US2521935A - Stapling machine - Google Patents
Stapling machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2521935A US2521935A US716761A US71676146A US2521935A US 2521935 A US2521935 A US 2521935A US 716761 A US716761 A US 716761A US 71676146 A US71676146 A US 71676146A US 2521935 A US2521935 A US 2521935A
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- Prior art keywords
- wire
- machine
- stapler
- stapling
- units
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B27—WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
- B27F—DOVETAILED WORK; TENONS; SLOTTING MACHINES FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES
- B27F7/00—Nailing or stapling; Nailed or stapled work
- B27F7/17—Stapling machines
- B27F7/19—Stapling machines with provision for bending the ends of the staples on to the work
- B27F7/21—Stapling machines with provision for bending the ends of the staples on to the work with means for forming the staples in the machine
- B27F7/23—Stapling machines with provision for bending the ends of the staples on to the work with means for forming the staples in the machine with rotary drive
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B27—WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
- B27F—DOVETAILED WORK; TENONS; SLOTTING MACHINES FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES
- B27F7/00—Nailing or stapling; Nailed or stapled work
- B27F7/006—Nailing or stapling machines provided with means for operating on discrete points
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/04—Applying separate sealing or securing members, e.g. clips
- B65B51/05—Stapling
Definitions
- This invention relates to stapling machines and more particularly to machines forforming staples from wire and applying them to successive multi-ply units of sheet material, such as paper, in order to secure the layers together; as for example in fastening or securing the closure of a paper or paste-board container.
- novel and improved stapling machine which comprises the subject matter of the present invention, while applicable to a variety o f uses in the mechanical arts, is intended primarily for the purpose of securing together the plies of folded material which comprise the top closure rib of a paraffin coated paper bottle, for example, one of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,047,891, granted on July 14, 1936 to Henry T. Scott.
- Patent No.,2,063,345 granted to Henry T. Scott on December 8, 1936, and it is the broad purpose and object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved-mechanism of the general type disclosed in that patent, but which is adapted for operation on articles, such as paper bottles, fed to the machine continuously rather than in step-by-step fashion.
- the present invention contemplates the provision of a continuous stapling machine adapted to constitute an operative unit in the fully automatic container making and iilling system disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 638,809, filed J anuary 3, 1946', covering anvapparatus for'and method of fabricating paper containers.
- the containers in the form of paper bottles, are delivered from the bottle forming machines to the charging device by which they are filled with milk or other fluent material. and thence to closing and sealing machines.
- the forming machines are arranged either singly or in tandem or multiple, whereby the capacity of the installation may be varied rather widely; and when running at maximum capacity the appropriate units must be such as to charge the fluid at a high rate without spillage, and to close, seal, and staple the filled containers properly at an equally high speed of operation.
- the stapling machine illustrated and described in the present application is adapted to perform one of the last operations in the sequence of steps from the squaring out of the tubular paper blanks to the iinal delivery of the iilled and sealed bottle, and it may contribute toward a fuller understanding of the invention if the units of the installation which precede the stapler are briey referred to.
- Certain of the machines for forming the containers are shown in the patent to Bennett et al., No. 2,217,784, and also in my Patent No. 2,399,934.
- Machines for coating the bottles with parafln or the like and for cooling the coated bottles are disclosed respectively in the patents to James T. Earp, Nos, 2,289,763 and 2,382,619. After these operations, the upper portions of the containers are partially folded along previously formed score lines and machines for performing this operation are disclosed in the Bennett Patent No. 2,144,283 of January 17, 1939, and Patent No. 2,410,587, granted to the present applicant on November 5, 1946.
- a continuously driven conveyor or, in case of the use of multiple forming units, a plurality of merging conveyors. serves to feed the bottles serially to a continuously operating charging or filling machine, which may well be one of the type disclosed in the Spurr Patent No, 2,353,519, of July 1l, 1944.
- a continuously operating charging or filling machine which may well be one of the type disclosed in the Spurr Patent No, 2,353,519, of July 1l, 1944.
- the line of filled bottles moves expeditiously along the conveyor through a closing device (which may be for example one such as disclosed in either of the patents to Wollenweber No. 2,156,037 or Scott No. 2,085,478) to the stapiing machine comprising the subject of the present application.
- the invention contemplates the provision of a number of novel features and combinations of elements which facilitate the stapling operation, the handling of the containers passing through the machine, the intermittent feeding of thel wire to the cutoff and staple forming mechanism, and the interrupting of the wire feed at times when there are no containers on the conveyor at the entrance to the machine.
- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a stapling machine embodying the principles of the invention:
- Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine with the cover removed;
- Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on line l-t of Figure 1 and showing the staple wire feeding rollers or disks;
- Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Figure l and showing the transmission gearing for the wire feed;
- Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2, and showing the intermittent feed for the staple wire supply;
- Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5;
- Figure '7 is a fragmentary View in horizontal section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6
- Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line l-I of Figure 1, and showing the clutch device for interrupting the wire feed drive
- Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line 9 9 of Figure 8;
- Figure 10 is a composite view illustrating the actuation of the wire feed interrupting clutch, the left-hand portion of the figure being in plan and showing the container actuated maintaining element adjacent the conveyor track, and the right-hand portion of the figure being a horizontal section taken on line IO-il of Figure 9;
- Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view of the rotary stapling mechanism and the cam track for actuating the pivoted retractable clinching members, taken on line Il-Ii of Figure l looking upwardly as indicated by the arrows;
- Figure 12 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line
- Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional view on line iI-il of Figure l, showing the cam track and cam followers for swinging the stapling units into and out of their radial positions as they move from the cutting station to the container stapling station and back again;
- Figure 14 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section of the device showing a stapler unit at the wire feeding and cut-off station, the section being taken substantially on line M--il of Figure 1;
- Figure 15 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line I5-I5 of Figure 14;
- Figure 16 is a view in perspective of'an outside former element of a stapler unit, which is adapted to shear off a length of wire and to bend it into' the U-shaped form of a staple;
- Figure 17 is a similar view of a cooperating drive element forming a part of a stapler unit and serving to drive the staple through the folded rib of the container;
- Figures 18, 19, 20, and 21 are horizontal sectional views taken substantially on line Il-Il of Figure 1, and showing successive positions of the parts of a stapler unit in the process of cutting ofi' a length of wire and forming a staple:
- Figure 22 is a view in transverse section across the stapler unit and taken on line 22-22 of Figure 18;
- Figure 23 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 23-22 of Figure 2, through the meting sears and disks of the first wire feed unit;
- Figure 24 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on line 24-2! of Figure 23;
- Figure 25 is a detail view in vertical section through certain others of the feed disks and driving gears therefor, and taken on line Il-Il of Figures 2 and 4;
- Figure 28 is a detail view in vertical section througnthe detector arm controlling the clutching devices for feeding the wire, and the support for said arm, and taken on line Il-It of Figure 10;
- Figure 27 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section showing one of the staple clinching members in bottom plan as it appears in its operative position at the stapling station, said ⁇ section being taken substantially online 21-21 of Figure l2;
- Figure 28 is a view in side elevation of a clincher member, as viewed from the left-hand side oi Figure 27;
- Figure 29 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a radius of the driving hub and the carrier for the stapler and clincher units, and taken substantially on line II-Zl of Figure ll;
- Figure 30 is a view in perspective of a paper container of the self-supporting type commonly used as milk bottles, and exemplifying the kind of container adapted to be handled by the stapling machine described herein.
- FIG. 1 For an understanding of the general arrangement of the machine, the relative positioning of the principal parts, and its interrelation with the conveyor installation, reference is made to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
- the stapling machine as a whole is'indicated generally by the reference numeral il! and it is associated with the conveyor track l I along which the containers Z move from the forming and filling units. through the stapler, and on toward the delivery point.
- Figure 2 shows that the stapling machine is located within a loo-p or bight of the conveyor track il and, as will be understood as the description proceeds, the stapling steps are accomplished upon each container while it is passing around the substantially semi-circular portion of the run of the conveyor within the confines of the stapling machine I il.
- the machine I II is mounted upon a base casting I2 which comprises a hollow framework adapted to support the stapling machine and that portion of the conveyor which is associated therewith.
- the upper wall of the base casing I! is provided with an elongated opening Il within which is received the downwardly extending axial portion I5 of the pedestal element I8.
- This pedestal is provided with a shelf-like extension I'I which provides support for the conveyor track Il as it curves around the stapling unit.
- the track H is provided with a lateral extension il to a flange ofwhich there is bolted a side guard member Il along which the containers Z are guided around the arcuatepathv of the conveyor.
- the post 2l extends upwardly from the base and the supporting pedestal and provides means for supporting the stapling agaaaoas l machine or stapler head I and an axle for the sprockets about which the conveyor chains are trained.
- the upward portion of the post 25 is provided with a ange 2i to which is bolted the horizontal web or partition 22 which is an integral part of the ⁇ housing casting 25 of .the stapler I5.
- the web 22 is provided with a downwardly extending hollow boss 25 through which the connecting bolts or screws 21 pass, these bolts serving to rigidly secure the stapler housing to the post 25.
- a rotary hub member 55 is adapted to revolve around an intermediate portion of the post 25. a bearing bushing 5I being interposed between these members. Keyed ⁇ to the hub 55 are the upper and lower sprockets 52 and 55 which are separated one from the other by means of the ring 54. Beneath the lower sprocket 55 there is disposed a skirt 55 which is secured to the hub 35 and serves to surround and protect the anti-friction thrust bearing 36 disposed between the hub 55 and the pedestal I6. f
- the conveyor proper consists of the pair of superposed chains 40 which are trained about the sprockets 52 and 55 and follow generally the path of the conveyor track i I.
- the chain 45 comprises links 4
- the rear arm 41 of the upper flight 45 is displaced upwardly as clearly indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, whereas the corresponding arms 41 and 45 of the lower flight 45 are substantially coplanar.
- the rear arms 41 of both flights serve to engage the rear wall of successive containers Z and push them along the track H, the outer guard rail i5 serving to keep the containers in alignment.
- the forward lip 45 aids in preventing the displacement of the containers, especially when rounding the curve within the stapling area.
- Lateral protuberances -45 may be formed on the body portion of the flights 45 and 45 to give spaced point contact with the inside wall of the container.
- the stapling machine may be driven from its own source of the power, independently of the drive of the complete container-sealing organization, in the illustrated embodiment the stapler takes its driving power from the conveyor itself.
- the conveyor chains 45 are driven from a remote source (not shown), and the chains 45 drive the sprockets 32 and 33 which are keyed to the hub 35 which is adapted to rotate about the axial post 25.
- the mechanism comprises basically the tum-table 55 which carries a plurality of individual stapler members or units B adapted to move about the axis of the machine and to perform the stapling operation upon the successive containers Z as they pass at substantially uniform velocity around the track il within the machine.
- the turntable 55 is rotatably mounted upon the vertical hollow post 25 being separated therefrom'by means of the cylindrical bearing bushing 5I.
- the turn-table or stapler carrier 50 is spaced above the rotary hub 50 and is adapted to be driven thereby.
- upwardly projecting lugs 55 are formed as vertical extensions on the upper portion of the drive hub. 35. and these lugs are rigidly secured to the under part of the carrier 55 as by means of the screws orbolts 52.
- a ring gear 55 is bolted to the central upper annular flange of the carrier 55 and serves to transmit driving force to the wire feeding mechanism disposed in the upper partof the casing or housing 25.
- the transmission. of force from the ring gear 55 to the wire feeding elements will be but briefly described at this point, this transmission including a certain de-clutching mechanism which will be described at a later point.
- drive gear 55 meshes with a pinion 55 rigidly carried by the lower countershaft section 51, this portion of the countershaft being provided with a frusto-conical part 58 seated in a similar part of the hollow suspension bearing 59, this bearing beingseated within a flanged opening in the web 22 of the housing 25 and rigidly secured therein by means of the screws 55 which pass through the flange 5l.
- the upper end of the lower countershaft section 51 is formed into a cup-like clutch portion 52 which is adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the mating clutch portion 55 of the upper tubular countershaft section 61 which is carried by the depending rod or shaft 55 having its upper end rotatably received within a bushing 55 provided in an opening 10 in the supporting plate 1l.
- comprises a multiple bearing support for the various elements of the wire feed and is secured to the inwardly extending annular flange 12 of the housing 25 by means of the screws 13.
- a drive pinion 15 l which meshes with a gear 16 rotatably carried by the lower end of the stub shaft 11 which is secured at its upper end to the web or plate casting 1I by means of the nut 15 (see Figures 2 and 25).
- the gear 16 is keyed to a tubular extension of the smaller gear 55 which is of course also rotatably mounted on the depending shaft 11.
- the gear 55 meshes with two gears 52 and 53 which in turn mesh respectively with the idler gears 54 and 55 which are in approximate alignment with the gear 50.
- the idlers 54 and 55 are rotatably carried by the depending shafts or axles 55 and 51 which are respectively secured by means of the nuts 55 and 55 to the plate 1
- the idlers 54 and 55 mesh respectively with the gears 95 and 5I as indicated in Figure 4.
- Figure 23 is a section taken transversely through the mating gears and disks of the rst wire feed unit. This ilgure may be taken as a generalized view of all four pairs of matingwire feeding members which comprise the constant speedfeed.
- the gear 55 is fixed upon the lower end of the vertical stub shaft on axle 52 and rigidlysecuredtotheupperendofthisshaftisthe feed wheel 99, this wheel being provided with a 'feeding flange ordisk portion 94 the periphery thereof being provided with a groove Il.
- This flange or wheel portion 94 is adapted to rotate in co-operation with the periphery of the smooth flange 95 of a mating wheel or disk element Il iixed to the shaft 91 which is disposed in parallel relation with the shaft 92. to draw the wire forwardly from the supply.
- the shaft 91 which carries the gear Il and the feeding wheel 95 is rotatably mounted within the eccentric bushing
- the eccentric bushing III is mounted within the hollow boss of the supporting plane 1
- I is provided with a flange
- 4 is rotatably secured within the boss by means of the nut or locking ring H5 and the washer and eotter arrangement
- the eccentricity of the mounting is clearly apparent in Figure 24.
- a bracket is bolted as at
- the wire is threaded through a tubular eye
- is the stationary wire supporting and guiding device
- the guide plate assembly consists of a lower plate
- 34 is centrally grooved as at
- 02 comprise the eential portions of the constant speed wire feed for pulling the wire supply from the reel
- An important feature of this section of the machine resides in the fact that the two right-hand sets of pairs of feed. rollers I4' and 95 are veryslightly larger than the lefthand pairs of feed rollers 94 and 95. The difference in n size, however. is too small to be apparent from the drawings. Since all four sets of rollers are driven at the same speed, it will be at once perceived that the wire will tend to be very slightly stretched or tautened between the two central pairs of said rollers within the portion of the groove
- 5 is formed on one of the eccentric bushings which support the shafts 91, upon the respective upper and lower ends of which are secured the feed disks or rollers 95 and the gears 09. It will be apparent that slight angular movements of the arms
- 5 is bifurcated as at
- 41 is threaded into this boss and provides means for limiting the movement of the shaft
- 35 projects into a groove or slot
- 45 is threaded as at
- is received in a boss
- This spring pressure may be applied, released, or adjusted by rotation of the knob
- the gripping presslire of the feed wheels may be released during the threading of the wire through the feed device or at any other desired or necessary time.
- a device for accomplishing this purpose is associated with the top cover or lid which is applied to the stapler housing 28.
- This cover or closure comprises the dome-like element
- 85 is hinged to the housing as shown in Figure 2.
- 81 are formed in the top plate or partition 1
- 11 Fixed to the upper end of the pin or shaft
- 11 is hollow and may slide vertically with the shaft
- the actual stapling mechanism A comprises the turn-table 50 which carries a plurality (in this case four) of individual stapling members B which move around the semicircular path of the containers Z as they pass through the machine.
- Each of these stapler units is supplied with the proper length of wire to form one staple, this length being cut off from the wire supply W as each successive unit passes a wire receiving station.
- (Figure 1) which may be made of sheet metal and is bulged slightly for a purpose to be described.
- the sheath extends downwardly along the outer surface of the housing and terminates in the vicinityof the stapling mechanism A.
- 82 the lower end of which is substantially fixed adjacent the delivery point of the wire to the stapler units.
- the upper end of the tube is carried by an oscillating support which is adapted to be moved to and from the point
- 82 is fixedly securedwithin the block
- 84 is swiveled, to accommodate rotation in a vertical plane, upon the needle bearings
- 88 is suspended from a parallel motion which comprises the horizontal pair of arms
- 80 (preferably the one which is carried by the elongated shaft
- 88 is urged toward the constant speed delivery point
- 52 ( Figure 18) is flxedly secured within a block 205 which is pivotally supported upon the needle bearings 255 which are carried by the two side brackets 2 01 which may be cast integrally with the insertable housing section 2
- the turn-table or carrier member 55 ( Figure 1) is provided with four circumferentially spaced openings within which are rotatably secured the stub crank shafts 225 ( Figure 12) upon the lower end of each of which is formed the body portion 22
- an outside former which comprises the combined shear and gripping member and is designated generally by the reference numeral 225.
- This member as best shown in Figure 16 of the drawings comprises two side portions 226 connected by a lower bridging web 221.
- Between these side bars 226 of the member 225 and within the space provided between the lower part of the body portion 22
- This element comprises a forwardly disposed plate-like portion 23
- T'he driver member 230 is adapted to slide between the side arms of the member 225 within the limits of movement permitted by the reciprocation of the head 235 of a stud threaded into the bottom of the member 23
- a coil spring 235 In order to urge the member 235 rearwardly-toward its retracted position a coil spring 235 has one of its ends seated in a socket 235 in the forward part of the body portion 22
- the stapler units B are broughtv into operative position with respect to a container Z which is at that point beginning its semi-circular path around the track Il within the operative zone -of the stapler.
- the stapler unit B reaches station III the staple is driven into the rib R of the container Z, and when the unit reaches station IV the operation has been completed and the stapled container passes from the semi-circular portion of the track onto the straight delivery portion.
- the cam track 241 from station II to station IV is substantially semicircular and there is no relative swinging movement of the stapler units B about -the axis of their supporting crank shafts 225. the units maintaining their radial position with respect to the machine.
- the'cam track 241 departs from its semi-circular shape and provides a path for the cam following rollers 245 of the units B which will swing each unit upon its cranks 225 so that the long axes of the successive units are disposed transversely of a radius of the machine instead of in augment therewith. 'Ihe purpose of this arrangement will appear as the description proceeds.
- an inside former which comprises a swinging anvil or holding lever and is designated generally by the numeral 253.
- This lever is pivotally mounted upon a pintle 25
- An abutment lug 255 is threaded in the rear portion of this member 255 and serves as a stop which limits the downward portion of the tail 251 of the inside former 255.
- the forward ends of the side blocks 225 of the outside former 225 of the stapler unit are provided with the V- shaped notches 252, and the inner walls of the forward parts of the portions 223 are also provided with the grooves 253 of the gauge of the wire W.
- the inner walls of the forward parts of the portions 223 are also provided with the grooves 253 of the gauge of the wire W.
- of the sliding driving member 233 are also grooved as at 254 adJacent the grooves 253 of the member 225.
- of the driver is provided with a groove or notch 255 of a peculiar configuration, the central portion of the notch 255 being somewhat wider and deeper Vthan the end portions thereof.
- ⁇ Also a hardened steel shear-plate insert 266 is secured to the side wall of the side bar 226 of the former 226 to cooperate with the hardened tubular insert 2
- the unit B is shown at the point where the cooperating shearing portions 2 I5 and 266 are cutting off the length of wire from-the supply W as the unitpasses the feed block 212.
- the groove 266 in the forward end 252 of the inside former 256 is. in substantial alignment with the notches 262 in the forward ends of the side bars 226 of the outside former 226.
- the laterally spaced side bars 226 move forwardly with relation to the inside former 256 and serve to bend the ends of the staple w forwardly, the intermediate portion being held within the notch 266 of the anvil lever.
- the legs of the staple w then occupy the forward portions of the groove 283 in the inner side walls of the stapler unit outside former 225.
- the staple is formed, as clearly shown in Figure 26 of the drawings.
- the stapler unit B is swung or tilted somewhat as shown in Figure 21 so that it will readily clear the cut-off or feed block 2
- the staple w is carried between the arms 226 of the unit to position II where the unit B has been swung around to its radial position and the staple w brought into juxtaposition with the rib R of a container Z to which it is to be applied.
- each of the stapling units B and likewise carried by the turn-table or carrier 56 are individual clincher devices C which cooperate with the staple driver element on the units B by backing up the staple on the remote or outer side of the rib B of the container, and these devices C are adapted to be brought into and released from their operative positions as the stapler members B are respectively moved to stations III and I, shown in Figure 13.
- lugs or ears 215 through which a hinge pintle 216 extends and is held against rotation.
- the pintle carries upon its ends the ears 211 of the clincher element C which straddle the projecting ear 215 of the carrier member.
- a spring element 286 is coiled about each end of the pintle 216 and the intermediate portion of the spring 28
- the ends of the spring 286 are received within the notches 283 in the ends of the pintle 216 and the spring is initially tensioned to urge the member C outwardly and upwardly toward the position shown at the right-hand side of Figure 1 of the drawings and approximately to the position shown at the top of Figure 11.
- Each of the clincher elements C is provided with a cam follower roller 286 carried upon the bolt or pin 266 seated in the member C.
- the clincher plate 269. Secured to the end of the member C is the clincher plate 269. as by means oi the screws 268.
- the forward inwardly directed operative edge of the clincher plate 266 is notched to receive the hard metal inserts 296 and this forward edge o1' the plate is adapted, at station III to contact the outer face of the rib R of the container Z upon which the stapler is to operate.
- This is shown clearly in Figure 12 of the drawings.
- a generally circular cam member 296 Carried upon the bottom edge 295 of the housing'25 is a generally circular cam member 296 which has its inwardly facing surface 291 formed with camming areas indicated at 291a, 291b and 291e (see Figure 11).
- the cam element 296 may be broken away in the vicinity of station I as at 296a since the clincher elements C are in their raised idle positions at this point and their outwardly and upwardly swinging movement is limited by the abutment indicated at 298 in Figure 1.
- the operative cam edge 291e against which the roller 285 bears during the actual clinching operation may be supplied by a hardened wear resisting insert 2961 which may be secured to the main cam member 296 as by means of the screws 296e.
- Surrounding the central vertical hollow post 26 of the stapler ( Figures 1, 11, and 12) and disposed between the upper end of the rotary hub 36 and the turn-table 56 there is fixed, as by means of a set screw 366, a ring or collar 36
- the free end of the cam lever is urged outwardly by means of the coil spring 361 seated in a socket in the collar.
- the cam arm or lever 365 is provided with an opening 366 which receives a pin 369 set in the collar 36
- 6 of the cam lever 365 is curved or rounded to provide an approach'and departure surface and an intermediate node which is adapted to be ,contacted by the roller 233 of the staple driving member 236, as clearly shown in Figures 11 and l2 of the drawings.
- the cam roller 233 of the driver member 236 rides the side bars 266 of the element 2.25 of the unit B.
- the configuration of slot or groove 255 in the face of the driver is such that the cross bar is very slightly bowed so as to cause the legs of the stapler w to toe inwardly to a slight degree to prevent any accidental outward splaying of the staple in passing through the rib.
- 0 causes the driver 235 to give a resilient blow ,which drives the staple through the rib R and at the same time the points of the staple striking the inserts 290 on the clincher plate 255 are caused to be clinched inwardly against the outer face of the rib R.
- the stapler unit B begins to swing to its transverse tangential or chordal position which it assumes at station I in order to receive another length of wire and form a staple.
- Another feature of the novel stapling machine comprises interrupter means whereby no wire will be fed to a stapler unit B passing station I if there is no container Z to occupy this position on the conveyor.
- interrupter means whereby no wire will be fed to a stapler unit B passing station I if there is no container Z to occupy this position on the conveyor.
- 5 comprises a slotted stub portion 3
- crank arm 320 The end of the rod or shaft 3
- the bearing plate 321 Secured by means of the screws 326 to the upper end of the post 20 is the bearing plate 321 through which the r upper end of the rod or shaft 325 passes (see Figures 8, 9, and To this upper end of the shaft 325 there is fixed a crank 328 which carries a roller 330 at its free end.
- This crank 325 with its roller 330 is directed toward the clutch assembly which connects the two parts 51 and 61 of the countershaft which drives the wire feed.
- the cupped upper portion 62 of the lower shaft portion 51 surrounds an inner member 335 which is rotatably disposed upon the depending rod 63. 'I'he outer peripheral wall of the member 335 is provided with a notch 336 which provides a shoulder 331 which functions as a ratchet tooth within which the pawl 338 is normally disposed.
- the pawl is pivotally carried by the member 52 by means of the pin 339.
- the tail 340 of the pawl is urged outwardly by means of the plunger 34
- the tail 340 of the pawl is also provided with a rounded protuberance 345 which normally, during the rotation of the part 62, clears the roller 335.
- a resilient transmission section is introduced in the countershait assembly.
- the inner element 335 oi' the interruptor clutch is providedwith a widened upper flange portion 355 which is provided in its overhanging portion with a series of spaced slots 35
- the member 335 is carried rotatably upon the lower portion of the vertical shaft or axle 55, a nut 351 being threaded upon the shaft and a bearing washer '355 being interposed between the nut and the member 335, both of these elements being received within a central recess in the element 335.
- the pedestal member i5 is adjustably mounted upon the base casting
- a stapling machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for carrying articles to be stapled through the machine.
- stapling mechanism movably carried by the machine and arranged to follow the movement of an article through the machine while operating upon it, means for moving said mechanisms, and a driying connection between said last named means and said conveyor; whereby the power for operating the stapling mechanism is derived from the conveyor itself.
- a stapling machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for carrying articles to be stapled through the machine, means for driving said conveyor ⁇ at a uniform speed, a plurality of staple forming and applying mechanisms movably carried by the machine and each arranged to follow the movement of an article through the machine while operating upon it, means for moving said mechanisms, means on the machine for feeding wire to said staple forming and applying mechanisms, driving transmission means from said conveyor to both of said two last named means, and means in the transmission to said wire feeding means for interrupting the drive of the latter in the event of the absence oi' ⁇ an article to be stapled at the appropriate point on said conveyor.
- a stapling machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for carrying articles to be stapled through the machine, theA path of the articles while in the zone of operation of the machine being an arc of a circle, a plurality of stapler units carried by said maanimas 18 y ing articles to be stapled through the machin the path oi the articles while in the zone of operation of the machine being a circular arc of approximately 180, a plurality of stapler units carried by said machine and mounted to revolve in a substantially circular path part oi' which coincides with the arc of movement of said articles, the respective units adapted to meet and accompany the successive articles upon the conveyor as they enter the machine and to drive their staples at about the midpoint of said 180 arc, means for supplying wire to the units at about the mid-point of the remaining 180 arc of the generally circular path of the units, means for causing each stapler unit to sever the required length of wire and form an open staple before for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of
- each stapler unit chine and mounted to revolve in a substantially circular path part of which coincides with the arc of movement of said articles, the respective umts adapted to meet and accompany the successive articles upon the conveyor as they enter the machine and to drive their staples while the paths 4of the units and articles coincide, means for supplying wire to the units at a portion of their endless path remote from thepath of the conveyor, and means for causing each stapler unit to sever the required length of wire and form an open staple before again approaching the arcuate path of the articles. 5.
- a stapling machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for carrying articles to be stapled through the machine, the path of the articles while in the zone of operation of the machine being a circular arc of approximately 180, a plurality of stapler units carried by said machine and mounted to revolve in a substantially circular path part of which coincides with the arc of movement of said articles, the respective units adapted to meet and accompany the successive articles upon the conveyor as they enter the machine and to drive their staples at about the mid-point of 180 arc, means for supplying wire to the units at about the mid-point of the remaining 180 arc of the generally circular path of the units, and means for causing each stapler unit to sever the required length of wire and form an vopen staple before again approaching the arcuate path of the articles.
- a stapling machine of the class described comprising. in combination, a conveyor for carrymeans for moving said articles successively along ⁇ said path, each of said lstapler units comprising a driver element adapted to drive. a staple through one of said articles and against said clincher unit at a point on the coincident portions of said path and orbit, said stapler units and said driving elements each having a cam follower thereon, a cam track for causing the said units to swivel from a. radial stapling position to a transverse wire receiving position, cam track for causing the driver elements to drive a staple through an article, and means for driving said wire and said article movingmeans in synchronism.
- a stapling machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a carrier mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of stapler units swivelled on the carrier for horizontal revolution about said axis in a substantially circular orbit, an equal number of clincher units each hinged on said carrier for swinging movement to and from clinching position with respect to one of said stapler units, an arcuate path through the machine substantially following the orbit of said stapler units but of less than a complete circle, means for moving said articles successively along said path, each of said stapler units comprising a driver element adapted to drive a staple through one of said articles and against said clincher unit at a point on the coincident portions of said path and orbit; said stapler unit, said clincher units, and said driving elements each having e, cam vfollower thereon, a cam track for causing the said units to swivel from a radial stapling position to a transverse wire receiving position, a, cam for causing the
Description
Sept l2, 1950 c. z. MoNRoE 2,521,935
STAPLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1946- 1o sheets-sheet 1 C. Z. MONROE STAPLING MACHINE 5 3 ow m 5. 2
Slept. 12, 1950 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 17, 1946 mgmnunmnl un Sept 12, 1950 c. z. MONROE 2,521,935
STAPLING MACHINE Sept. v12, 1950 c. z. M oNR'o'E 2,521,935'
STAPLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 194e 1o sheets-sheet 4 Sept. 12, 1950 c. z. MONROE STAPLING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 17, 1946 @y E--Illlll Sept. 12, 1950 c. z. MONROE 2,521,935
STAPLING MACHINE C. Z. MONROE STAPLING MACHINE sept. 12,1950
10 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Deo. 17, 1946 @1.7.2014, 0014, www# im@ a Sept. 12, 1950 c. z. MONROE 2,521,935
STAPLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 194eio sheets-sheet a 2;; z/z f l f2' ifi l@ iff/z y Z55 2v/ 2W M ya [Z 5/25. faam@ N 252// /'I .z' -E Z- if] ,zz /zf f7 J 252 faz 2,26 /ff Sept 12., 1950 c. z. MoNRoE. 2,521,935
sTAPLING MACHINE Filed Deo. 17, 1946 .1.0 Sheets-Sheet 9 E55. /EA
Sept. l2, 1950 c. z. MONROE STAPLING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 17, 1946 i Patented Sept. 12, 1950 STAPLING MACHINE Charles Z. Monroe, Detroit, Mich., assigner to The Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 17, 1946, Serial No. 716,761
2s claim. 1
This invention relates to stapling machines and more particularly to machines forforming staples from wire and applying them to successive multi-ply units of sheet material, such as paper, in order to secure the layers together; as for example in fastening or securing the closure of a paper or paste-board container.
The novel and improved stapling machine which comprises the subject matter of the present invention, while applicable to a variety o f uses in the mechanical arts, is intended primarily for the purpose of securing together the plies of folded material which comprise the top closure rib of a paraffin coated paper bottle, for example, one of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,047,891, granted on July 14, 1936 to Henry T. Scott.
A stapling machine for use for similar purposes is disclosed in Patent No.,2,063,345 granted to Henry T. Scott on December 8, 1936, and it is the broad purpose and object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved-mechanism of the general type disclosed in that patent, but which is adapted for operation on articles, such as paper bottles, fed to the machine continuously rather than in step-by-step fashion.
In its more particular aspects, the present invention contemplates the provision of a continuous stapling machine adapted to constitute an operative unit in the fully automatic container making and iilling system disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 638,809, filed J anuary 3, 1946', covering anvapparatus for'and method of fabricating paper containers. In this system, the containers, in the form of paper bottles, are delivered from the bottle forming machines to the charging device by which they are filled with milk or other fluent material. and thence to closing and sealing machines. The forming machines are arranged either singly or in tandem or multiple, whereby the capacity of the installation may be varied rather widely; and when running at maximum capacity the appropriate units must be such as to charge the fluid at a high rate without spillage, and to close, seal, and staple the filled containers properly at an equally high speed of operation.
The stapling machine illustrated and described in the present application is adapted to perform one of the last operations in the sequence of steps from the squaring out of the tubular paper blanks to the iinal delivery of the iilled and sealed bottle, and it may contribute toward a fuller understanding of the invention if the units of the installation which precede the stapler are briey referred to. Certain of the machines for forming the containers are shown in the patent to Bennett et al., No. 2,217,784, and also in my Patent No. 2,399,934. Machines for coating the bottles with parafln or the like and for cooling the coated bottles are disclosed respectively in the patents to James T. Earp, Nos, 2,289,763 and 2,382,619. After these operations, the upper portions of the containers are partially folded along previously formed score lines and machines for performing this operation are disclosed in the Bennett Patent No. 2,144,283 of January 17, 1939, and Patent No. 2,410,587, granted to the present applicant on November 5, 1946.
A continuously driven conveyor or, in case of the use of multiple forming units, a plurality of merging conveyors. serves to feed the bottles serially to a continuously operating charging or filling machine, which may well be one of the type disclosed in the Spurr Patent No, 2,353,519, of July 1l, 1944. In passing from the charging machine, the line of filled bottles moves expeditiously along the conveyor through a closing device (which may be for example one such as disclosed in either of the patents to Wollenweber No. 2,156,037 or Scott No. 2,085,478) to the stapiing machine comprising the subject of the present application.
It is therefore the primary object of the invention to provide an eflicient stapling niachine of the class described which is rapid in operation and of enlarged capacity being capable of acting upon articles fed through it with a continuous advancing movement.
In the pursuit of this object, the invention contemplates the provision of a number of novel features and combinations of elements which facilitate the stapling operation, the handling of the containers passing through the machine, the intermittent feeding of thel wire to the cutoff and staple forming mechanism, and the interrupting of the wire feed at times when there are no containers on the conveyor at the entrance to the machine.
Not the least of these improvements is the novel arrangement whereby a plurality of sea,sai,oss
3 gential or chordal position at that portion of their endless path where the staple-forming wire is received and cut off.
Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specincation when read in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a stapling machine embodying the principles of the invention:
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine with the cover removed;
Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on line l-t of Figure 1 and showing the staple wire feeding rollers or disks;
Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Figure l and showing the transmission gearing for the wire feed;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2, and showing the intermittent feed for the staple wire supply;
Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure '7 is a fragmentary View in horizontal section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6 Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line l-I of Figure 1, and showing the clutch device for interrupting the wire feed drive Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line 9 9 of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a composite view illustrating the actuation of the wire feed interrupting clutch, the left-hand portion of the figure being in plan and showing the container actuated maintaining element adjacent the conveyor track, and the right-hand portion of the figure being a horizontal section taken on line IO-il of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view of the rotary stapling mechanism and the cam track for actuating the pivoted retractable clinching members, taken on line Il-Ii of Figure l looking upwardly as indicated by the arrows;
Figure 12 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line |2--i2 of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional view on line iI-il of Figure l, showing the cam track and cam followers for swinging the stapling units into and out of their radial positions as they move from the cutting station to the container stapling station and back again;
Figure 14 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section of the device showing a stapler unit at the wire feeding and cut-off station, the section being taken substantially on line M--il of Figure 1;
Figure 15 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line I5-I5 of Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a view in perspective of'an outside former element of a stapler unit, which is adapted to shear off a length of wire and to bend it into' the U-shaped form of a staple;
Figure 17 is a similar view of a cooperating drive element forming a part of a stapler unit and serving to drive the staple through the folded rib of the container;
Figures 18, 19, 20, and 21 are horizontal sectional views taken substantially on line Il-Il of Figure 1, and showing successive positions of the parts of a stapler unit in the process of cutting ofi' a length of wire and forming a staple:
Figure 22 is a view in transverse section across the stapler unit and taken on line 22-22 of Figure 18;
Figure 23 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 23-22 of Figure 2, through the meting sears and disks of the first wire feed unit;
Figure 24 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken on line 24-2! of Figure 23;
Figure 25 is a detail view in vertical section through certain others of the feed disks and driving gears therefor, and taken on line Il-Il of Figures 2 and 4;
Figure 28 is a detail view in vertical section througnthe detector arm controlling the clutching devices for feeding the wire, and the support for said arm, and taken on line Il-It of Figure 10;
Figure 27 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section showing one of the staple clinching members in bottom plan as it appears in its operative position at the stapling station, said `section being taken substantially online 21-21 of Figure l2;
Figure 28 is a view in side elevation of a clincher member, as viewed from the left-hand side oi Figure 27;
Figure 29 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a radius of the driving hub and the carrier for the stapler and clincher units, and taken substantially on line II-Zl of Figure ll; and
Figure 30 is a view in perspective of a paper container of the self-supporting type commonly used as milk bottles, and exemplifying the kind of container adapted to be handled by the stapling machine described herein.
For an understanding of the general arrangement of the machine, the relative positioning of the principal parts, and its interrelation with the conveyor installation, reference is made to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The stapling machine as a whole is'indicated generally by the reference numeral il! and it is associated with the conveyor track l I along which the containers Z move from the forming and filling units. through the stapler, and on toward the delivery point. Figure 2 shows that the stapling machine is located within a loo-p or bight of the conveyor track il and, as will be understood as the description proceeds, the stapling steps are accomplished upon each container while it is passing around the substantially semi-circular portion of the run of the conveyor within the confines of the stapling machine I il.
Referring now more particularly to Figure l of the drawings, it will be seen that the machine I II is mounted upon a base casting I2 which comprises a hollow framework adapted to support the stapling machine and that portion of the conveyor which is associated therewith.
The upper wall of the base casing I! is provided with an elongated opening Il within which is received the downwardly extending axial portion I5 of the pedestal element I8. This pedestal is provided with a shelf-like extension I'I which provides support for the conveyor track Il as it curves around the stapling unit. The track H is provided with a lateral extension il to a flange ofwhich there is bolted a side guard member Il along which the containers Z are guided around the arcuatepathv of the conveyor.
Through the center of the pedestal Il there passes a hollow tubular stem or post 20 which is rigidly clamped to the supporting pedestal It by means of the bolted split tubular portion Il' thereof, this portion being disposed within the hollow base casting I2. The post 2l extends upwardly from the base and the supporting pedestal and provides means for supporting the stapling agaaaoas l machine or stapler head I and an axle for the sprockets about which the conveyor chains are trained. Thus the upward portion of the post 25 is provided with a ange 2i to which is bolted the horizontal web or partition 22 which is an integral part of the `housing casting 25 of .the stapler I5. The web 22 is provided with a downwardly extending hollow boss 25 through which the connecting bolts or screws 21 pass, these bolts serving to rigidly secure the stapler housing to the post 25.
A rotary hub member 55 is adapted to revolve around an intermediate portion of the post 25. a bearing bushing 5I being interposed between these members. Keyed `to the hub 55 are the upper and lower sprockets 52 and 55 which are separated one from the other by means of the ring 54. Beneath the lower sprocket 55 there is disposed a skirt 55 which is secured to the hub 35 and serves to surround and protect the anti-friction thrust bearing 36 disposed between the hub 55 and the pedestal I6. f
The conveyor proper consists of the pair of superposed chains 40 which are trained about the sprockets 52 and 55 and follow generally the path of the conveyor track i I. In this connection-reference is made to Figures 1 and 10 of the drawings. The chain 45 comprises links 4| which are pivotally connected by means of pins 42 about which the sprocket engaging rollers 43 are disposed. Spaced pairs of pins 42 are extended downwardly to receive and support the conveyor ilights 45 and 45. These flights are roughly L- shaped in configuration and comprise a rearwardly disposed projecting arm or blade 41 and a forwardly disposed projection cr lip 48. The rear arm 41 of the upper flight 45 is displaced upwardly as clearly indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, whereas the corresponding arms 41 and 45 of the lower flight 45 are substantially coplanar. The rear arms 41 of both flights serve to engage the rear wall of successive containers Z and push them along the track H, the outer guard rail i5 serving to keep the containers in alignment. The forward lip 45 aids in preventing the displacement of the containers, especially when rounding the curve within the stapling area. Lateral protuberances -45 may be formed on the body portion of the flights 45 and 45 to give spaced point contact with the inside wall of the container.
Although the stapling machine may be driven from its own source of the power, independently of the drive of the complete container-sealing organization, in the illustrated embodiment the stapler takes its driving power from the conveyor itself. The conveyor chains 45 are driven from a remote source (not shown), and the chains 45 drive the sprockets 32 and 33 which are keyed to the hub 35 which is adapted to rotate about the axial post 25.
As the containers Z move around the substantially semi-circular orbit within the stapling zone. the crimped and folded top rib portions R formed at the peak of the root-like closure section S of the container is moved about the stapler within the zone of operation of the stapler mechanism proper, which is given the general reference character A. The operative details of the stapler mechanism will be described hereinafter, but it is sufficient to state at this point that the mechanism comprises basically the tum-table 55 which carries a plurality of individual stapler members or units B adapted to move about the axis of the machine and to perform the stapling operation upon the successive containers Z as they pass at substantially uniform velocity around the track il within the machine. The turntable 55 is rotatably mounted upon the vertical hollow post 25 being separated therefrom'by means of the cylindrical bearing bushing 5I. The turn-table or stapler carrier 50 is spaced above the rotary hub 50 and is adapted to be driven thereby. For this purpose (see Figures l1 and 29) upwardly projecting lugs 55 are formed as vertical extensions on the upper portion of the drive hub. 35. and these lugs are rigidly secured to the under part of the carrier 55 as by means of the screws orbolts 52.
A ring gear 55 is bolted to the central upper annular flange of the carrier 55 and serves to transmit driving force to the wire feeding mechanism disposed in the upper partof the casing or housing 25. The transmission. of force from the ring gear 55 to the wire feeding elements will be but briefly described at this point, this transmission including a certain de-clutching mechanism which will be described at a later point. Referring now to Figure 9 of the drawings, it will be seen that drive gear 55 meshes with a pinion 55 rigidly carried by the lower countershaft section 51, this portion of the countershaft being provided with a frusto-conical part 58 seated in a similar part of the hollow suspension bearing 59, this bearing beingseated within a flanged opening in the web 22 of the housing 25 and rigidly secured therein by means of the screws 55 which pass through the flange 5l.
The upper end of the lower countershaft section 51 is formed into a cup-like clutch portion 52 which is adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the mating clutch portion 55 of the upper tubular countershaft section 61 which is carried by the depending rod or shaft 55 having its upper end rotatably received within a bushing 55 provided in an opening 10 in the supporting plate 1l. This plate casting 1| comprises a multiple bearing support for the various elements of the wire feed and is secured to the inwardly extending annular flange 12 of the housing 25 by means of the screws 13.
Formed on the upper countershaft section 51 is a drive pinion 15 lwhich meshes with a gear 16 rotatably carried by the lower end of the stub shaft 11 which is secured at its upper end to the web or plate casting 1I by means of the nut 15 (see Figures 2 and 25). The gear 16 is keyed to a tubular extension of the smaller gear 55 which is of course also rotatably mounted on the depending shaft 11.
The gear 55 meshes with two gears 52 and 53 which in turn mesh respectively with the idler gears 54 and 55 which are in approximate alignment with the gear 50. The idlers 54 and 55 are rotatably carried by the depending shafts or axles 55 and 51 which are respectively secured by means of the nuts 55 and 55 to the plate 1|. The idlers 54 and 55 mesh respectively with the gears 95 and 5I as indicated in Figure 4.
Reference to Figures 1, 2, 4, 23, and 24 will clearly establish the relationship of these several transmission gears and will also afford a clear understanding of the mounting thereof and their association with the wire feeding elements. Although Figure 23 is a section taken transversely through the mating gears and disks of the rst wire feed unit. this ilgure may be taken as a generalized view of all four pairs of matingwire feeding members which comprise the constant speedfeed. The gear 55 is fixed upon the lower end of the vertical stub shaft on axle 52 and rigidlysecuredtotheupperendofthisshaftisthe feed wheel 99, this wheel being provided with a 'feeding flange ordisk portion 94 the periphery thereof being provided with a groove Il. This flange or wheel portion 94 is adapted to rotate in co-operation with the periphery of the smooth flange 95 of a mating wheel or disk element Il iixed to the shaft 91 which is disposed in parallel relation with the shaft 92. to draw the wire forwardly from the supply.
. Upon the lower endof the shaft l1 there is fixed the gear 99 which meshes with the gear Il and is driven thereby. Adjacent the shaft 92 the supporting web plate or casting 1| is provided with a hollow boss portion |09 within which the shaft 92 is adapted to rotate. Bearing bushings such as indicated at |42 are provided between the shaft and the opening in the boss |90 and end washers |93 are also provided at the top and bottom of this boss section. 'I'he shaft 92 is'nanged as at to provide a shoulder to prevent longitudinal movement thereof. A washer |00 provided with a dust seal flange is disposed between the flange |05 and the feeding wheel Il.
The shaft 91 which carries the gear Il and the feeding wheel 95 is rotatably mounted within the eccentric bushing ||0, suitable bearing bushings and washers being employed and given the same reference numerals as the corresponding elements used in connection with the shaft 92.
The eccentric bushing III is mounted within the hollow boss of the supporting plane 1| and a bearing bushing ||2 .intervenes therebetween. The upper portion of the member ||I is provided with a flange ||4 upon which an angular arm ||5 is formed. The bushing ||4 is rotatably secured within the boss by means of the nut or locking ring H5 and the washer and eotter arrangement ||1. The eccentricity of the mounting is clearly apparent in Figure 24.
As already mentioned, the same mating gears and feed wheels are repeated at the four points across the upper portion of the stapler housing as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, the additional driven gears associated with the grooved feed wheels being designated |20, |2| and |22', these gears mating respectively with the gears 82 and 93 and 9|. in the same manner as the two gears S0 and Il. Similarly by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be understood how the respective pairs of feed wheels and connecting shafts are arranged, these elements being given the same designations as those in the first pair already described.
As indicated in Figures l and 2 of the drawings a bracket is bolted as at |25 to the housing 25 of the stapler I0 and this bracket carries an axle |21 upon which is rotatably mounted a reel |28 carrying a supply of wire W. The wire is threaded through a tubular eye |30 screwed into or otherwise fixed in an opening in the wall of the housing 25 and aligned with the bites of the feed wheels 94 and 95 of the wire feeding mechanism. Mounted upon posts |3| secured to bosses formed on the supporting plate 1| is the stationary wire supporting and guiding device |32 which bridges the gaps between the successive feeding rollers or disks. The guide plate assembly consists of a lower plate |94 and an upper plate which is clamped thereto by means of the screws |35. The lower plate |34 is centrally grooved as at |39 as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings and both plates are narrowed and cut away to accommodate the pairs of feeding rollers. this being `indicated in 8 Figure23oftbe' wings. ThewireWisf alongthegroove Illbythesueoessivepairso feed rollers and it emerges from the feed plate assembly |I2, at the point |40. at which point it cornes within the control of an intermittent feed device which will be presentlydescribed.
The successive pairs of feed rollers and tbe guide plates |02 comprise the eential portions of the constant speed wire feed for pulling the wire supply from the reel |20 and feeding it to the intermittent forwarding device to be described. An important feature of this section of the machine resides in the fact that the two right-hand sets of pairs of feed. rollers I4' and 95 are veryslightly larger than the lefthand pairs of feed rollers 94 and 95. The difference in n size, however. is too small to be apparent from the drawings. Since all four sets of rollers are driven at the same speed, it will be at once perceived that the wire will tend to be very slightly stretched or tautened between the two central pairs of said rollers within the portion of the groove |00 designated |39 in Figure'3. Thisarrangement serves to maintain the wire under tension and eifectively removes even the slightest kinks or distortions which may be present in the wire, for examplel such as it might have acquired from having been wound upon the reel |28.
Returning now to Figures 2 and 23 of the drawings it will be seen'that each of the crank arms ||5 is formed on one of the eccentric bushings which support the shafts 91, upon the respective upper and lower ends of which are secured the feed disks or rollers 95 and the gears 09. It will be apparent that slight angular movements of the arms ||5 will, by rotating the eccentric bushings ||0, cause the smooth-periphery feed wheels 95 to release their grip upon the wire which is clamped between these wheels and the grooved mating wheels 94, and will release the frictional bite on the wire. Each of the arms ||5 is bifurcated as at |43 and straddles the longitudinally adjustable rod or shaft |45. One end of this shaft |45 is received within the hollow boss |40 formed upon the casing 25. A stop abutment |41 is threaded into this boss and provides means for limiting the movement of the shaft |45 to the right in Figure 2. A set screw |40 threaded into the boss |35 projects into a groove or slot |49 in the rod |45 and prevents rotation of the rod |45.
The left-hand end of the rod |45 is threaded as at |50 and is screwed into the open threaded end of a rotatable cylindrical member |5|. The member |5| is received in a boss |52 formed on the housing wall 25 and is held against longitudinal movement therein between the handle or knob |54 and the nut |55. It will thus be read ily seen that rotation of the knob |54 which is pinned as at |56 to the bushing or sleeve |5I, will cause the rod |45 to move in the direction of its length, by virtue of the threaded connection between the portion |50 of the rod and the internally threaded bushing lil.
At proper intervals along the rod |43 there are secured the stop sleeves |50, an additional stop |59 being provided beyond the right-'hand crank arm ||5. Slidably mounted on the rod |45 are the sleeves or collars |60 and these are adapted to contact the left-hand face of the bifurcated portion |42 of the crank arms ||5. Between each of the fixed stop sleeves |50 and the slidable collars |50 there are disposed the coil springs |5|. It will thus be seen that the springs |9| willtendtourgethecrankarms iiiina iclock-wise direction as viewed in Figure 2 and cause the eccentrically mounted wire feeding disks or wheels 88 to resiliently bear upon the wire W occupying the shallow grooves 88 in the feed wheels 84. This spring pressure may be applied, released, or adjusted by rotation of the knob |84 which will cause the fixed abutment sleeves |88 to advance or retract with relation to the crank arms ||5. 'Thus the gripping presslire of the feed wheels may be released during the threading of the wire through the feed device or at any other desired or necessary time.
Also. during threading of the wire into the feed device, or upon other occasions, it may be found necessary to operate the feedwheels slowly or intermittently through manual means. A device for accomplishing this purpose is associated with the top cover or lid which is applied to the stapler housing 28. This cover or closure comprises the dome-like element |65 shown in Figure 1 which has a flanged sealing contact as at |88 with the upper rim of the housing 25. The cover |85 is hinged to the housing as shown in Figure 2. Spaced ears or lugs |81 are formed in the top plate or partition 1| of the housing and between each pair of these lugs there are pivotally mounted upon the pintles |88 the hinge arms |58 formed on the under side of the cover- |85.
At a point directly above one of the vertical shafts or axles 82, preferably the one which carries the gear 88 and one of the feed rollers 84', there is provided in the cover |88 a hollow boss through which projects a pin |1| having a downwardly facing cup-like socket portion |12 having its walls notched as at |18 to interlock with the corresponding projections |14 in the nut |15 which is keyed to the upper end of the shaft 82. Fixed to the upper end of the pin or shaft |1| is the crank handle |11 by means of which, when the lid or cover |85 is lowered, the socket may be depressed and engaged with the nut |15 and the shaft 82 may be rotated manually to feed the wire between the four pairs of feed wheels, while the drive from the conveyor is idle. The hub of the crank handle |11 is hollow and may slide vertically with the shaft |1|, against the resilient pressure of a spring |1| A which normally serves to keep the crank and socket in raised inoperative position. This is possible by virtue of the one-way or over-running nature of the clutch 82 (Figure 9) interposed between the upper and lower sections 51 and 81 of the counter shaft which forms a part of the wire feed transmission.
As related earlier, the actual stapling mechanism A comprises the turn-table 50 which carries a plurality (in this case four) of individual stapling members B which move around the semicircular path of the containers Z as they pass through the machine. Each of these stapler units is supplied with the proper length of wire to form one staple, this length being cut off from the wire supply W as each successive unit passes a wire receiving station. Now in order to insure that the proper length of wire is fed into the individual units quickly while they are momentarily at the wire receiving station, and to prevent projection or feeding of the wire toward the path of the units while-a succeeding unit is coming into position, provision must be made for converting the steady constant speed feed of the wire W by means of the feed rollers just described., into an intermittent feed timed to project a length of wire into the stapler unit at the proper instant and to withhold the supply until the next unit is in receiving position. This intermittent feed is accomplished by the mechanism now to be described. In line with the direction of feed of the wire by the feed rollers 84, 85 there is `provided an opening |88 (Figure 3) in the wall of the housing 28. Secured to the exterior face of the housing and covering this opening is a supplemental casing or sheath |8| (Figure 1) which may be made of sheet metal and is bulged slightly for a purpose to be described. The sheath extends downwardly along the outer surface of the housing and terminates in the vicinityof the stapling mechanism A.
Within this sheath there is suspended a somewhat flexible tube |82 the lower end of which is substantially fixed adjacent the delivery point of the wire to the stapler units. The upper end of the tube is carried by an oscillating support which is adapted to be moved to and from the point |40 at which the continuous length of wire W passes from the control of the constant speed wire feed.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings it will be seen that the upper end of the tube |82 is fixedly securedwithin the block |84 as by means of the welded flanges |85. The block |84 is swiveled, to accommodate rotation in a vertical plane, upon the needle bearings |88 which are threaded through and locked to the side walls of the hollow depending portion |81 of the T-shaped bracket |88. The bracket |88 is suspended from a parallel motion which comprises the horizontal pair of arms |80. Each of these arms is pivotally connected with the bracket |88 by means of the pintle bolts I 8|.
Rising from' the partition plate 1| is a double hollow boss |88 one portion of which is prolonged downwardly beneath the plate 1| as at |84. Bee Figures 2 and 5. One of the arms |88 has its cylindrical end |85 keyed to a shaft |88 which is rotatably received within one portion of the boss |88. A similar cylindrical lportion is formed on the other arm and is keyed to a longer shaft |81 which extends rotatably through the lower boss portion |84. Fixed upon the lower end of the shaft |81 is the angular crank arm |88, the free end of which is provided with a cam follower roller |88 which is adapted to follow the peripheral cam surface 200 formed on the element 88 of the counter shaft 51, 81. In order to maintain the cam follower in contact with the cam surface 200 the cylindrical hub portion |88 of one of the arms |80 (preferably the one which is carried by the elongated shaft |81), is provided with an arm 20| which is connected by a spring 282 with a fixed point 208 on the plate 1|. By this means the tube carrying bracket |88 is urged toward the constant speed delivery point |48 to the position shown in Figures l, 6, and 7 of the drawings.
Recalling that the lower end of the wire carrying tube |82 is relatively stationary. it will be readily understood that by the action of the cam 200 the bracket |88 which supports the upper end of the tube |82 is oscillated back and forth in the direction of the length of the wire supply W, the bulged part of the casing |8| accommodating this movement of the relatively flexible tibe. Obviously this displacement toward the right in Figures l, 2, and 3 of the drawings, will have the effect of elongating the total path of the wire from the receiving point |40 to the delivery point avances ment of the wire carrying tube |32 toward the,
right at a speed equivalent to the rate of movement of the wire due to the feed rollers 24', 3,5 will have the net effect of causing the lower end oi the wire adjacent the stapler units to remain stationary. Then upon return movement of the upper end of the tube carried by the bracket |33 to the point |40, the wire will be quickly fed into the properly positioned stapler unit.
The lower end of the tube |52 (Figure 18) is flxedly secured within a block 205 which is pivotally supported upon the needle bearings 255 which are carried by the two side brackets 2 01 which may be cast integrally with the insertable housing section 2|0 which is attached in any suitable way to the main housing 25 at the lower righthand corner thereof as viewed in Figure l. From the mouth of the tube |32 in the lower end thereof the wire W passes through an opening 2|| in the guide block 2|2 which is rigidly secured between the side frames 201, as for example by means of the bolts 2 |3. Within the forward end of the opening 2|| there is situated a hardened steel bushing 2|5 which cooperates with a part of each of the successive stapling units in shearing off the required length of wire to form a staple.
The staplingmechanism itself will now be described by reference to Figures 1 and 11 to 22 inclusive. The turn-table or carrier member 55 (Figure 1) is provided with four circumferentially spaced openings within which are rotatably secured the stub crank shafts 225 (Figure 12) upon the lower end of each of which is formed the body portion 22| of a stapler unit which is of the general top plan configuration shown in Figure 14 of the drawings. To the lower part of this body portion 22| there is secured, as by means of the screws or bolts 222, an outside former which comprises the combined shear and gripping member and is designated generally by the reference numeral 225. This member as best shown in Figure 16 of the drawings comprises two side portions 226 connected by a lower bridging web 221. Between these side bars 226 of the member 225 and within the space provided between the lower part of the body portion 22| and the web 221, there is disposed the sliding driver element 23|. This element comprises a forwardly disposed plate-like portion 23| and a rearward bifurcated block portion 232 between the forks of which is rotatably disposed a cam following roller 233 rotatable upon the axle 234. T'he driver member 230 is adapted to slide between the side arms of the member 225 within the limits of movement permitted by the reciprocation of the head 235 of a stud threaded into the bottom of the member 23|), which head is adapted to move within the slot 231 formed in the web 221 of the member 225. In order to urge the member 235 rearwardly-toward its retracted position a coil spring 235 has one of its ends seated in a socket 235 in the forward part of the body portion 22|of the unit. The rear end of the spring sits in a socket 24| formed in the block 232 of the member 235.
To the upper end of each of the crank shafts 220 which rotatably support the stapler units there is clamped, as at 242, the crank arm 245, upon the outer end of which is carried a roller 246 which follows the cam groove 241 formed in the cam plate 248 bolted as at 249 to the under side of the partition 22, all of which is clearly shown in Figure 13 of the drawings. In this figure stapler units B are shown in each of the four quarter positions or stations I, II, III, and IV. Figure 13 is arranged in the same orientation as Figure 2 and it will be seen that station I is disposed between the straight portions of the container conveyor track where no containers are presented to the stapling mechanism. At station II the stapler units B are broughtv into operative position with respect to a container Z which is at that point beginning its semi-circular path around the track Il within the operative zone -of the stapler. When the stapler unit B reaches station III the staple is driven into the rib R of the container Z, and when the unit reaches station IV the operation has been completed and the stapled container passes from the semi-circular portion of the track onto the straight delivery portion.
It will be noted that the cam track 241 from station II to station IV is substantially semicircular and there is no relative swinging movement of the stapler units B about -the axis of their supporting crank shafts 225. the units maintaining their radial position with respect to the machine. However. from station IV through station I to station II. the'cam track 241 departs from its semi-circular shape and provides a path for the cam following rollers 245 of the units B which will swing each unit upon its cranks 225 so that the long axes of the successive units are disposed transversely of a radius of the machine instead of in augment therewith. 'Ihe purpose of this arrangement will appear as the description proceeds.
When a stapler unit B is disposed at station I in Figure 13, it is in the position to have the wire W fed to it from the tube |52 through the mouth of the opening 2|'I in the feed block 2|2, the general position being shown in Figure 14 of the drawings and successive movements past the station I being clearly shown in Figures 18, 19, 20. and 21.
Referring now more particularly to Figures 15 and 18. it will be seen that there is provided, beneath the path of the stapler unit B, an inside former which comprises a swinging anvil or holding lever and is designated generally by the numeral 253. This lever is pivotally mounted upon a pintle 25| secured in the housing insert casting 2|l and has its angled forward portion 252 urged upwardly by the spring pressed plug 253 seated in a socket 254 formed in the portion 255 of the housing. An abutment lug 255 is threaded in the rear portion of this member 255 and serves as a stop which limits the downward portion of the tail 251 of the inside former 255.
'Ihe upwardly directed forward end 252 of the inside former 255 is slotted as at 25| to receive the end portion of the wire W when it is fed through the feed block 2|2, as most clearly shown in Figure 18 of the drawings.
Referring again to Figures 16 and 17 of the drawings it will be seen that the forward ends of the side blocks 225 of the outside former 225 of the stapler unit are provided with the V- shaped notches 252, and the inner walls of the forward parts of the portions 223 are also provided with the grooves 253 of the gauge of the wire W. 'I'he side walls of the plate portion 23| of the sliding driving member 233 are also grooved as at 254 adJacent the grooves 253 of the member 225. The forward edge of the plate 23| of the driver is provided with a groove or notch 255 of a peculiar configuration, the central portion of the notch 255 being somewhat wider and deeper Vthan the end portions thereof. `Also a hardened steel shear-plate insert 266 is secured to the side wall of the side bar 226 of the former 226 to cooperate with the hardened tubular insert 2|5 set in the feed block 2|2, in severing the wire.
In Figure 19, the unit B is shown at the point where the cooperating shearing portions 2 I5 and 266 are cutting off the length of wire from-the supply W as the unitpasses the feed block 212. At this instant the groove 266 in the forward end 252 of the inside former 256 is. in substantial alignment with the notches 262 in the forward ends of the side bars 226 of the outside former 226. As the unit B continues to advance past the cut-off station, the laterally spaced side bars 226 move forwardly with relation to the inside former 256 and serve to bend the ends of the staple w forwardly, the intermediate portion being held within the notch 266 of the anvil lever. The legs of the staple w then occupy the forward portions of the groove 283 in the inner side walls of the stapler unit outside former 225. Thus the staple is formed, as clearly shown in Figure 26 of the drawings.
From this point onward, the sloping cam-like forward edge 210 of the web portion 221 of the member 225 engages the inclined inner edge of the forward portion 252 of the inside former 256 and cams it downwardly against the pressure of the spring pressed plunger 253 and removes the anvil from engagement with the formed staple. This is most clearly shown in Figure 15 of the drawings. f
By appropriate shaping of the cam 241 the stapler unit B is swung or tilted somewhat as shown in Figure 21 so that it will readily clear the cut-off or feed block 2|2 wherein the wire supply W is held stationary by the outward movement of the intake end of the intermittent feed tube |62 in the upper part of the machine. Thus the staple w is carried between the arms 226 of the unit to position II where the unit B has been swung around to its radial position and the staple w brought into juxtaposition with the rib R of a container Z to which it is to be applied.
Associated with each of the stapling units B and likewise carried by the turn-table or carrier 56 are individual clincher devices C which cooperate with the staple driver element on the units B by backing up the staple on the remote or outer side of the rib B of the container, and these devices C are adapted to be brought into and released from their operative positions as the stapler members B are respectively moved to stations III and I, shown in Figure 13. Referring also to Figures 27 and 28, it will be seen that, at points on the periphery of the carrier 56 adjacent the stapler units there are provided lugs or ears 215 through which a hinge pintle 216 extends and is held against rotation. The pintle carries upon its ends the ears 211 of the clincher element C which straddle the projecting ear 215 of the carrier member. A spring element 286 is coiled about each end of the pintle 216 and the intermediate portion of the spring 28| is received within a groove or slot 282 in the inner side of the member C. The ends of the spring 286 are received within the notches 283 in the ends of the pintle 216 and the spring is initially tensioned to urge the member C outwardly and upwardly toward the position shown at the right-hand side of Figure 1 of the drawings and approximately to the position shown at the top of Figure 11.
Each of the clincher elements C is provided with a cam follower roller 286 carried upon the bolt or pin 266 seated in the member C. Secured to the end of the member C is the clincher plate 269. as by means oi the screws 268. The forward inwardly directed operative edge of the clincher plate 266 is notched to receive the hard metal inserts 296 and this forward edge o1' the plate is adapted, at station III to contact the outer face of the rib R of the container Z upon which the stapler is to operate. This is shown clearly in Figure 12 of the drawings. There is carried by the turn-table 56 an annular ring 292 which has a downwardly projecting flange 293, providing shoulders against which the rib R of the containers is guided during the semi-circular path of the containers through the operating zone of the machine.
Carried upon the bottom edge 295 of the housing'25 is a generally circular cam member 296 which has its inwardly facing surface 291 formed with camming areas indicated at 291a, 291b and 291e (see Figure 11). The cam element 296 may be broken away in the vicinity of station I as at 296a since the clincher elements C are in their raised idle positions at this point and their outwardly and upwardly swinging movement is limited by the abutment indicated at 298 in Figure 1. The operative cam edge 291e against which the roller 285 bears during the actual clinching operation, may be supplied by a hardened wear resisting insert 2961 which may be secured to the main cam member 296 as by means of the screws 296e.
Surrounding the central vertical hollow post 26 of the stapler (Figures 1, 11, and 12) and disposed between the upper end of the rotary hub 36 and the turn-table 56 there is fixed, as by means of a set screw 366, a ring or collar 36|, this collar being horizontally slotted upon one segment thereof as at 362, in order to receive the cam lever 365 which is pivoted to a collar by means of the pin 366. The free end of the cam lever is urged outwardly by means of the coil spring 361 seated in a socket in the collar. The cam arm or lever 365 is provided with an opening 366 which receives a pin 369 set in the collar 36|, the pin and opening serving to limit the movement of the cam arm in both directions. The surface 3| 6 of the cam lever 365 is curved or rounded to provide an approach'and departure surface and an intermediate node which is adapted to be ,contacted by the roller 233 of the staple driving member 236, as clearly shown in Figures 11 and l2 of the drawings.
The operation of the stapler mechanism will now be clearly understood from the elements which have been described. At station II the rib R of the bottle or container Z is brought into contact with the annular guide ring 292 and remains in contact therewith throughout the semi-circular path through the machine. This ring provides inward and upward limiting surfaces for the top of the container. Then as the roller 285 of the clincher C advances along the cam surface 291a in leaving station II the clincher C is swung downwardly toward a vertical position and the inner face o1' the clincher plate 288 is brought into contact with the outer side of the container rib R, the hardened inserts 296 being disposed at points where the staple will come through the rib. As station III is approached by the stapler unit B,
the cam roller 233 of the driver member 236 rides the side bars 266 of the element 2.25 of the unit B. The configuration of slot or groove 255 in the face of the driver is such that the cross bar is very slightly bowed so as to cause the legs of the stapler w to toe inwardly to a slight degree to prevent any accidental outward splaying of the staple in passing through the rib. The resilient cam 305, 3|0, causes the driver 235 to give a resilient blow ,which drives the staple through the rib R and at the same time the points of the staple striking the inserts 290 on the clincher plate 255 are caused to be clinched inwardly against the outer face of the rib R. As the clincher C passes along the cam surface 2511 in approaching station IV, it is allowed to swing outwardly and upwardly away from the container rib, and the container is thus freed for passage out of the machine along the straight delivery run of the conveyor track At this point the stapler unit B begins to swing to its transverse tangential or chordal position which it assumes at station I in order to receive another length of wire and form a staple.
Another feature of the novel stapling machine comprises interrupter means whereby no wire will be fed to a stapler unit B passing station I if there is no container Z to occupy this position on the conveyor. To accomplish this purpose there is provided alongside of the straight approach section of the conveyor track a pivoted arm 3|5, the pivoted pin of this arm being indicated at 3|6 and passing through the tubular bearing bosses 3|'| and 3|6 provided on the base casting I2. (See Figures 1, 2, 10, and 26.) The arm 3|5 comprises a slotted stub portion 3|5A to which a contact blade 3|5B is adjustably secured as by means of the bolts 3|5C. The end of the rod or shaft 3|5 within the base casting is provided with a crank arm 320 the free end of which isconnected by means of a rod 32| to a crank 322 secured to the lower end of the vertical axial rock shaft 325 which passes through the hollow interior of the central post 20 of the machine. Secured by means of the screws 326 to the upper end of the post 20 is the bearing plate 321 through which the r upper end of the rod or shaft 325 passes (see Figures 8, 9, and To this upper end of the shaft 325 there is fixed a crank 328 which carries a roller 330 at its free end. This crank 325 with its roller 330 is directed toward the clutch assembly which connects the two parts 51 and 61 of the countershaft which drives the wire feed. The cupped upper portion 62 of the lower shaft portion 51 surrounds an inner member 335 which is rotatably disposed upon the depending rod 63. 'I'he outer peripheral wall of the member 335 is provided with a notch 336 which provides a shoulder 331 which functions as a ratchet tooth within which the pawl 338 is normally disposed. The pawl is pivotally carried by the member 52 by means of the pin 339. The tail 340 of the pawl is urged outwardly by means of the plunger 34| which is resiliently pressed by means of the spring 342 seated in a socket 343 in the member 52. The tail 340 of the pawl is also provided with a rounded protuberance 345 which normally, during the rotation of the part 62, clears the roller 335.
However, when a container Z is missing from the approach portion of the track and the detector arm 3|5 is allowed to move inwardly across the track under the urging of the spring 346, the crank 320 moves outwardly to the dotted line position 320' in Figure 10 and the other transmission elements 32|, 322, 3.25, and 325 are also rotated to their dotted line positions whereupon the roller 335 is brought into the path of the protuberance 345 on the pawl 335 and the pawl is tripped, withdrawing its operative end from the ratchet shoulder 331 of the inner member 335. Thus the drive from the lower portion 51, 52 of the countershaft and the driven member 335 is broken and the driven end of the countershaft 55. 51 is idle. 'I'hus both the constant and intermittent feed mechanism for the wire W is interrupted until a container again moves the detector on 3I5 outwardly to its full line position shown in Figure 10.
In order to eliminate the possibility of shock of starting, stopping, operating, or interrupting the wire feed drive, a resilient transmission section is introduced in the countershait assembly. The inner element 335 oi' the interruptor clutch is providedwith a widened upper flange portion 355 which is provided in its overhanging portion with a series of spaced slots 35|. Projecting downwardiy from the clutch member 55, which also provides the cam element 255, are a series of arcuate lugs 352 which conform substantially to one end portion of the slots 35| in the ange 355, but are of considerably less arcuate extent to provide space for the coil springs 355 which urge the lugs 352 toward the forward ends of the slots. Thus the drive is through the flange 355, the spring 355, and the lug 352 in transmitting the driving force from the member 335 to the member 55.
The member 335 is carried rotatably upon the lower portion of the vertical shaft or axle 55, a nut 351 being threaded upon the shaft and a bearing washer '355 being interposed between the nut and the member 335, both of these elements being received within a central recess in the element 335.
In order to dispose the stapler device adiustably within the bight of the chain conveyor 45, and to take up any minor slackness in the chainsl the pedestal member i5 is adjustably mounted upon the base casting |2. Reference to Figure 1 of the drawings will disclose that there is provided a depending projection 355 on the inner side of the base casting at the right-hand side of the pedestal block I5. Threaded through this projection is an adjusting bolt 35| provided with a lock nut 362 and adapted to abut the fiat surface 354 on the vertical stem portion |5 of the pedestal. It will be readily seen that adjustment of the bolt 35| will move the pedestal and thus the whole stapler amembly in the plane of the figure and vthis will result in tautening or slackening the conveyor mechanism. The pedestal |5 is guided in its adjusting movement by means of the pins 355 which are set in the base casting |2 upon opposite sides of the opening I3 which receives the pedestal I5. Elongated slots 355 are formed in the underside of the pedestal flange to receive the pins 355 and thus guide the pedestal.
Various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the sub-Joined claims.
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
1. A stapling machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for carrying articles to be stapled through the machine. stapling mechanism movably carried by the machine and arranged to follow the movement of an article through the machine while operating upon it, means for moving said mechanisms, and a driying connection between said last named means and said conveyor; whereby the power for operating the stapling mechanism is derived from the conveyor itself.
carried :by the machine and arranged to follow?` the movement oi' an article through the machine while operating upon it, means for moving said mechanisms, means for supplying wire to said staple forming and applying mechanism, and driving connections between said two last named means and said conveyor, whereby the power for operating the machine isderived from the conveyor itself.
3. A stapling machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for carrying articles to be stapled through the machine, means for driving said conveyor` at a uniform speed, a plurality of staple forming and applying mechanisms movably carried by the machine and each arranged to follow the movement of an article through the machine while operating upon it, means for moving said mechanisms, means on the machine for feeding wire to said staple forming and applying mechanisms, driving transmission means from said conveyor to both of said two last named means, and means in the transmission to said wire feeding means for interrupting the drive of the latter in the event of the absence oi'` an article to be stapled at the appropriate point on said conveyor.
4. A stapling machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for carrying articles to be stapled through the machine, theA path of the articles while in the zone of operation of the machine being an arc of a circle, a plurality of stapler units carried by said maanimas 18 y ing articles to be stapled through the machin the path oi the articles while in the zone of operation of the machine being a circular arc of approximately 180, a plurality of stapler units carried by said machine and mounted to revolve in a substantially circular path part oi' which coincides with the arc of movement of said articles, the respective units adapted to meet and accompany the successive articles upon the conveyor as they enter the machine and to drive their staples at about the midpoint of said 180 arc, means for supplying wire to the units at about the mid-point of the remaining 180 arc of the generally circular path of the units, means for causing each stapler unit to sever the required length of wire and form an open staple before for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of stapler units swivelled on the carrier for horizontal revolution about said axis in a substantially circular orbit, an arcuate path through the machine substantially following the orbit of said stapler units but o! less than a complete circle,
chine and mounted to revolve in a substantially circular path part of which coincides with the arc of movement of said articles, the respective umts adapted to meet and accompany the successive articles upon the conveyor as they enter the machine and to drive their staples while the paths 4of the units and articles coincide, means for supplying wire to the units at a portion of their endless path remote from thepath of the conveyor, and means for causing each stapler unit to sever the required length of wire and form an open staple before again approaching the arcuate path of the articles. 5. A stapling machine of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for carrying articles to be stapled through the machine, the path of the articles while in the zone of operation of the machine being a circular arc of approximately 180, a plurality of stapler units carried by said machine and mounted to revolve in a substantially circular path part of which coincides with the arc of movement of said articles, the respective units adapted to meet and accompany the successive articles upon the conveyor as they enter the machine and to drive their staples at about the mid-point of 180 arc, means for supplying wire to the units at about the mid-point of the remaining 180 arc of the generally circular path of the units, and means for causing each stapler unit to sever the required length of wire and form an vopen staple before again approaching the arcuate path of the articles. a 6. A stapling machine of the class described comprising. in combination, a conveyor for carrymeans for moving said articles successively along` said path, each of said lstapler units comprising a driver element adapted to drive. a staple through one of said articles and against said clincher unit at a point on the coincident portions of said path and orbit, said stapler units and said driving elements each having a cam follower thereon, a cam track for causing the said units to swivel from a. radial stapling position to a transverse wire receiving position, cam track for causing the driver elements to drive a staple through an article, and means for driving said wire and said article movingmeans in synchronism.
8. A stapling machine of the class described, comprising, in combination, a carrier mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of stapler units swivelled on the carrier for horizontal revolution about said axis in a substantially circular orbit, an equal number of clincher units each hinged on said carrier for swinging movement to and from clinching position with respect to one of said stapler units, an arcuate path through the machine substantially following the orbit of said stapler units but of less than a complete circle, means for moving said articles successively along said path, each of said stapler units comprising a driver element adapted to drive a staple through one of said articles and against said clincher unit at a point on the coincident portions of said path and orbit; said stapler unit, said clincher units, and said driving elements each having e, cam vfollower thereon, a cam track for causing the said units to swivel from a radial stapling position to a transverse wire receiving position, a, cam for causing the clincher units to swing to and away from clinching position and a cam track for causing the driver elements to drive a staple while one of said clincher units is in operative position, and means for driving said carrier and said article moving means in synchronism.
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Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US716761A US2521935A (en) | 1946-12-17 | 1946-12-17 | Stapling machine |
US88780A US2661032A (en) | 1946-12-17 | 1949-04-21 | Wire feed for stapling machines |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US716761A US2521935A (en) | 1946-12-17 | 1946-12-17 | Stapling machine |
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US2521935A true US2521935A (en) | 1950-09-12 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US716761A Expired - Lifetime US2521935A (en) | 1946-12-17 | 1946-12-17 | Stapling machine |
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US (1) | US2521935A (en) |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US2661032A (en) * | 1946-12-17 | 1953-12-01 | Ex Cell O Corp | Wire feed for stapling machines |
US3060443A (en) * | 1960-06-10 | 1962-10-30 | Ex Cell O Corp | Rotary stapler and sealer mechanism for carton machine |
US5181672A (en) * | 1990-09-14 | 1993-01-26 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photograhic film cassette |
US5181671A (en) * | 1990-07-25 | 1993-01-26 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5188306A (en) * | 1989-11-27 | 1993-02-23 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Self-advancing film cassette including an auxiliary rotation transmittance structure |
US5205506A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1993-04-27 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette having light trapping pile fabrics attached to a mouth thereof |
US5206676A (en) * | 1990-04-20 | 1993-04-27 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5213277A (en) * | 1989-11-02 | 1993-05-25 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Self-advancing film cassette having separation claw for jamming prevention |
US5226613A (en) * | 1990-07-09 | 1993-07-13 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5245376A (en) * | 1990-02-15 | 1993-09-14 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5247325A (en) * | 1990-02-15 | 1993-09-21 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5249753A (en) * | 1990-09-06 | 1993-10-05 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5271576A (en) * | 1990-12-28 | 1993-12-21 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette with dust collecting ridges |
US5278600A (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1994-01-11 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5318238A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1994-06-07 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette having film guide members and light-shielding members |
US5348239A (en) * | 1990-07-26 | 1994-09-20 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5411220A (en) * | 1990-10-18 | 1995-05-02 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Film cassette with film separating claw |
US5435499A (en) * | 1990-04-20 | 1995-07-25 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5487513A (en) * | 1990-11-13 | 1996-01-30 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette machine with film anchoring device |
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US746549A (en) * | 1903-08-08 | 1903-12-08 | Thomas B Modlin | Staple-driver. |
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US933890A (en) * | 1907-11-23 | 1909-09-14 | Frederick L Cummings | Device for feeding flexible material. |
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US1669383A (en) * | 1923-08-17 | 1928-05-08 | Wirebounds Patents Co | Machine for use in making boxes |
US2063345A (en) * | 1934-10-16 | 1936-12-08 | American Paper Bottle Co | Stapling apparatus |
US2364504A (en) * | 1942-06-24 | 1944-12-05 | Hoe & Co R | Stapling mechanism for rotary printing machines |
-
1946
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US746549A (en) * | 1903-08-08 | 1903-12-08 | Thomas B Modlin | Staple-driver. |
US779680A (en) * | 1904-05-27 | 1905-01-10 | Frank Wiseman | Staple-setting implement. |
US933890A (en) * | 1907-11-23 | 1909-09-14 | Frederick L Cummings | Device for feeding flexible material. |
US1254779A (en) * | 1912-03-20 | 1918-01-29 | Edward Craig | Wire-bound-crate-side machine. |
US1093390A (en) * | 1912-05-09 | 1914-04-14 | Foster Brothers Mfg Co | Wire-feeding device for coiling-machines. |
US1562997A (en) * | 1923-02-03 | 1925-11-24 | L A Young Ind Inc | Wire-feeding means |
US1669383A (en) * | 1923-08-17 | 1928-05-08 | Wirebounds Patents Co | Machine for use in making boxes |
US2063345A (en) * | 1934-10-16 | 1936-12-08 | American Paper Bottle Co | Stapling apparatus |
US2364504A (en) * | 1942-06-24 | 1944-12-05 | Hoe & Co R | Stapling mechanism for rotary printing machines |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2661032A (en) * | 1946-12-17 | 1953-12-01 | Ex Cell O Corp | Wire feed for stapling machines |
US3060443A (en) * | 1960-06-10 | 1962-10-30 | Ex Cell O Corp | Rotary stapler and sealer mechanism for carton machine |
US5213277A (en) * | 1989-11-02 | 1993-05-25 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Self-advancing film cassette having separation claw for jamming prevention |
US5188306A (en) * | 1989-11-27 | 1993-02-23 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Self-advancing film cassette including an auxiliary rotation transmittance structure |
US5318238A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1994-06-07 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette having film guide members and light-shielding members |
US5205506A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1993-04-27 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette having light trapping pile fabrics attached to a mouth thereof |
US5247325A (en) * | 1990-02-15 | 1993-09-21 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5245376A (en) * | 1990-02-15 | 1993-09-14 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5435499A (en) * | 1990-04-20 | 1995-07-25 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5206676A (en) * | 1990-04-20 | 1993-04-27 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5226613A (en) * | 1990-07-09 | 1993-07-13 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5181671A (en) * | 1990-07-25 | 1993-01-26 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5348239A (en) * | 1990-07-26 | 1994-09-20 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5249753A (en) * | 1990-09-06 | 1993-10-05 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5278600A (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1994-01-11 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette |
US5181672A (en) * | 1990-09-14 | 1993-01-26 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photograhic film cassette |
US5411220A (en) * | 1990-10-18 | 1995-05-02 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Film cassette with film separating claw |
US5487513A (en) * | 1990-11-13 | 1996-01-30 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette machine with film anchoring device |
US5271576A (en) * | 1990-12-28 | 1993-12-21 | Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. | Photographic film cassette with dust collecting ridges |
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