US988347A

US988347A - Tree-bundling machine.

Info

Publication number: US988347A
Application number: US56358910A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew N Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1910-05-26
Filing date: 1910-05-26
Publication date: 1911-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1928-04-04

Description

2 SHEETS- 8KB?! 1.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911;

I A. N. JOHNSON. TREE BUNDLING MACHINE. APPLiGATION TILED MAY 26,1910.

N r I 1 1 NN h N WlJhWlnvento'r Attorneys Witnesses A. N. JOHNSON.

TREE BUNDLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY26, 1910. I

Iatent ed Apr. 4, 1911.

Inventor Attorneys ANDREW -N. JOHNSON, OF B A GLEY, MINNESOTA.

TREE-BUNDLING. MACHINE.

Specification o! lietters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed May 26, 1910. Serial an. $63,589.

To all whom it may concern: H

Be itknown that'I, ANDREW N .Jomwson,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Bagley, in the county of Glearwater and pose t State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Tree-Bundling Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application, is a machine adapted to receive trees, of the sort which are commonly emplo ,ed for Christmas decorations, to distr'ees into bundles, and to wra each bundle about with a securing ban the operation of bundling the trees, and the operation of wrapping them being carried out by co-acting devices preferably operated by a common mechanism.

It is the object of this invention to provide novel means for bunching or bundling trees, to provide novel means for wrapping the trees about spirally, with a securing band, to provide means adapted to receive,

. the bundles after they have been bound up,

' vi'de a means for binding thebundles about with a securing band, to provide a means for receiving the bundles after they are thus bound, and to provide a device operative at once to actuate the binding means and the meanswvhereby the bound up bundles are received. i

The drawings show typical embodiments merely, and 1t is to be understood that changes, properly falling within the scope of what is claimed, may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

. In the drawin ,Figure 1 shows the in-" vention in side e evation; Fig. 2 is a transanism is located.

, Broadly speaking, the invention com-' verse section upon the line A-B of Fig. 1 Fig; 3 is a transverse section upon the line 0-D of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse sec-' tion upon the line E -F of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is an endelevation, showing that end of the machine upon which the actuating mechin Fig. 2,

prises four c'o-acting mechanisms; a bunchmg mechanism; a mechanism for applying a band tothe-bundle; a device adapted to rece1ve the bundle after it isbound up; and an operatingmechanism. These four cooperatin structures may be sup orted in any de sire or suitable manner. stance, in order to present a compact structure, and in order totconnectthe parts so that the machine as an entity may readily be moved about, I have shown parallel sills 1, connected by a lurality of cross sills 2. Rising from the sills 1, adjacent one end thereof, are legs 3, upon which the bunching table 4 is supported. A transverse member in the present instance shown in the form 0 abox 5, is rested upon the sills 1 and secured thereto, front of the bunching table 4. Rising from the sills 1 adjacent one end therenfilare end standards 6, intermediate standards 7 rising from the'sills -1 between the vend'standards 6 and the box 5.

Supported upon the bunchin table 4 is a hopper 8 which may be of any esired form. This hop er ,8 is disposed in a substantially horizonta position upon the bunching table, and is a funnel shaped structure, comprising two yieldable parts 100 and 101, the remote edges of which are secured to the bunching table, as shown at 104, the adjacent edges of the parts 101 and 100 overlapping,

n the present in- I as seen at 105. Secured to the parts 100 and 101, are brackets 102. A retractile spring 103 is extended transversely of the hopper 8, the end of the spring being securedto the brackets 102. Obviously, the brackets 102 may be applied to the ho per at an desired .points between itsends, t e retracti e spring 103 being in position to exert its efforts at the oint between the front and reardesired ends of t e hoper. This hopper 8 is adapt- ,ed to receive t 1e trees which are to be bun dled, and the retractile spring 103 serves to telesco e the parts 100 an 101 transversely, t ereby compressing the trees into compact form. Risin from-thebunching table 4, in front of the opper 8, are pairs of supports 9, alined transversely of the bunching table. In thisesup orts 9, are, as seen most clearly L? shaped, arcuate members, the

parallel arms 10 of which extend through the supports 9. The free ends of the arcuate members are disposed toward each other,

adjacent the longitudinal center of the machine..- Rotatably supported between the free ends of the arms 10 of each of the arcugive to the roller, roughly speaking,. an hour-glass outline. A finger 12 projects.

' from the curved portion 14 of the arcuate member, this finger 12 being slidably mounted in one of the supports 9. Itetractile lvelieal springs surround the curved portions 14,

and likewise surround the fingers 12, these' springs which are denoted by the numeral 15, beingconnected with the outermost pair of the upright supports 9.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that spaced,'curved arms 16 are secured, at their'lower ends, to, the side walls of the box 5. A' horizontally disposed roller 17, positioned in front of the rollers 11, is terminally journaled for rotation in one pair of the curved arms 16. Adjacent their 1 lower ends, and slightly above the upper edge of-the box 5, the arms "16 carry shafts 18, upon which are placed grooved wheels 19. The upper ends of the'arms'16 are connected, longitudinally of the machine, by

ties 20. An arcuate bar 21, seen most clearly in Fig. 3, connects the ties 20. Depending from this bar 21 is a hanger 22, in

which is journaled for rotation, a wheel 23,

similar to the wheels 19, the several wheels being located in a common vertical plane;

'The box 5 and the arms 16 constitute a supporting member for a ring 24, the same being mounted for rotation in the wheels 19 and 23. This ring 24 will be referred to hereinafter as the carrying. member, for the reason that it supports aplur'alityof bandholders, each band-holder including a tubular casing 25 secured to the inner surface of the carrying member 24, to project radially toward the center thereof. There may be twoof these casings 25, disposeddiametrically opposite to each other. In each casing, a reel 26 is j'ournale'd for rotation, the reel 26 being held under check by a suitable ten sion device of any sort; the same being shown conventionally in Fig. 3, and there denoted by the numeral 27. It is upon these f reels 26thatthe securing bands, wherebythe bundles of trees are bound, are located. The securing band is ordinarily a heavy cord 28, shown in"Fig. 3 as extending from the reels 26.

Passing now to the mechanism whereby the carrying member 24 is rotated, it will be seen that a drive shaft 29 extends longi- I tudinally of the machine, this drive shaft being held for rotation in bearings 30, placed upon the cross sills 2, or upheld in any other suitable manner. Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that a sprocket wheel 31 is secured to the shaft 29 within the contour of the box 5. A sprocket chain'32 is passed about the wheel 31, this chain being extended around the periphery of the carrying member 24, in a suitable groove, fashioned. therein. In order that any slack in the sprocket chain '32 may be removed, an idle pulley 35 is brought to bear against the said sprocket chain. This idle pulley 35 maybe advanced against the chain in any manner appropriate to the end sought. If

desired, transverse guides 33 may be mounted in the box 5, and in these guides 33, a rod 34 may be mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, the pulley 35 being 'journaled for rotation upon one end of the'rod. The rod 34 may .be advanced and retracted by means of adjusting nuts 36 or the like, bearing a ainst one end wall of the box 5. .The

shaft 29 may-carry, adjacent its ends, fiy' wheels 37.

Adjacent that end of the machine which is remote from the "hopper 8, a transverse shaft 39, disposed substantially at right angles to the drive shaft 29, is journaled for rotation in a bearing 4O r1sin-g from one of the cross sills 2, and in one of the end standards 6; or any. other suitable means for mounting the shaft 39-fo-r rotation, may be employed. This shaft 39 is operatively connected with the ,drive shaft 29, by means of beveled pinions 38. Journaled for rotation in the upper ends ofthe standards 6, is an auxiliary shaft 41. Upon the auxiliary shaft, is a sprocket'wheel 42, al ed vertically with a sprocket wheel 43 upon the shaft- 39, a sprocket chain 44 being passed about the wheels 42 and 43. The ends-of the auxiliary shaft 41 protrude beyond the "standards 6 in which the shaft is. mounted.

Upon one of the protruding ends of the auxiliary shaft 41, there is a sprocket wheel 45, alined vertically with a sprocket wheel 47, mounted upon a stub shaft 48 which is held in one of the standards 6. A sprocket chain 46 connects the wheels 45 and 47. Upon the stub shaft 48, beyond the sprocket wheel 47, is mounted a pulley 49, adapted to receive a belt 50, the belt 50 forming an operative connection between the tree bundling machine and a prime mover of any sort. The oppo; site protruding end of the. shaft41, may be provided with a crank 51; and thus, through the instrumentality of the crank 51 andthe pulley 49, the device may beoperated either manually, orby a gasolene engine or the like.

A lever52 is fulcrumed upon one of the crosssills 2, the lever 52 serving to operate a clutch 53 located upon the shaft 39; the lever 52 obviouslyserving as a means for throwing the machine into and out of gear.

gaged in a sprocket wheel 56 carried by a roller 57 journaled for-rotation in the intermediate standards 7. A bar 58 is provided,

having hooks 59 and 59' in its ends, and the hook 59" may be engaged in the links of the is put into motion, the auxiliaryshaft 41' will be rotated, the sprocket chain 44 se-' curing a rotation of the shaft 39, and the beveled pinions 38 transmitting rotary motion to the drive shaft 29. -The drive shaft 29 will rotate the sprocket wheel 31, the sprocket Wheel 31 engaging the s rocket chain 32, the chain 32, being passe about the periphery of the carryingin'iember' 24, causing the said carrying member to rotate in the wheels 19 and 23. v

The rotation of the auxiliary shaft 41 will put into motion the sprocket chain 55, the roller.57 being rotated, through the instru mentality of the chain. It will be seen, moreover,- that when the bar 58 is hooked into the chain 55, the bar will be dra an toward the shafti4l,-as the latter is rotated.

The trees which are to be dis osed in a bundle are placed upon the bunc ing table 4 and passed into the .hopper 8. A suitable lashing is passed about the butts of all of thetiees which are to constitute the bundle.

- The bar 58 is then extended through the "center of the carrying member 24 and between the rollers 11, and hooked'at one end into-the lashing. The other end of the bar 58v is then hooked into one of the links of.

the sprocket chain 55. The machine is then put into operation, through the instrumentality of the crank 51 or the ulle trees which are to form. the bund e are thus drawn between the rollers 11, which said rollers, being actuated toward each other by means of the springs 15, will serve to dispose the trees intoa compact bundle, the rollers 11 constituting yieldingly co-acting compression members e'obperatin with the horizontally disposed roller 17 to form what, for convenience, may be denominated the launching or bundling mechanism.

As the rotation of the auxiliary shaft 41 is' continued, the trees, fashioned into a compact bundle, will move between the rollers 11 and beneath theroller 17, the butts of the trees passing within the contour ofthe carrying member 24. When the butts are well within the contour of the carrying member, the ends of the cords 28 are made fast to the trees adjacenttheir butts, butbe tween the lashing with which the hook 58 is engaged, and the tips of the trees.

- A continued rotation of the auxiliary shaft 41 will serve to draw the bundle of trees through the carrying member 24, and

will likewise cause thecarrying member 24 to rotate, the band-holding elements, comprising the casings 25 and the reels 26 being revolved about the bundle of trees and it IS drawn longitudinally of the'machine."

Thus, the trees, having been bundled to.- gether, will be wrapped about with a pair of 49. The' s iral bands extended fromlja point adjacent the butts of the trees, to a point as near the tips thereof as the operator may desire.

When this wrapping has been carried to the desired point, the cords 28 are severed, and their free ends united about the bundle. Obviously, as the bundle of tree's 'is drawn through the carrying member 24 the butts of the trees will-be received upon the roller 57, which said roller, being actuated by the sprocket chain 55 will serve to aid the bar 58 in advancing the bundle of trees through the carrying member.

When the bundle has passed over the hook 59. Moreover, the. hook 59. is in serted upwardly'through the chain 55; As the chain 55 moves toward and around the sprocket wheel 54, the hook 59 will engage the sprocket wheel 54 and-be forced downward and out of engagement with the chain 55. Thus, there is no chance of the hook 59 bein bound between the chain 55 and the sproc ret wheel 54.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. -In a device of the class described,- means for bundling the material transversely; 'means foradvancing the materiallongitudinally; and means for winding a band spirally about the material as it is advanced. v

2. In a device of the class described, means forv bundling the material transversely; means for advancing the material longitudinally; means for winding a band spirally aboutthe material asit is advanced; and mechanism for operating simultaneously the advancing means and the band winding means.

3. In a device of the class described,

means for compressing the material transversely; means for applying a securing band about the material; anda device for drawing the material lengthwise through the compressing means to fashion the material into a bundle, and for advancing the bundle with respect to the band-applying means to receive successive convolutions of the band. a

. 4. In a device of the class described, bundling mechanism; a band-holder revoluble about the bundle formed in said mechanism; and means for advancing the bundle with respect to the bundling mechanism and the I band holder.

5. In a device ofthe class described, yieldably co-acting compression members; means vice; and a for advancing the material between the compression members; and means for winding a securing band about the material subsequent to its passage between the compression members and-while the material is moving under the impulse of the'advancing means.

6. In a device of the class described, mechanism for advancing the material; means for applying a securing band about the material during its advancement; and movable means operable by the advancing mechanism to .receive the material subsequent to the application of the securing band:

7, In a device of the class described, means for applying a securing band about the material; a device for operating the band-applying means; and a member actuated'by the operating means to advance the.

material'to receive successive convolutionsl spect to the rollers.

of the band. I

8. In a device of the class described, means for applying a securing band about the material; a device for operating the band-applying means; a roller positioned to v receive the material subsequent to the application of the-band; means for operatively connecting the roller with the operating dedevice connecting the roller-operating means with, the material to advance the material with respect to the band-applying means.

.- 9. In a device of the class described,

means for compressing the material transversely; a device for applying a band to the material; a roller to receive the material subsequent to the application of the band;

I operating mechanism effective at once to actuate the band-applying device and the roller; and means actuated by the operating mechanism to advance the material with respect to the compression means and the band-applying device.

' 1O. In a device of the class described, yieldably co-acting compression members; means for-applying a band to the material subsequent to its passage between the com pression members; a roller to receive the material subsequent to the application of the band; means for actuating the band-applying means and the roller; and a device for advancing the material with respect to the compression members and the band-applying means to dispose the material upon the roller. 7 g v 11. In a device of the class described, .a centrally open, rotatably mounted carrying member; a band-holder located upon the carrying member; means for rotating the carrying the material through the carrying member.

112. In a device of theclass described, a rotatably supporting ring; means upon the. ring. for applying a band to the material;

means for advancing the material through the ring to receive successiveconvolutions of I to the first named r ollers; .ing the material across the rollers;

member; and means for advancing the band; and an operative connection betweenthe advancmg means and the ring to secure a rotationof the latter. 7 13. Ina device of the class described, a support; a centrally open carryingmember disposed within the contour of the support;

anti friction means disposed between the support and the carrying member; 1 a band holder located upon the carrying member; means for rotating the carrying member; and means for drawing thematerial through the carrying member.- v

1&1. In a device of the class described, parallel, yieldably co-acting rollers; a fixed roller disposed substantially at right angles means for draw.-

means for applying a band in, a continuous length to the material as it is moved with re- 15'. In a device of the class described, a centrally open, rotatably mounted carrying member; a band-holder located upon the carrying member; a drive shaft disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the band-holder and operatively connected therewith; mechanism remote from the band-holder for operatingthe shaft;

and a device operable bysaid mechanism for advancing the material through the carrying' member and toward the operating mechanism.

16. In a device centrally open, member; a band-holder located upon the carrying member; a drive shaft disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the band-holder and operatively connected therewith; an auxiliary shaft supported for rotation substantially at right angles to the drive shaft; a flexible member passed about the auxiliary shaft; means for connecting the flexible member with the materialto draw the same through the band-holder; and means for operatively connecting the shafts; v a v 17. In a device of the class described, a drive shaft; an auxiliary shaft supported for rotation substantially at right angles to the drive shaft; a flexible member passed about the auxiliary shaft; means for connecting the material with the flexible member; means for operating the shafts; and revolving means operatively connected with of the class described, a

the drive shaft for applying a band in a 7 ported parallel thereto; 'a band connecting the shaft with the roller; a connecting memher having elements for removably engaging the band and the material to advance the material upon the roller; means for applying a band in a continuous length to the marotatably mounted carrying terial during its advancement; and an operative connection between said means and the shaft. v

19. In a device of the class described, a bunching table; a hopper thereon; yieldably coacting vertical rollers supported upon the bunching table in front of the hopper; a horizontal roller supported in front of the vertical rollers; a centrally open, rotatably mounted carryin member disposed in front of the horizontt l roller; a band holder located upon the carrying member; and means for advancing the material betweenthe rollers and through the carrying member, to receive successive eonvolutions of the band.

20. In a device of.the class described, a bunching table; yieldingly co-aeting, vertical rollers upon the table; a supporting member located in front of the vertical rollers; a horizontal roller journaled for rotation upon the supporting member; a centrally open, carrying member mounted for rotation in the supporting member; a bandholder mounted upon the carrying member; means for rotating the carrying 'member; and means for advancing the material bctween the rollers and through the carrying member, to receive successive convolutions of the band. Y

21. In a device of the class described, a bunchin table; supports rising therefrom; arms s idable in the supports; rollers mounted upon the adjacent ends of the arms; resilient means for actuating the arms to move the rollers toward each other; means for advancing the material between the rollers; and means for ap lying a band about the material as it is a vanced.

22. In a device (if the class described, a

- bunching table; supports rising therefrom;

arcuate members having parallel arms slidable in the supports; rollers disposed between the free ends of the arms of each of said members; retractile springs surrounding the curved portions of the arcuate members and connected with the supports; means for advancing the material between the rollers; and means for applyin a band about the material as it. is advancec.

' 23. In a device of the class'described, a bunching table; a funnel shaped, horizontally disposed hopper thereon, and comprising yieldable parts united at their remote edges with the table and having their adjacent edges overlapped; a retractile sprin extended transversely of the hopper an having each of its ends secured to one of the hopper parts; means for drawing the material through the hopper; and means for applying a securing band to the material subsequent to its passage through the hop- In testimony that I claim the foregomg as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.