US3602080A

US3602080A - Chad removal means

Info

Publication number: US3602080A
Authority: US
Inventors: Farrell L Sickel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-08-06
Filing date: 1969-08-06
Publication date: 1971-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-31

Abstract

Paper chad and fuzz removal means for a rotary punch wheel associated with a complementary rotary female die wheel, the female die wheel having an open annular discharge slot in one side thereof communicating with its punch bores, a stationary chad collector ring or manifold having an open annular slot in one side thereof in registry with the annular slot in the female die wheel to form a joint chamber therewith for receiving chad, and a source of vacuum communicating with the joint chamber for removing chad from the joint chamber.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Farrell L. Sickel 702 S. Clay 81., Green Bay, Wis. 54301 {21] Appl. No. 856,233 [22] Filed Aug. 6, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 31, 1971 [54] CHAD REMOVAL MEANS 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 83/100, 83/345, 83/670 [51] lnt.CI 826d 7/18 [50] Field of Search 83/100, 345, 670

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,106,859 10/1963 Huffman 83/670X 3,175,443 3/1965 Kettnich et a1. 1. 83/100 3,194,095 7/1965 Buck et a1 83/100 3,334,533 8/1967 DavisJr 83/100 Primary Examiner-James M. Mcister Altorney-Stanley E. Binish ABSTRACT: Paper chad and fuzz removal means for a rotary punch wheel associated with a complementary rotary female die wheel, the female die wheel having an open annular discharge slot in one side thereof communicating with its punch bores, a stationary chad collector ring or manifold having an open annular slot in one side thereofin registry with the annular slot in the female die wheel to form a joint chamber therewith for receiving chad, and a source of vacuum communicating with the joint chamber for removing chad from the joint chamber.

1 by gravity into pans is not the answer. The chad becomes a nuisance because they tend to fly about in the room space, at-

tach themselves to the clothes of the operator, and sometimes accumulate on the moving parts of the machine in sufficient quantities to block the machine. In addition, fibrous particles or paper dust, such as fuzz, resulting from the punching operation, pollutes the air in the immediate areafiof the operation, to the detriment of the operator and the machine.

Some of the recently produced chad removal means, embodying vacual means, are designed for special applications, such as for reciprocable perforators, and are not adaptable to the vast number of rotary perforators being presently used.

An object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved vacual chad removal apparatus especially adapted for use with rotary-type perforator means.

Another object is to provide a vacual chad removal system for rotary perforator apparatus which is simple, economical to construct, and efficient in operation.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of chad removal means for rotary perforator apparatus that is universally applicable and attachable to most rotary printing presses, new or presently in use.

Other specific features and many of the attendant ad vantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

F IG. 1 is a front elevation view of an assembled unit of the present invention comprising a pair of spaced rotary punch means supported in a framework, and showing the associated chad removal apparatus associated therewith including vacuum means for removing the chad and conveying the chad to a collection container;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view, partly cut away, of one of the rotary perforators comprising a male punch wheel and female die therefor, and showing the stationary chad collector ring or manifold associated with the rotary female die;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the female die and associated stationary chad collector ring or manifold shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of FIG. 3, showing the main parts thereof in axially isolated relation.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a preferred assembled rotary perforator unit or attachment, generally indicated at 9, for use with a form-printing machine for perforating business forms issuing therefrom, said forms being perforated along the longitudinal edges thereof, or elsewhere if desired. The perforator unit includes a supporting framework, generally indicated at 12, in which a pair of parallel shafts 11 and are journaled in spaced vertical relation.

A pair of rotary perforator means, generally indicated at 13 and 14, are mounted on said shafts 11 and 10, in the usual manner, in spaced horizontal relation, for perforating the forms along the longitudinal edges thereof.

When the assembled perforator unit is installed on a machine, such as a form-printing machine, not shown, the drive gear 15 for the unit is driven by conventional power takeoff means from the printing machine, not shown, in suitable timed relation. Drive power from upper shaft 10 is transmitted to lower shaft 11 through engaged spur gears 16 and 17, respectively, fixed on said shafts to rotate therewith.

In view of the fact that the pair of perforator means 13 and 14 are identical in structure, description of only one perforator means 14 will suffice and properly describe the other.

Perforator means 14 comprises a male punch wheel, generally indicated at 18, see FIG. 2, fixed on upper shaft 10 to rotate therewith, and an associated female die wheel generally indicated at 19 fixed on lower parallel shaft 11 to rotate therewith.

The chad removal means includes a stationary chad collector ring associated with the female die wheel 19 as hereinafter described.

The stationary chad collector ring or manifold, generally indicated at 21, see FIG. 2, is journaled. on a rotatable sleeve bearing, generally indicated at 22, which in turn is fixed on shaft 11 to rotate therewith. The stationary chad collector ring 21 is disposed against and is slidably engaged with the confronting side of the rotatable female die 19 for reasons hereinafter described.

As usual, the rim or periphery of the punch wheel 18 is provided with a series of cylindrical punch studs or punches 23, equally circumferentially spaced, and extending radially from the wheel. The punches are received in bores in said wheel and fixed therein as by setscrews 24.

Likewise, the rim or peripheral portion of the female die wheel is provided with a series of radial apertures or punch bores 25 to receive the associated punches 23 in the usual cooperable manner.

One side of the female die wheel has: a radially planar face which is provided with an annular discharge slot or recess, open on said side, as indicated at 26. Said slot is extended to undercut the punch bores 25, to communicate therewith, to receive punched chad exiting or discharging from such punch bores, such as chad 27 departing from vertical punch bore 23, see the cutaway portion of FIG. 2.

The female die wheel is split diametrically and held together by bolts such as indicated at 29.

The chad collector ring or manifold 21, which is held sta tionary as hereinafter described, is supported or journaled on flanged sleeve bearing 22 mounted on shaft 11, and is disposed in a cover or overlaying relation with the slotted side of rotary female die wheel 19, in sliding engagement therewith, and in sliding engagement with said rotatable sleeve bearing 22. The chad collector ring is preferably made of Nylon material, however, the invention is not limited to such material.

The chad collector ring 21 is provided with an annular open inlet slot 31, confronting the slot 26 in the female wheel die, and communicating and cooperating therewith to form and define an enclosed, enlarged, joint chamber 32, for receiving the chad and to otherwise contain a vacual airstream created by a vacuum pump employed to convey the chad from such chamber to a waste container, as hereinafter described.

The flange 33 on the rearward portion of the sleeve bearing 22 abuts the chad collector ring 21 and maintains it operatively disposed against the female die wheel, said arrangement being held operatively assembled by means of set screw 35 engaged with shaft 11, preferably to the key in said shaft as hereinafter described. Said sleeve bearing is split diametrically and held together by bolts such as indicated at 34. The sleeve bearing 22, embracing said shaft 11, amounts to an enlargement of said shaft, and is adapted for slidable adjustment along said shaft as hereinafter described. In the absence of the necessity for such adjustment, the sleeve bearing may be omitted and the collector manifold may be journaled or supported directly on said shaft 11.

The chad collector ring is provided with a radial outlet bore 36 commencing at its rim and terminating at and communicating with the annular slot 31 in chad collector ring 21. Said bore is provided with a projecting nipple 37 to which one end of a flexible conduit or tube 38 isattached.

The other end of tube 38 is connected to the inlet of air moving means such as a motor-driven vacuum pump 39; and a second flexible tube 41 has one end connected to the outlet of said vacuum pump 39 and the other end fixed in communication with the interior of a stationary collection or disposal container 42 located at any point away from the machine.

An aperture or screened vent 42' is provided in the top of container 42 to allow for the escape of air from the disposal container.

The chad collector ring is further provided with air inlet means, such as a plurality of air inlet holes or apertures indicated at 36', in the outboard side of the collector ring and communicating with annular slot 31 in said collector ring. The purpose of said air inlet ports 36' is to provide passage means for ambient air for the airstream created by the vacuum pump 39 as hereinafier described. Said ports are disposed diametrically opposite the manifold outlet bore 36, or substantially 180 from said bore 36, to most efficiently scavenge and remove the chad from the annular slot 26 in the female die wheel 19. Said air inlet apertures 36' are provided because the punch bores 25 tend to become clogged with chad and cannot be relied upon to provide passageway means for the passage of ambient scavenging air therethrough. The chad collector ring is split diametrically and held together by bolts such as indicated at 40.

Spline or feather key means, such as indicated at 43 are provided to permit relative longitudinal movement and adjustment of the female die wheel 19 and the sleeve bearing 22 along the shafi ll, and to key same to shaft 11.

Key means such as indicated at 44 are provided to permit longitudinal movement of male punch wheel 18 along shaft for adjustment, and to key same to shaft 10.

Both said female die wheel and said punch wheel are provided with setscrew means (not shown) to fix such wheels to their associated shafts, preferably engaging the keys in said shafts.

In lieu of the above-described separate assembly unit 9, the rotary perforator means and chad removal means may be applied directly to a printing machine, that is, since most of the presently used and produced printing machines are provided with built-in rotary perforator means, said rotary perforator and chad removal means may be considered to be mounted on said shafts 11 and 10 which would form a part of such machines.

OPERATION Assuming a rotary printing machine for printing business forms, or the like is desired to be provided with a rotary perforator unit and an associated chad removal means for perforating the longitudinal edges of said forms and for conveying t" had to a suitable container.

The perforator unit 9, as a whole, can be mounted on said printing machine, at the discharge end thereof, to receive said unpunched forms and perforate them, said perforator unit being driven by the printing machine in timed relation thereto, hereinbefore described; or in lieu thereof, the printing machine may be provided with a built-in rotary perforator means and vacual chad remover means as hereinbefore described.

The perforator rneans, along with their associated chad removal means, are horizontally spaced and adjusted to receive said forms therebetween and punch the longitudinal edges thereof.

As the unpunched forms are fed to the perforator means, such as between the male punch wheel 18 and the complementary female die wheel 19, the studs or punches 23 perforate the intervening forms, and the resulting chad is forced by said punches and gravity through the female punch bores and into the underlying annular slot 26 or common joint chamber 32, to be picked up, airborne, by vacuum means hereinafter described.

The vacuum pump 39 produces a low-pressure zone within its housing, also in the attached tube 38, in the common joint chamber 32, and in the air inlet holes 36'. Ambient air rushes into and through the air inlet holes 36' and into the common joint chamber 32 wherein the chad is being deposited. Said stream of air picks up such chad and carries it airborne through attached tube 38, and into the vacuum pump housing from which it is driven through discharge tube 41 and thence into stationary disposal container 42 at a remote position.

Some characteristics features of this invention are the provision of a chad removal system, for rotary-type perforator means, including a stationary chad collector ring or manifold; and the provision of a unitary rotary perforator means and vacual chad removal means therefor that is universally applicable and attachable to most rotary printing presses.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a rotary-type perforator apparatus having a rotary punch wheel with punch studs projecting from the periphery thereof, and an associated rotary female die wheel having punch bores in the peripheral portion thereof to receive said punch studs, operative to perforate a paper sheet apd as. a result produce chad as a byproduct of a punching operation, said female die wheel being mounted on a shaft to rotate therewith, and said female die wheel having a radially planar face on side of said female die wheel, and a first annular slot in said side, said annular slot extending to and communicating with said punch bores to receive chad discharged from said punch bores, the improvement comprising,

1. a chad collector ring having a. a radially planar face on a side thereof,

b. a second annular slot in said side of said collector ring adapted to receive chad therein,

c. a discharge bore extending from said second annular slot and through a remaining exterior side of said col lector ring and adapted to receive and discharge chad therethrough, and 3 d. air inlet means disposed diametrically opposite said bore communicating with said second annular slot.

2. said chad collector ring being journaled on said shaft, and a. having its planar face disposed in sliding engagement with the planar face of said female die wheel, and

b. said first and second annular slots being disposed in confronting relation and in communication with each other to receive chad one from the other,

3. container means for collecting chad, 1

. tube means having one end connected to said discharge bore in said chad collector ring and the other end disposed for discharge into said container,

5. and a vacuum pump operatively connected in said tube means for generating a low air pressure and a resulting rush of air in said air inlet means, in said first annular slot of said female die wheel and in said annular slot in said chad collector ring, in said discharge bore in the chad collector ring, and in said tube means, for conveying chad therethrough for discharge into said container means, and

6. means for holding said annular manifold means stationary. bearing said journaled,

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and a sleeve bearing interposed between said shaft and said chad collector ring on which bearing said collector ring is journaled,

a. said sleeve bearing having means for fixing said sleeve bearing to said shaft; and i -b. said sleeve bearing having a flange slidably engaged with the outboard side of said collector ring to maintain the planar face of said female die wheel and the planar face of said collector ring in sliding engagement.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the female die wheel,

the chad collector ring, and the sleeve bearing are split.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 and feather key means between said shaft and said female die wheel and said sleeve bearing adapted to permit longitudinal adjustment of said die wheel and said bearing relative to said shaft.

Claims

1. In a rotary-type perforator apparatus having a rotary punch wheel with punch studs projecting from the periphery thereof, and an associated rotary female die wheel having punch bores in the peripheral portion thereof to receive said punch studs, operative to perforate a paper sheet and as a result produce chad as a byproduct of a punching operation, said female die wheel being mounted on a shaft to rotate therewith, and said female die wheel having a radially planar face on side of said female die wheel, and a first annular slot in said side, said annular slot extending to and communicating with said punch bores to receive chad discharged from said punch bores, the improvement comprising, 1. a chad collector ring having a. a radially planar face on a side thereof, b. a second annular slot in said side of said collector ring adapted to receive chad therein, c. a discharge bore extending from said second annular slot and through a remaining exterior side of said collector ring and adapted to receive and discharge chad therethrough, and d. air inlet means disposed diametrically opposite said bore communicating with said second annular slot. 2. said chad collector ring being journaled on said shaft, and a. having its planar face disposed in sliding engagement with the planar face of said female die wheel, and b. said first and second annular slots being disposed in confronting relation and in communication with each other to receive chad one from the other, 3. container means for collecting chad, 4. tube means having one end connected to said discharge bore in said chad collector ring and the other end disposed for discharge into said container, 5. and a vacuum pump operatively conNected in said tube means for generating a low air pressure and a resulting rush of air in said air inlet means, in said first annular slot of said female die wheel and in said annular slot in said chad collector ring, in said discharge bore in the chad collector ring, and in said tube means, for conveying chad therethrough for discharge into said container means, and 6. means for holding said annular manifold means stationary. bearing said journaled,

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and a sleeve bearing interposed between said shaft and said chad collector ring on which bearing said collector ring is journaled, a. said sleeve bearing having means for fixing said sleeve bearing to said shaft; and b. said sleeve bearing having a flange slidably engaged with the outboard side of said collector ring to maintain the planar face of said female die wheel and the planar face of said collector ring in sliding engagement.

2. said chad collector ring being journaled on said shaft, and a. having its planar face disposed in sliding engagement with the planar face of said female die wheel, and b. said first and second annular slots being disposed in confronting relation and in communication with each other to receive chad one from the other,

3. container means for collecting chad,

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the female die wheel, the chad collector ring, and the sleeve bearing are split.

4. tube means having one end connected to said discharge bore in said chad collector ring and the other end disposed for discharge into said container,