rearwardly of receptacle 37. This switch has a downwardly extending sensing element 76 which will be engaged =by a book sliding down plate 47 of receptacle 37, when the receptacle is in its `dotdash line position of FIGURE 3. However, sensing element 76 is too high to be actuated by a book which is being discharged from receptacle 37 through its opening 49, when the receptacles 71 and 72 are connected in parallel between electrical power lines 77 and 78 (FIGURE 5). A contact relay CR is connected in series with switches 71 and 72 and operate a normally open holding switch 79 in series with switch 72. An electrically operated dualaction time delay mechanisrnTD is'lalso connected in series with switches 71 and 72 and in -parallel with `Contact relay CR. Time delay mechanism TD controls the opening and closing of a switch 81 in series with a solenoid 82 which operates a valve 83. This valve controls the supply and exhaust of fluid to the head end of motor 58 so that supply of fluid to the. cylinder will cause movement of receptacle 37 from its receiving to its discharging position. A spring 84 in the motor will return the `piston rod and rack to their retracted position, thus returning the receptacle to its receiving position,

In operation, an operator will take the stack of sheets and covers and even up their edges against wall 36. The operator will then hang the pack of sheets and covers on hooks 22 and 23 which will be in their upright position. Clamping and guiding member 28 will then be swung downwardly to clamp the pack in position, and the spiral wire binder will be fed through the holes in the stack and be properly cut. Member 28 will be retracted and hooks 22 and 23 swung downwardly to discharge the bound book.

Assuming that the parts are initially in the solid line position of FIGURE 3, the book, descending on ramp 35 with the spiral binder uppermost or trailing, will momentarily actuate switch 71 by engagement with sensing member 73. Closure of switch 71 will energize contact relay CR which in turn will close holding switch 79. Since switch 72 is normally closed, CR will remain energized even after switch 71 opens. Closure of switch 79 will also energize time delay mechanism TD, which after a time delay wi-ll close switch 81. By that time, book 20 will have entered receptacle 37.

Closure of switch 81 will energize solenoid 82, pressurizing motor 58 and causing rack 61 to rotate receptacle 37 to its discharge position. Book 20 will then slide out of the receptacle with the binder foremost, passing along base plate 38 and onto a receiver such as a transversely moving conveyor shown partially at 85 in FIGURE 2 which could move the book to a stacking station. Various stacking or conveying means could be employed to receive the books 20 being discharged from the transfer mechanism. It should be noted that the book 20 discharged from receptacle 37 will not engage sensing member 76 of switch 72, but will pass below this sensing member.

While the transfer mechanism is operating in the manner aforesaid, the operator will be loading the next group of sheets and covers into the binder applying mechanism. When this next book 20 is discharged from the binding mechanism. When this next book 20 is discharged from the binding mechanism, it will slide down ramp 35 like the previous book with the binder trailing and will momentarily close switch 71; however, this will not cause any change since CR is already energized. The book will slide oif ramp 35 onto plate 47 of receptacle 37 and will continue the travel, sliding off plate 47, engaging sensing member 76 and then sliding onto base plate 38 and olf this base plate to the stacking or conveying means.

The momentary opening of switch 72 will deenergize contact relay CR, thus permitting switch 79 to open, so that when switch 72 again closes the contact relay will remain deenergized. Moreover, opening of switch 72 will again actuate time delay mechanism TD which after a time delay will open switch 81. (An example of a time delay relay TD which could be used is the Agastat time delay relay Model No. 2432-ABB manufactured by Elastic Stop Nut Corp., Agastat Division, Elizabeth, NJ.) This will cause shifting of valve 83 to exhaust motor 58, so that spring 84 can return rack 61 to its retracted position, shifting receptacle 37 back to its receiving position in readiness for another cycle.

It will thus be seen that as successive books drop onto ramp 35 with the same orientation, they will be delivered from plate 38 with successively opposite orientations as far as the spiral wire binder 21 is Concerned.

What is claimed is:

1. In a transfer mechanism, a downwardly inclined ramp, a receptacle at the lower end of said ramp, said receptacle having a flat side, a closed end and an open end, means for moving said receptacle between a receiving position in which its open end faces the lower end of said ramp and said closed end is lowermost, and a discharge position in which said flat side is contiguous with said ramp and said open end is lowermost, means responsive to arrival of a lirst article on said ramp and passage thereof into said receptacle when in its receiving position for moving said receptacle to its discharge position, and means responsive to arrival of a second article on said ramp and passage of said second article across said flat receptacle side for returning said receptacle to its receiving position, whereby said first and said second articles will leave said receptacle with opposite orientations.

2. The combination according to claim 1, said means for moving said receptacle comprising a rockable mount for the receptacle, a reciprocable motor for rocking said receptacle between its positions, said article-responsive means comprising an upper sensing switch responsive to arrival of an article on said ramp, means responsive to actuation of said upper sensing switch to operate said motor so as to shift the receptacle to its discharge position and to disenable said upper sensing switch, and a lower sensing switch responsive to passage of an article across said flat side of the receptacle to operate the motor so as to return said receptacle to its receiving position to re-enable said upper sensing switch.

3. The combination according to claim 2, said reciprocable motor being uid actuated, a valve for controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid to said motor, and a time delay mechanism controlled by both of said sensing switches for operating said valve.

4. In a mechanism for transferring books discharged from a binding mechanism with the same binding orientation, an inclined ramp for receiving the discharged books, a receptacle having a closed end, an open end and ilat sides, means rockably supporting said receptacle adjacent the lower end of said ramp, means for rocking said receptacle between a receiving position in which its open end faces the ramp and its closed end is lowermost, and a discharge position in which the open end is lowermost and faces away from said ramp and one flat side of the receptacle is substantially contiguous with the ramp so that a book may slide olf the ramp and onto said flat side, the receptacle in both positions being substantially parallel to said ramp, means responsive to arrival of a rst bound book on said ramp and entry thereof into said receptacle for causing said rocking means to move the receptacle to its discharge position, and means responsive to arrival of a second bound book on said ramp and passage thereof across said flat receptacle side contiguous with the ramp for causing said rocking means to move the receptacle back to its receiving position, whereby successive books will leave said receptacle with opposite binding orientations.

5. The combination according to claim 4, the means for rockably supporting said receiptacle including a bed plate, a pair of bearings mounted on said bed plate and supporting shaft means to which said receptacle is secured, and a clearance aperture in said bed plate for said receptacle.

6. The combination according to claim S, further provided with means for adjusting the transverse distance between said ramp and bed plate, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of posts adjustablysecured to said bed plate and supporting said ramp.

7. The combination according to claim 4, said means for rocking the receptacle comprising a reciprocable uid motor, a rack and gear connecting said iluid motor to said receptacle, and adjustable stop means limiting the movement of said rack and gear in one direction, whereby the corresponding position of said receptacle may be controlled.

8. The combination according to claim 7, further provided with a bed plate supporting said reciprocable motor and rack, said means for rockably supporting said receptacle comprising bearings on said bed plate rotatably supporting said gear and receptacle, said adjustable stop means comprising a screw adjustably mounted on said bed plate and carrying a bumper portion engageable by said rack.

9. The combination according to claim 4, said bookresponsive means comprising a normally open upper sensing switch having a sensing element passing through an apertured portion of said ramp and engageable by a book sliding down the ramp, a normally closed lower sensing switch having a sensing element engageable by a book sliding oil the flat side of said. receptacle contiguous with said ramp when the receptacle is in its discharge position but not engageable by a book sliding out of said receptacle, a time delay mechanism actuatable by momentary closure of said upper sensing switch and controlling actuation of said receptacle rocking means to move the receptacle to its discharge position, and means responsive to momentary opening of said lower sensing switch after said receptacle has been moved to its discharge position for reactuating said time delay mechanism to cause said motor to move the receptacle back to its receiving position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1l/1932 Bogoslowsky.

2/1968 Dallape et al. 214-1 U.S. Cl. X.R. 2l4--6.5