US3779112A

US3779112A - Pop-up delivery table for paper cutting press

Info

Publication number: US3779112A
Application number: US00255722A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Vallier
Original assignee: Western States Envelope Co
Current assignee: Western States Envelope Co
Priority date: 1972-05-22
Filing date: 1972-05-22
Publication date: 1973-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-18

Abstract

A paper cutting press has a cutting die and a cutting board for making laterally spaced die cuts through a lift of paper to provide laterally-spaced stacks of blanks separated by waste. A delivery table, which is mounted adjacent to the cutting board for receiving the die cut lift of paper, has a plurality of spaced projectable and retractable cam fingers which are each positioned to engage beneath a stack of blanks to lift a corner of the stack above the level of the cut waste which is between the stacks of blanks so that the stacks of blanks can be easily separated from the waste.

Description

United States Patent [191 Vallier Dec. 18, 1973 1 POP-UP DELIVERY TABLE FOR PAPER CUTTING PRESS [75] Inventor: Raymond G. Vallier, Brookfield,

Wis.

[73] Assignee: Western States Envelope Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: May 22, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 255,722

[52] U.S. Cl 83/103, 83/l60, 83/534, 83/701 5 l] Int. Cl 326d 7/06 Field of Search 83/103, 27, 160, 83/534, 701; 93/36 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,391,590 7/1968 Stein 83/103 Primary Examiner-Frank T. Yost Attorney-Arthur L. Morsell, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A paper cutting press has a cutting die and a cutting board for making laterally spaced die cuts through a lift of paper to provide laterally-spaced stacks of blanks separated by waste. A delivery table, which is mounted adjacent to the cutting board for receiving the die cut lift of paper, has a plurality of spaced projectable and retractable cam fingers which are each positioned to engage beneath a stack of blanks to lift a corner of the stack above the level of the cut waste which is between the stacks of blanks so that the stacks of blanks can be easily separated from the waste.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUEE] 8 {E75 SHEET 1 [If 3 POP-UP DELIVERY TABLE FOR PAPER CUTTING PRESS 1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to paper cutting presses in which a plurality of spaced die cuts are made in a lift of paper. Such paper cutting presses are used for cutting envelope blanks and similar paper articles. In the case of envelope blanks, a relatively large lift of paper is used, and a plurality of laterally spaced die cuts which form the envelope blanks are cut through the lift of paper by the cutting press. The die cut blanks are positioned relatively close together and the paper therebetween constitutes scrap or waste. After the cutting operation has been completed, the die cut lift of paper is slid out of the cutting press onto a delivery table where the die cut blanks are separated from the waste and stacked.

In the past, a good deal of difficulty has been experienced in separating the stacks of die cut blanks from the waste between them. There was not enough room for the operator to get his fingers between the waste and the die cut blanks so that he could grasp the stack of die cut blanks and remove it. And even when the waste had been moved away from the die cut blanks, it was difficult for the operator to get his fingers under the stacks to pick them up. As a result, no matter how fast the cutting press operated, the overall operation was bottlenecked at a relatively slow rate by the process of separating the stacks of die cut blanks from the waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, the above-noted drawback is overcome by providing a delivery table which is equipped with projectable and retractable cam pop-up fingers each engageable with the lower surface of a stack of blanks and to lift a corner of the stack above the level of the surrounding waste. This enables the operator to readily graspastack and separate it from the waste. The projectable and retractable fingers are spaced across the. surface of the delivery table and each one is positionedto be below. the corner of a corresponding stackof blanks when a die cut lift of paper is slid onto the delivery table.

In the preferred embodiment, the delivery table contains a plurality of spaced parallel rotatable rods which are linked together'fo'r simultaneous rotation. The projectable and retractable pop-up fingers can be attached to the rotatable rods at any desired location. Rotation of the rods in one direction projects the fingers above the top of the delivery table, and rotation in the opposite direction retracts the fingers below the top of the delivery table. Cam means is attached to the rotatable rods to utilize movement of the delivery table away from the cutting press as a means of rotating the rods to project the fingers.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a novel paper delivery table which is equipped with means to expedite the process of separating die cut stacks of blanks from the waste therebetween.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel paper delivery table having projectable and retractive fingers which are positioned to engage the bottom corners of stacks of blanks to lift them above the waste therebetween. g

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel paper delivery table of the above-noted character in which the projectable and retractable fingers may be positioned in any desired location.

An additional objectof this invention is to provide a novel paper delivery table of the above-noted character in which movement of the delivery table is utilized to project the extendable and retractable fingers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one illustrative delivery table of this invention utilized in combination with a paper cutting press having a movable cutting table;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the delivery table shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the delivery table shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the delivery table shown in FIGS. 1 -3;

FIG. 5 is a detail side view of the latching mechanism for the delivery table shown in FIGS. 1 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the projectable and retractable fingers for the delivery table shown in FIGS. 1 5. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 7 FIG. 1 shows one illustrative embodiment of this invention utilized in combination with a paper cutting press 10 which includes a cutting die 12 and a cutting board 14 which is adapted to support a lift of paper 16 below the cuttingdie 12. The cutting die 12 is mounted for upward and downward movement of a housing 18 which is mounted for horizontal movement on a support arm 20. The cutting die 12 is moved upwardly, downwardly, and horizontally by hydraulic means which are not shown in the drawings. The cutting board 14 is mounted on a cutting table 22 which is slideably supported on frame members 23 and which is movable toward and away from cutting die 12 by means of a hydraulic ram having a piston rod 24 connected to cutting table 22 and a cylinder 26 connected to frame members 28. The cutting table 22 can be moved by piston rod 24'from a position where the'forward edge of the table 22 is under cutting die 12 to a positionwhere the table 22 is entirely clear of the cutting die 12. The movements of cutting table '22 and cutting die 12 are coordinated by hydraulic control means, which are not shown in the drawings, so as to produce a plurality of laterally spaced die cuts in the lift of paper 16.

This invention is concerned with the process of separating the stacks of spaced die cut blanks from the waste therebetween. After the lift of paper 16 has been completely die cut, it is moved clear of the cutting die 12 by withdrawal movement of cutting table 22. The die cut lift of paper 16 is then slid by the operator of the machine from cutting board 14 onto a delivery table 30 which is mounted on and overlaps cutting table 22. A fresh lift of paper is then slid on cutting board 14 and the new lift of paper is moved under the cutting die 12 by movement of the cutting table 22. While the fresh lift of paper is being cut by cutting die 12, the operator of the machine manually separates the stacks 32 of die cut blanks from the waste paper 34 which lies between the die cut blanks 32.

In the past, serious difficulties were experienced in the process of'manually separating the stacks of blanks 32 from the waste paper 34.,There was not enough room between the stacks 32 and the waste 34 for the operator to get his fingers into position to grasp the stacks 32 and remove them from the delivery table 30.

. The operator first had to move the waste 34 away from the stacks 32, and then carefully work his fingers under the stacks 32 in order to grasp them. This process had to be performed very carefully to avoid disarranging the stacks of blanks 32. As a result of the above-noted difficulties, the process of separating the stacks 32 from the waste 34 was a bottleneck which held up the overall operation. No matter how fast the cutting die 12 was operated, the overall operation was held to the time required to laboriously separate the stacks 32 from the waste 34.

In accordance with this invention, however, the above-noted bottleneck is eliminated by providing popup means on the delivery table 30 for engaging beneath stacks 32 to lift them and thereby separate them from the waste 34 so that they may be readily grasped and removed from delivery table 30.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the delivery table 30 comprises a plurality of spaced wooden stringers 36, which extend longitudinally with respect to the movement of cutting table 22, and a plurality of spaced rotatable rods 38 which extend through openings in stringers 36 transverse to the movement of cutting table 22. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the stringers 36 are made of maple and the rotatable rods 38 aremade of steel. The stringers 36 are held in place by being attached to end members 40, which are also made of maple. Two sheet metal side members 42 are attached'to the outside stringers 36 to keep the paper on delivery table 30 from falling off.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the rods 38 extend through one of the side stringers 36 and are mechanically linked together so as to rotate together. The mechanical linkage for the rods 38 includes a plurality of short crank arms 44 which are each rigidly connected at one end to a corresponding rotatable rod 38 and are pivotally connected at the other end to a long linkage arm 46. Intermediate the length of delivery table 30, an extended crank arm 48 is connected in the same manner as the short crank arms 44 but contains an upward extension 49 to which a cam roller 50 is attached. Force applied to the cam roller 50 moves the linkage mechanism between an operable position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 3 and a collapsed position indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 3. The linkage mechanism is normally urged toward its collapsed position by a spring 52 which extends between the extended crank arm 48 and the end rotatable rod 38. The linkage mechanism moves from its collapsed position to its operable position when the cam roller 50 engages and rides up a curved cam surface 54 which is formed in a cam plate 56 mounted on a frame member 58. The cam plate 56 is positioned to engage the cam roller 50 when the delivery table 30 is moved away from the cutting press after the completion of a die cutting operation.

The above-described linkage and cam mechanism causes the rotatable rods 38 to simultaneously rotate through an angle of approximately 80 at the end of the die cutting cycle. This rotary movement is utilized to project a plurality of projectable and retractable popup fingers 60 which are rigidly attached to the rotatable rods 38. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the fingers 60 is positioned to engage the bottom of a corresponding stack of blanks 32 to lift a corner of the stack when the finger 60 rotates to its projected position. This provides enough clearance between the stacks 32 and the waste 34, and between the stacks 32 and the bottom of delivery table 30, so that the stacks 32 can be easily grasped by the operator and removed from delivery table 30 in the manner shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the stringers 36 and rotatable rods 38 form a rectangular grid which contains 132 open spaces in which fingers 60 can be attached to rods 38. The number of fingers 60 used, and the position of the fingers 60, is determined by the number of die cut stacks 32 that are cut in the lift of paper 26 and by the position of the stacks 32. In general terms, one of the fingers 60 is positioned as close as possible to one corner of each stack 32 in the lift of paper 16 when the lift of paper 16 is slid into the delivery table 30. In this particular example, sixteen of the fingers 60 are used, spaced as shown in FIG. 2. In other embodiments, fewer or more of the fingers 60 may be used, depending on the number of stacks 32.

FIG. 6 shows a detail perspective view of one of the projectable and retractable fingers 60. It consists of a paper-engaging portion 62 which is made of nylon and has a curved cam surface 64 for smoothly engaging the lower surface of a stack 32 when the paper-engaging portion 62 rotates to its projected position. The paperengaging portion 62 is attached to an aluminum clamping block 66 by means of machine screws 68. Clamping block 66 has a semi-cylindrical clamping surface 70 formed therein for engaging one of the rotatable rods 38. A matching semi-cylindrical surface 72 is formed in a second clamping block 74 which is attached to clamping block 66 by machine screws 76. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the fingers 60 are rigidly attached to the rotatable rods 38 by placing the clamping blocks 66 and 74 so that the semicylindrical surfaces 70 and 72 embrace the rod 38 and then tightening the machine screws 76 until the surfaces 70 and 72 are tightly pressed against the rod 38.

After the fingers 60 have been rotated to their projected full line position of FIG. 4, they are locked in the projected position by a latching mechanism containing a first latch member 78 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) which snaps beneath a projecting tongue 80 on a second latch member 82. The first latch member 78 is rigidly attached to one of the rotatable rods 38 on the side of delivery table 30 opposite the side having the cam roller 50 and its associated mechanical linkage. The second latch member 82 is rotatably supported by the adjacent rotatable rod 38. When the fingers 60 are in their re-.

tracted position, which is shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 4, the first latch member 78 is in the position shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 5. When the fingers 60 rotate to their projected position, the first latch member 78 rotates downwardly and presses against the projecting tongue 80, pushes the second latch member back to the position shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 5, and then rides over the tongue 80 and then slips beneath it. The force of gravity draws the second latch member 82 back to the position shown by the solid lines in FIG. 5, thereby latching the first latch member 78 in position. This holds all of the fingers 60 in their extended position clue to the linkage mechanism which rigidly joins the rods 38 together so that they rotate as a unit.

When it is desired to retract the fingers 60, the second latching member 82 is manually swung away from the first latching member 78 to free the rods 38 for rotation. The fingers 60 are then rotated to their retracted position through the action of spring 52 (see FIG. 3) which urges the rods 38 to rotate counterclockwise, thereby rotating the fingers 60 to their retracted position.

To expedite the sliding of the die cut lift of paper 16 onto the delivery table 30, a sheet of plastic material 86 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) is fastened over the top of the stringers 36. Openings 88 are cut in the sheet of plastic material 86 to allow the fingers 60 to project therethrough when they are rotated to their projected position. Where several different configurations of die cut blanks 32 are produced, several sheets of plastic material 86 will be provided, each with a different positioning of the openings 88 corresponding to the different configurations of blanks 32. In these cases, the sheet of plastic material 86 will be removably attached to the top of the stringers36 so that it can be changed when a different configuration of blank 32 is produced.

OPERATING CYCLE One illustrative operating cycle of the abovedescribed apparatuswill now be set forth starting from the initial condition where there is no paper on either the cutting board 14 or the delivery table 30. In this initial condition, the fingers 60 of delivery table 30 are in their retracted position and the cutting board 14 is withdrawn from the cutting die 12. As the first step of the cycle, a lift 16 of paper is placed in the proper position on the cutting board 14. Next the automatic control mechanism of cutting press is activated to provide the coordinated movement of cutting table 22 and cutting die 12 to produce a plurality of spaced die cut stacks 32 ofblanks in the lift of paper 16.

After the die cutting operation is completed, the cutting table 22 moves the stack of paper 16 out from under the cutting die 12 far enough to make an oiling I the fingers 60 from their retracted position to their projected full line position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. As best shown in FIG. 4, the extension of fingers 60 lifts the corners of the stacks 32 of blanks so that they can be easily grasped and removed from delivery table 30.

While the die cut stacks 32 are being removed, another die cutting cycle is initiated to cut the fresh lift of paper that was placed on cutting board 14. Because of this cutting cycle, the cutting table 22 is moved under the cutting die 12 and the cam roller 50 thus disengages from cam surface 54. The fingers 60 do not retract, however, because they are latched in their projected position by the latch members 78 and 82 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). After the die cut stacks 32 and waste 34 have been removed from the delivery table 30, the latch arm 82 is manually moved to release the latch and allow the fingers 60 to move to their retracted position under the impetus of spring 52. This completes one cycle of the above-described apparatus. The same cycle is repeated continuously during normal operation of the apparatus.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that this invention provides a novel paper delivery table which is equipped with means to expedite the process of separating stacks of die cut blanks from the waste therebetween. And although this invention has been described in connection with one illustrative embodiment thereof, it should be understood that the inven-' tion is not limited to the disclosed embodiment since many modifications can be made in the disclosed structure without changing its fundamental principles. For example, although the fingers in the disclosed embodiment are extended by cam action, it may be desirable in other embodiments to have the fingers extended by a manually actuated mechanism. Also, although the disclosed delivery table 30 is made up of longitudinal stringers 36 and rotatable rods 38, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that several different modified forms can be employed if desired. It should, therefore, be understood that this invention includes all such modifications that fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a paper cutting press having a frame, having a paper cutting die movably mounted on said frame, having a cutting board horizontally movably mounted on said frame for movement between a retracted position and a position where it supports a lift of paper in cutting relationship with said cutting die, having means for moving said cutting die so as to cut a plurality of spaced stacks of die cut blanks in said lift of paper, and having a delivery table adjacent to said cutting board for receiving said die cut lift of paper, the improvement comprising a plurality of projectable and retractable pop-up means movably mounted on said delivery table, each of said means being positioned to engage beneath a stack of blanks to lift a portion of the stack when said pop-up meansis projected, and operating means for causing projecting and retracting movement of said pop-up means, the operating means being operable in response to the movement of the cutting board.

2. In a paper cutting press having a frame, having a paper cutting die movably mounted on said frame, having a cutting board mounted on said frame in such position as to support'a lift of paper in cutting relationship with said cutting die, having means for moving said cutting die so as to cut a plurality of spaced stacks of die cut blanks in said lift of paper, and having a delivery table adjacent to said cutting board for receiving said die cut lift of paper, the improvement comprising a plurality of swingable fingers each serving as a projectable and retractable pop up means movably mounted on said delivery table, each of said means being positioned to engage beneath a stack of blanks to lift a portion of the stack when said pop-up means is projected, and operating means for causing projecting and retracting movement of said pop-up means, said delivery table including a plurality of rockable rods which are positioned substantially parallel to each other in spaced relationship along the length of the delivery table, said fingers being rigidly attached to said rods and being swingable in response to rocking of said rods, and said finger operating means comprising means for simultaneously rocking said rods inone direction to project said fingers and simultaneously rocking said rods in the opposite direction to retract said fingers.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said finger operating means comprises a plurality of relatively short crank arms each rigidly connected at one end to a corresponding one of said rockable rods, each of said crank arms being rotatably connected at the other end to a relatively long linkage arm which is positioned substantially parallel to the side of said delivery table, and means for pushing said linkage arm in one direction to cause projection of said fingers and for pushing said linkage arm in the opposite direction to cause retraction of said fingers.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 and further comprising means for moving said delivery table toward and away from said paper cutting die, a cam follower rotatably attached to said linkage arm, a cam surface member supported in a position to be engaged by said cam follower when said delivery table moves away from said paper cutting die, said cam surface member being shaped and positioned to cause movement of said arm in a direction which causes retraction of said fingers.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 and further comprising latch means including a latch member connected to one of said rockable rods for latching said fingers in their projected position.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said latch means comprises a first latch member rigidly attached to one of said rockable rods, and a second latch member rotatably attached to an adjacent rockable rod, said second latch member having a projecting tongue which is shaped and position for latching engagement with said first member.

7. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said delivery table also includes a plurality of spaced stringers with longitudinally spaced openings, which stringers are positioned at right angles to said rockable rods, said rods passing through said openings in the stringers, and said fingers being attached to said rods between said said fingers, and spring means for urging said linkage

Claims

1. In a paper cutting press having a frame, having a paper cutting die movably mounted on said frame, having a cutting board horizontally movably mounted on said frame for movement between a retracted position and a position where it supports a lift of paper in cutting relationship with said cutting die, having means for moving said cutting die so as to cut a plurality of spaced stacks of die cut blanks in said lift of paper, and having a delivery table adjacent to said cutting board for receiving said die cut lift of paper, the improvement comprising a plurality of projectable and retractable pop-up means movably mounted on said delivery table, each of said means being positioned to engage beneath a stAck of blanks to lift a portion of the stack when said pop-up means is projected, and operating means for causing projecting and retracting movement of said pop-up means, the operating means being operable in response to the movement of the cutting board.

2. In a paper cutting press having a frame, having a paper cutting die movably mounted on said frame, having a cutting board mounted on said frame in such position as to support a lift of paper in cutting relationship with said cutting die, having means for moving said cutting die so as to cut a plurality of spaced stacks of die cut blanks in said lift of paper, and having a delivery table adjacent to said cutting board for receiving said die cut lift of paper, the improvement comprising a plurality of swingable fingers each serving as a projectable and retractable pop-up means movably mounted on said delivery table, each of said means being positioned to engage beneath a stack of blanks to lift a portion of the stack when said pop-up means is projected, and operating means for causing projecting and retracting movement of said pop-up means, said delivery table including a plurality of rockable rods which are positioned substantially parallel to each other in spaced relationship along the length of the delivery table, said fingers being rigidly attached to said rods and being swingable in response to rocking of said rods, and said finger operating means comprising means for simultaneously rocking said rods in one direction to project said fingers and simultaneously rocking said rods in the opposite direction to retract said fingers.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 and further comprising means for moving said delivery table toward and away from said paper cutting die, a cam follower rotatably attached to said linkage arm, a cam surface member supported in a position to be engaged by said cam follower when said delivery table moves away from said paper cutting die, said cam surface member being shaped and positioned to cause movement of said linkage arm in a direction which causes projection of said fingers, and spring means for urging said linkage arm in a direction which causes retraction of said fingers.

7. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said delivery table also includes a plurality of spaced stringers with longitudinally spaced openings, which stringers are positioned at right angles to said rockable rods, said rods passing through said openings in the stringers, and said fingers being attached to said rods between said stringers.