US1703136A - Evening and distributing machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,136

L. A. coeswsu.

EVENING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Original Filed March 26, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 derfi Hays weZZ lea Feb. 26, 1929.

L. A. OGsWELL EVENING AND ms'mau'rms ucums Original Filed March 26, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 jar/e7 2"" 67214. Coyawel Z Feb. 26, 1929.-

L. A. COGSWELL EVENING AND DISTRIBUTING IIACHINE Original Filed March 26, 1924 4 sheets-s het I jar/@7175)":

lea 72,4. Coyswel Z Feb. 26, 1929.

A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEANDER A. COGSVIELL, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO LACENE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A CORPORA- TION OF MAINE.

Application filed March 26, 1924, Serial No. 701,999. Renewed July 13, 1928.

This invention relates to grading machines of the well known Nichols type by which the grade of successive blanks of stock, such as died out pieces of leather for soles, heel lifts,

or the like, is measured or detect-ed in accordance with the thickness of the thinnest spot felt of, and the grade so determined is utilized by grading means, responsiveto the grade detection, for grading the stock, as by evening or skiving, stamping or marking, indicating, sorting or distributing, or performing all or any number of such grading operations.

The present invention has to do more particularly with sorting or distrilmting, and constitutes an improvement upon, or modification of the invention described in an application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me August 20, 1921, Serial No. 494,- 009, for an automatic top lift grading and distributing machine.

In the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation (partly in section) of an evening and distributing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the delivery end of the machine without the distributing chute;

Fig. 3 is a section in plan on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial central longitudinal section of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the distributor positioning cams; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view in plan of the slide bar for controlling the grading means.

The hopper or magazine 1 for holding a stack of top lifts or other blanks of stock 2 comprises uprights 3 and 4 adjustably mounted on a bracket 5 which serves as the bottom of the hopper and supports the stack of lifts in position between the uprights. During the operation of'the machine a blank after leaving the evening mechanism at the delivcry end of the machine the right hand end as viewed in Fig. effects a swinging movement of an arm 6 which is fast on a rock shaft 7 This results in a single reciprocatory move ment being imparted to a feed slide 8 mounted in ways on the bracket 5. A pawl 9 on slide 8 engages the rear edge of the lowermost 59 blank 2 in the stack when the slide 8 is moved to the left, and feeds the blank forward between the detecting rolls 10 and 11 when the A movable slide 8 is moved to the right.

no part of stop foot 12 on upright 4 forming the present invention and therefore not described in'detail) prevents the feeding forward of more than one blank at a time by the slide 8.

The mechanism by which the outgoing blank at the delivery end of the machine actuates the feeding mechanism includes the rock shaft 7 upon which is fixed the arm 6 and also an arm 13 outside of the frame. Arm 13 is connected by a link 14 with a latch lever 15 fulcrumed at 16 on theframe of the machine, and cooperating with a stud 17 on a clutch controlling arm 18. The clutch con trolling arm 18, link 14 and latch lever 15 are all yieldingly urged toward the left (Fig. 4) by springs, not shown. The clutch mechanism is substantially similar to that shown in my said application Serial No. 494,009. Normally the clutch controlling arm 18 is held by its spring in a position to hold the clutch disengaged and maintain the feeding mechanism at rest. When, however, a blank leaves the delivery rolls 90, 91, the rotation of roll 91 acting through a cam (as hereinafter described) actuates the arm 6 and theconnections just described to swing the clutch lever 18, thereby engaging the clutch and connecting the feeding mechanism to the continuously rotating shaft 20 of the lower detector roll 10 during one revolution thereof, at the end of which the clutch arm 18, which was only momentarily displaced by the outgoing blank,

automatically disengages the clutch and so disconnects the feeding mechanism from the shaft; One clutch member is fast on shaft 20, and the other clutch member is the end or face of a gear 19 which is loosely and slidably mounted on shaft 20. When this gear is shifted by clutch lever 18 to connect it to the fixed clutch member on shaft 20, it acts through intermediate gear 21 to drive gear 22 on a short shaft 23 (see Fig. 3) which carries a cam 24 and crank arm 25. The crank arm 25 is connected by a link 26 with the upper end of a rocker arm 27 pivotally sup-ported on the lower part of the machine frame 28. Rocker arm 27 has a branch 27' connected by a pair of extensible springlinks 29 to feed slide 8. The train of gears through which the shaft 20 drives the short shaft 23 is such as to impart one revolution to shaft 23'for each revolution of shaft 20, when clutched thereto.

Shaft 20 is mounted in immovable bearings on the frame and is driven by a oontin;

uously actuated feed chain by which the blanks are transported from the detector rolls 10 and 11 to the skiving mechanism. The chain 30 runs on a sprocket wheel 31 fast on the shaft 20 at the middle thereof, and a sprocket Wheel 82 fast on the middle of shaft 33 near the delivery end of the machine. The shaft 33 carries a gear 34 which is outside of the machine frame and is driven through suitable intermediate gearing, sprockets and chain (not shown) from a gear 35 fast on the main driving shaft 36. This main shaft 86 extends transversely through the machine and is provided with the usual tight and loose pulleys, not shown.

Driving shaft 36 also has on the end opposite to gear 35 a gear which meshes with and drives a gear 38 fast on shaft 39 of the lower feeding roll 40 of the skivingz; or evening mechanism. The upper feeding roll 41 of the kiving or evening mechanism has a gear 43 on its shaft 42. Gear 43 is driven through an intermediate gear 44 by gear 35 on the main drive shaft 36, the gears 43 and 44 being relatively so disposed as to permit a limited vertical movement of gear 43 with roll 41.

The skiving mechanism includes a fixed knife 45 preferably of the single bevel type as shown, fastened rigidly to the frame of the machine with its cutting edge close to the normal line of contact between the two rolls 40 and 41 and at the delivery side of the latter so as to operate upon each blank as it emerges from between the rolls. The lower roll 40 has a roughened surface to engage the flesh side of the blank while the upper roll which engages the grain side is made smooth.

The lower skiving roll 40 is journaled in bearing blocks 46wl1ich slide in vertical ways 47 on the frame 28 of the machine. These bearing blocks are mounted on abridge piece or yoke 48 which is supported by two massive springs 49, 49. Springs are seated on a cross bar 50 which forms partof the machine frame.

Just outside of each spring 49 is a rod 51 fastened at its upper end to bridge piece'48, the lower end of each rod extending loosely through bar 50 and carrying nuts 52 which engage the under side of the cross bar to limit the upward movementof the lower roll 40 and thereby determine its normal posi tion with relation to the cutting blade 45.

Theup ier shivi'ng roll 41 is journaled in bearing blocks 53 mounted in the ways 47 on the frame 28. The blocks 53 normally rest on blocks On the top side of each bearing block 53 there is fixed a hardened steel cam or wedge member 54 whose upper side is in clined and stepped as usual in the Nichols machines. These two stepped wedge members cooperate with two similar inverted stepped wedge members 55 fastened to the under side of the slide bar 56 mounted on the cross head of the machine frame. One side of bar fiti-lseel ig. 6) is made as a rack whose teeth 57 mesh with a pinion 58 fast on the upper end of an upright shaft 59 journaled in hearings on frame 28. At its lower end'is fixed another pinion 60 (Fig. 3) which meshes with a segmental rack 61 forming part of a lever 62.

Lover 62 is fulcrumed at 63 on the machine frame. The opposite arm of lever 62 is provided at its extermity with a segment 64 of ratchet teeth facing in one direction, and also with another segment 65 of'ratchet teeth on the under side of lever 62 and facing in the opposite direction. These two sets of ratchet teeth (34 and 65 cooperate respectively with two spring pressed locking pawls or latches 66 and ($7, the former sliding inways on the frame of the machine and the latter being pivoted on too frame. Lever has another arm 62 which is connected by an adjustable link (38 to the lower end of an arm 69, which is fast at its upper end to a transverse rock shaft 70 journaled in hearings on the frame of the machine.

l Vhen a heel lift or other blank is fed from the magazine 1 toward the detector rolls 10 and 11, it is pushedunder a pivoted-gate 1 connected by a link 72 to one arm of a bell crank lever 73 fulcrumed on the frame of the machine. The other arm of lever 7 3 actuates the locking latch 66, through a pin extending from the side of the latch and retracts the latch from ratchet 64 on lever 62, thus freeingthe slide bar 56, from latch 66. This unlocking action through the lifting of the gate 71 occurs during the single rotation imparted to the transverse shart 23 by which the feed slide is operated and at a time when the high part of cam 24 is in'engagement with the bail shaped lover or yoke 7 4 which it controls and operates. This yoke 74 is fulcrumed to opposite sides of the frame of the machine and has two arms 75 projecting under the trunnions of the upper detector roll 11, which are journaled in vertically sliding bridge piece or yoke 76 mounted in verti' slideways on the frame of the machine. Each time the yoke lever 74 is actuated the upper detector roll 11 is lifted by the arms 75 to admit the blank being fed. Pivoted to the slide 76 are two links 4'? which extend upwardly to a pair of arms 78 fast on rock shaft '21). The ends of a rim; 78 are cornice-ted to the upper ends of links l? by pins and slots. A spring (not sniown) yiehlingly tends to hold he pins of arn'is 78 in the upper ends of the slots in links 77.

The slide '4" pressed downward by a pair of hell crank l- 2 9, as common in the Nichols machi es, the upper ends of the le *ers beinghelo under the tension of a heavy equalizer spring 80. as si one more'in detail in my said application Serial No. 494,009. The surface of the lower detector roll. 10 is roughened and, being continuously driven by teed chain 30, serves to carry the blank torward into position where it will be picked up by the chain and transported to the rading mechanisms.

As the blank is ted forward into position between the detector rolls the forward end of the blank engages and swings an arm 81 (Fig. 1) fast on a rock shaft journaled in bearings on the machine trame. This rock shatt also has fixed to it an ar 83 connected by a link 8% with lever 85 which normally holds the locking latch 57 out ot engagen'ient with the segmental rack 65 on the bottom of the arm 62. the teeth of rac posite direction to the teeth of the rack (34:, as more fully shown and explained in Nichols Patent No. 1,0ei6213. This swinging of arm 81. lifts the lever 85 and permits the spring 67 to raise the latch 67 into engagement with rack 65. Latch ($7 thus locks lever 62 against movement in the direction corresponding to the upward nioven'icnt of the detector roll 11, but leaves it tree to respond to any turthcr downward movement of said upper detector roll so long as the gate 71 held elevated by the blanl, thus holding latch (36 out 01' engagement with rack 64.

It will thus be seen that after the blank has I come into position between the two detector rolls and until the rear end thereof clears the gate 71 the lever 62 is automatically controlled by the upper detector roll 11 so as to be ust-ed to accord with the thinnest part of the blank being felt of. This positioning of the lever 62 causes a simultaneous positioning of the slide ba 56 to which it is connected, through the upright shaft 59, thereby a dj usting the cam blocks or stepped wedges so to limit the upward movement ot the stepped wedges 54: and consequently oi the upper skiving roll ll, to such position that the knite 4C5 will reduce the lift or blank to unitorin thickness corresponding to the thick? ot the thinnest part of the blank as determined by the detector rolls.

Gate 71 is positioned close to the upper detector roll so that n'actically the whole oi the blank will have been measured by the two rolls and 11 when the rear end ot the blank clears the gate. A V .ctcd with an arm 87 test on rock sl i the latter and the parts fastened to it in their normal position shown in Fig. l.

.Vhen the rear end ot' the blank clears gate 71, a spring 88 (Fig. 3) restores the latch (56 to locking engagement with the rack 64 on lever 62 so that while the blank is travelling from said gate to the delivery end of the machine and until he gate is lifted by another blank, the latch 66 will remain in locking engagement with the lever 62.

From the foregoing it will be seen. that when the blank is passing between the detector rolls, the upper detector roll 11 is forced K facing in the op-.

down on the blank by the heavy spring 8 and the setting connections between the detector roll 11 and the slide bar56 will cause the latter to shift toward the lett as viewed in Fig. 2, as the detector roll 11 encounters successively thinner spots in. the blank, each increment ot thinness so determined by the detector roll 11 being taken up and retained by the latch and rack 67 and ($5. In case the detector roll 11 encounters thicker spots in the blank being felt of, the detector roll 11 will rise idly on account of the pin and slot connection between arm 78 and'links 77.

As the blank is moved forward tron the detector rolls 10 and 11 by the teed chain 39 it passes under a spring pressed shoe 89 which holds it firmly against the feed chain and also serves another purpose that will. presently appear. As the forward end of the blank enters between the continuously Triven rolls and ll of the skiving mechanism, the upper roll ll is lifted until the two stepped wedges 5st on the top of the journal boxes 53 seat themselves against the stepped Wedges on slide bar F6. This fixes the distance be tween the roll 1-1 and cutting blade 45 and consequently the thickness to which the blank will be evened or skived corresponding to the thickness of the thinnest spot of the blank. Lower roll 40 yields downwardly to accommodate the thicker parts of the blank.

Upon emerging from the skiving mechanism the blank enters between the two delivery rolls 90 and 91which eject the blank "from the skiving mechanism and deliver it to the distributing or sorting mechanism. The low or roll 90 is fast on shaft 92 ournaled in stationary hearings on the frame of the machine and carrying at one end thereof the pinion 93 that is continuously driven through an intermediate gear 94 by gear 3% fast on the chain driving shaft 33. The upper roll 91 is fast on shaft 95 journaled in bearing blocks 96 which slide in vertical ways upon the inner faces of extensions 97 ot the boxes 53 that carry the upper skiving roll 41. Fastened to the tops of these extensions 97 is a cross bar 98 made with two holes in which are loosely mounted two vertical stems 99. Each stem 99 is tast-ened at its lower end to one of the bearing blocks 96, and is provided at its upper end with adjustable stop nuts 100 which engage the cr ss bar 98 and limit the downward movement of the roll 91.

' The roll 91 has fixed at one end a cam 101 which engages and operates arm 6. Roll 91 is normally at rest but is rotated by the blank as the latter passes between the two delivery rolls. WVhen the upper roll 91 is thus rotated the cam 101 acts through arm 6, shaft 7, link 14 and the mechanismconnected with shaft 7 already described to start the next blank on its travel through the machine from the magazine 1. A coil spring 102 surrounds the shaft of the upper delivery roll 91, one end ot the spring being connected with the bearing block 96 and the other to the end of the roll. Normally this spring under slight stress holds the roll 91 with a shoulder (not shown) against a stop thus holding the cam 101 out of engagement with the arm 6. W hen the upper roll 91 is rotated by the passage of a blank between the two delivery rolls, this spring is wound up and as soon as the lift clears thedelivery rolls, the spring acts to restore the roll 91 and its cam to their normal position.

When the blanks have been thus skived ant ejected they are sorted or distributed. in accordance with the grade detection and in accordance with the thicknesses to which they have been cut. The sorting and distributing mechanism comprises a chute 103, preferably made of light sheet metal fastened to the upper end of a spindle 10 1 that is journaled in a bracket 105 secured to the frame of the machine, the spindle resting at its lower end against a ball thrust bearing 106. This spindle carries a pinion 10? which engages a ck bar 108 mounted to slide on the bracket 105 and connected a; its inner end with one arm of a bell crank lever 109 fulcrui'i'ied at 110 on the machine frame with its other arm 109 cuga'ging the under side of a shoe 111 loosely pivoted on rock shaft 82. The shoe 111 normally lies in the path of the blanks as they move from the detector mechanism to the skivin mechanism, and by reason of the downward pressure on the blanks ex- -ted by the upper shoe 89 each pa. lug blank will depress the shoe 111, and through lever 100, shift the rack bar 108 enowise to the left to the limit of its movement in that directi '1. hen thus actuated the rack bar 1.08 acts through pinion 107 to rotate the distributor chute 103 to the limit of its movement in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown. in dotted lines in Fig. 3. This adj ustment of the chute 103 to dotted line position is effected by each blank passii'ig through the machine as it approaches the skiving mechanism. The adjustment of the chute 103 to dotted line posit-ion, which may be considered as its starting position, is merely preparatory to the final adjustment of the chute to the position cmrresponding to the grade of the 1110S- ured and skived blank. l Vhen said starting position corresponds to the detected grade of the blank of course no further adjustment o f the chute takes place.

The chute 103 as herein shown has a pcssible range of adjustment of approximately 180 and is automatically controlled and operated by the blanks themselves so as to assume one or another of several positions (eight positions being provided for in 511 present machine) within the limits of 1 movement thus to provide for the sorting or distributing of the different grades of blanks as determined by the machine.

As the blank passes between the delivery rolls 90 and 91, the rotation imparted thereby to the upper roll 91 acts through mechanism including a lever 112 to shift the rack bar 108 and consequently to swing the chute 103 to a position corresponding to the detected grade of the skived blank. This mechanism will. be described next.

The upper end of lever 112 is loosely and slidably mounted on the rock shaft 7 while its lower end is made with a slot 113 which engages a long pin 11 i projecting laterally from the rack ear 108. Upon the top side if the hub of lever 112 there is an upright stud 115 which engages a notch in the end of an arm 11.6 fast to the under side of the slide bar 56. This arm 116 of course moves with the slide bar 56 when the latter is ad justed by the detector rolls and consequently shifts the lever 112 which is loose on shaft 7, relatively to a cam having stepped surfaces constituting in effect a series of cams 11'2', seven in number as herein shown, fast on shaft 95 of the upper delivery roll 91 by sliding the lever 11.2 lengthwise of the rock shaft 7 on which its hub is loosely mount-ed. These cams 11? are of different eccentricities or throws, the cam of least throw being at the left hand end of the series as viewed in Fig. 2, and other cams progressively increasing in eccentricity toward the right of the series. The hub of lever 112 is provided with a short arm 118 which cooperates with the cams 11? as a cam follower. One cam is provided for each of the different positions to which the chute is to be adjusted excepting for the starting position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The part indicated at 119 2) is not a cam but a part of the shaft on which the upper roll 91 is mounted. The

flat side of he cams 117 (Fig. 5) is normally opposite the cam follower 118. As has already been stated, when the lift or blank depresses theslioe 111, the lever 109 is swung to the left thus turning the chute 103 into dotted line position 3), which is the limit of its movement in that direction. While the lift is passing between the delivery rolls 90 and 91. the roll 91 and its shaft are rotated by the blank. The arm 112 and cam follower 118 will already have been adjusted by this blank through the slide bar 56 to a position corresponding to the grade detection of the blank and consequently the cam follower 118 will be pposite one or another of the cams 117 depending on the extent of such adjustment. Con equently the rotation of the cams by the passage of the blank under roll 91 will swing the arm 112 through the cam follower 118 and thus shift the rack bar 108 a distance proportionate to the eccentricity of that cam. The movement of bar 108 swings chute 103 in a clockwise direction from its dotted line position into a position corresponding to the eccentricity of the cam by which it is actuated, the

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selection of the cam being determined as described by the thinnest spot of the blank as ascertained by'the detector rolls. The distributor chute is actuated positively by the cams and the use of springs for this purpose, as shown in my said former application, is dispensed with. The blank upon its discharge from the delivery rolls 90 and 91 falls upon the chute and is directed into a suitable bin. or pile. In this way the evened blanks of different thickness are sorted or distributed.

Both sets of ratchet teeth 64 and 65 on the lever 62 by which the detecting mechanism sets the slide bar 56 that controls both the Skiving and the sorting are so cut that the distance between two teeth of either rack is proportionate to an adjustment of the slide bar 56 sufiicient to vary the skiving and the sorting to a definite extent measured inirons. The lever 112 will therefore be definitely positioned on shaft 7 so as to come exactly opposite one or another of the cams 117. The inclined wedges 55 and 5 1, which appear in Fig. 2 to have fiatinclined surfaces owing to the small scale upon which the drawings are made, are actually stepped as indicated on Figs. 1 and 4; and as is common in the Nichols machines, the height of the steps being such as to adjust the skiving mechanism definite and predetermined distances measured in irons.

As the blank emerges from the delivery rolls 90 and 91 it acts through arm 6 and the connections previously described to start the next blank into the machine from the hopper or magazine 1, but the slide bar 56 and consequently the lever 112 remains undisturbed in the adjusted position established by the preceding blank while the latter is distributed and until the next following blank has been advanced from the hopper or mine, at which time the cam 24 actuates s and raises the yoke 76 of the upper detector roll 11. This upward movement of the yoke 7 6 acts through the connections alrear 1 described to unlock and shift the slide bar 56 and lover 112 to the limit of their movement toward the right (Fig. 2) unless the slide bar 56 and lever-have already been so positioned by the preceding blank, but without disturbing the angular position of the lever 112 the roll 91 and cam 117 having meanwhile been restored as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Immediately thereafter the cam 24 lowers the yoke 76 and the upper detector roll 11 comes down upon the forward end of the incon'iing blank. The downward movement of the detector roll results in shifting the slid e bar 56 toward the left as viewed in Fig. 2, the slide bar carrying with it the lever 112, still without disturbing the angular position of said lever. The measuring of the blank for its thin spot then proceeds as already described and the measurement is transmitted to the slide bar 56-which determines the operative position of the upper skiving roll 41 by setting the stepped Wedges 55, and also determines the position of chute actuating arm 112. Thus the chute 103 remains in the position to which it was adjusted by the preceding blank until the next following blank reaches and operates the shoe 111, whereupon the chute goes back to starting position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Owing to the momentum of the parts there is a tendency for chute 103, rack 108 and associated parts to throw beyond the true posi- (ion to which they are moved by the cams 117. To obviate this the rack bar 108 is provided with a pin or stop 120 projecting from its side and cooperating with a shoulder 121 on an adjustable arm 122. This arm 122 is loosely pivoted at 128 for limited universal movement to an arm 12 1 which is part of the lever 62. Arm 122 is normally supported against the under side of a lever 125 by a spring 122, ith the shoulder 121 out of the path of the stud 120. The lever 125 is ful crumed at 126 on the frame of the machine and its opposite end is connected by a link 127 to one of the bearing blocks 58, of the upper skiving roll 41. lVhen the lever 62 is angularly adjusted in accordance with the thin spot of the blank being felt of, thus corres )ondinalv adustin' the slide bar 56.

the stop arm; 122 is sin'iultaneously adjusted lengthwise of the rack bar 108. The parts are so proportioned that when the cam following arm 118 is opposite one of the cams 117 the arm 124. of lever 62' positions the stop bar 122 with its shoulder 121 opposite the position to which the slop 120 is, or should be, moved. by. the cam 117 when the outgoing blank rotates the delivery roll 91; and if the cam follower 118 is opposite the part 119 in stead of one of the cams, the stop shoulder 121 will occupy the position opposite the position to which the stop 120 is shifted when the blank depresses the shoe 111. Therefore when the ilank passes between the slriving rolls and thereby raises the upper bearing block 53 to which the link 1. 7 is connected,

it acts through said link to swing the free end of lever 125 downward thus depressing the stop arm 122 and bringing the shoulder 121 in the path of stop 120 and in the position at which the stud 120 should stop when the cam 117, which opposite the cam follower 118. acts through the lever 112 to shift the rack bar 108 to the. right or outward from its position at the extreme left where it was placed by the blank acting through shoe 111. Thus the shoulder 120 will positively arrest any tendency of the chute 103 to carry beyond the position to which it should be set by the I cam 117.

There is also a tendency for the parts to rebound when brought to an abrupt stop by the shoulder 121. To prevent this I have provided-a rebound checking device comprising a lever 132 pivoted on the frame of the machine at 133 and yieldingly urged upward toward the rack bar 108 by a s iring 135 (Fig. Lever 132has a slot connected to a pin 13G (Figs. 2 and 1) on a latch slide 137 mounted in vertical ways on the frame of the machine. Said latch slide 137 cooperates with ratchet teeth 129 on the bottom of rack bar 108. The free end of lever 132 is offset as shown at 132, the end 132 being spaced below the end of an arm 138 fast on rock shaft 82 which carries the arm 81. When the incoming blank passes between the detecting rolls it acts through arm 81 to rock the shaft 82 and swing arm 138 downwardly causing it to engage the extension 132 and depress the lever 132, thereby drawing the latching slide 137 downward out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 129 on rack bar 108. The incoming blank holds the arm 81 down until after the forward end of the blank has depressed shoe 111 and so shifted the rack 108 to the limit of its movement toward the left (Figs. 1 and 41).

\Vhen the blank passes off from arm 81 arm 138 swings upward and permits the latch 137 to rise. This would lock the rack bar 108 against movement to the left unless the latch were held out of engagement with ratchet teeth 129 until the rack bar 108 has completed its movement to the left. This is accomplished by a pawl 139 pivoted to arm 132 at 128. A spring 134 tends to swing the pawl toward and against; the side of the rack bar 108. The rack bar 108 has a straight edge along the side of the ratchet teeth 129 adjacent to pawl 139. When the lever 132 is depressed by arm 138 the shoulder on pawl 139 snaps under the straight edge of rack bar 108 at the side of teeth 129. As soon as the arm 138 moves up and permits lever 132 to rise the shoulder on pawl 139 engages bar 108 and thus holds the lever 132 down sutliciently to prevent the latch 137 from entering ratchet teeth 129. As the rack bar 108 continues to move to the left a cam 131 on the bottom of bar 108 pushes the shoulder of pawl 139 off the rack bar 108 and allows the lever 132 to rise and the latch 137 to engage the teeth 129 when the rack bar 108 has reached its extreme position to the left. Therefore, when the rack bar 108 is later shifted to the right by one of the cams 117 the latch 137 will click over the teeth 129 but will prevent any rebound when the stud 120 strikes the stop shoulder 121.

In the accompanying drawings the machine is shown in the position which it would assume upon the exhaustion of the supply of blanks from the hopper. Under these con ditions the shafts 92, 39, 42, 3f, 36 and 20, as well as the feed chain 30, will run idly if thedriving shaft is in motion, until the clutch lever 18 is manually operated by link 141. The manual operation of this clutch le ver 18 after the loading of the hopper starts the feed slide 8 and the blanks are fed successively through the machine. As each 'lank upon being ejected from the delivery rolls 90, 91, automatically actuates the link 141 and clutch lever 18 the machine will continue to operate upon blanks fed successively from the hopper until the supply is exhausted.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions according to their respective grades, positive means for actuating the distributor, set-ting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism adapted to adjust the dist ibutor actuating means in accordance with the detected grade but without actuating the distributor, and means operated after the blank has left the detecting mechanism and during its passage through the machine, for actuating the positive distributor actuating means to move the distributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mechanism.

2. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions accord ing to their respective grades, positive means for actuating the distributor, setting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism adapted to adjust the distributor actuating means in accordance with the detected grade but without actuating the distributor, and means actuated by the blank itself after the blank has left the detecting mechanism and during its passage through the machine, for actuating the positive distributor actuating means to move the distributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mechanism.

A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions according to their respective grades, positive means including a relatively adjustable cam and cam follower for actuating the distrilmtor, setting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism adapted relatively'to adjust said cam and cam follower in accordance with the detected grade but without actuating the distributor, and means actuated by the blank itself after the blank has left the detecting mechanism and during its passage through the machine to operate the cam to move the distributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mech anism.

4. A machine of the class-described com prising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for deliverthe blanks into different positions ecording to their respective grades, positive means including a series of cams of different eccentricities and a cam follower adapted to move the distributor to its'different delivery positions, setting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism including a slide bar adapted relatively to adjust said cam follower and earns in accordance With the detected grade but Without actuating the distributor, and means actuated by the blank itself after the blank has left the detecting mechanism and during its passagethrough the machine to actuate the cams and move the distributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mechanism. a

5. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanksof stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions according to their respective grades, setting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism adapted to control the extent of movementof the distributor, means actuated by the passage of the blank after the detecting mechanism to cause the distributor to move to its starting position, and means actuatec by the further passage of the blank for thereafter moving the distributor to the position determined by the detecting and setting mechanisms.

6. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the rade of successive blanks of stock according to'thickness, a movable distributor i'i'or delivering the blanks into different positions according to their respective grades, setting mechanism responsive to the detectin mechanism adapted to control the extent of movement of the distributor, means actuated by the passage oi? the blank after the detecting mechanism to cause the distributor to move to its starting position, means actuated by the further passage of the blank for thereafter moving the distributor to the position determined by the detecting and setting mechanisms, and means actuated by the motion of the detecting mechanism when the latter receives the next blank, to restore the setting mechanism to normal or starting position Without disturbing the position of the distributor.

7. A machine oi the class described comprising mechanism of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, skiving mechanism adapted to skive the blanks in. accordance with their re spective grades and a movable distributor for delivering the skived blanks into different positions according to their respective starting positi for detecting the gradegrades, setting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechan' adapted to control both the extent o'li j and the extent of mov ment of the distributor, mean actuated by the passage of the blank etween the detecting mechanism and tie skiving mechanism to cause the distributor to move to its starting positi *n, and means actuated bythe passage of the blank after the skiving mechanism for moving the distributor to the distributing posit-ion determined by the detecting and setting mechanisms.

87 A machine oi? the class described compri in mechanism tor detecting the grade of succ ssive blanks o stock according to thickness, skiving mechanism adapted to skive the blanks in accordance with their respective grades and a movable distributor for delivering the skived blanks into d iilerent positions according to their respective grades, setting mechanism responsive to the cetecting mechanism adapted to control both the extent ol the skiving and the extent of movement of the distributor, means actuat ed by the passage of the blank between the detecting mechanism and the skiving mechanism to cause the distrioutor to move to its starting position, means adjustable propori nately to the setting mechanism and moved i111) operative position by the skiving mechanism for positively arresting the distributor at the end of its movement to distributing positien, and means actuated bythe passage of the blank after the skiving mechanism for moving the distrilmtor tothe distributing position detern'iined by thedetecting and setting mechanisms.

9. A machine of the class described compriing mmhanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions accordin to their respective grades, setting mechanism rospoimive to the d cting mechanism adapted to control the mt of movement. oi? the distributor, means act ated by the pas sage of the blank after the detecting mechanism to cause the distributor to move to its means act ated by the fun ther passage of the blank torthereaiter moving the distributor to the posi ion determined by the detecting and setting mechanisms, means actuated by the cute in blank for causing the detecting mechani, to open and for feedmga succeeding blank thereto, and

means actuated by the motion of the detecting mechanism upon receiving such succeeding blank to restore the mechanism to normal or starting position Without disturbine; the position of the'distributor.

10. A machine of the class described comprising i'nechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks oi stock with reference to their thin spots, a movable distributor tor dehvermn' the blanks into, different iositions according to their respective grades, rela tively adjustable ca 1 and earn follower one oi which has stepper surfaces adapted to move the the de ivery riluitor to dillerent positions, ting mechanism responsive to the detecting: mechanism adapted. relatively to adjust said can and cam follower and a roller near the delivery end of the machine adapted to be rotated by an outgoing blank to actuate the cam.

11. A machine of the i prising mechanism tor detecting successive blanks of stocr with reference to their tl in spots, a movable distributor "or delivering' the blanks into differentpoi-alarms according to their respective grades, :1 series of cams of different eccentricities and a cam follower adapted to move the distributor to its ditlerent delivery positions, and s i iuq' mechanism responsive to the detect anisui for relatively shifting;- the cam tollower and cams and a roller near the delivery end of the machine adapted to be "etated by an outgoing blank to actuate the cans.

121i machine of the class describet com prising grade detecting; mechanism tor detecting the grziide ol successive blanks or stock according to thicli'uess, movable distributor for delivering the blanks into dilierent positions correspending; to their respecti-.e

grades, and settingmechanism including a controller for dctermiiiug the position to which the distrilmtor is to be adjusted, a series of cams of dillierent ec-centricities, a cam follower for n oving t io distributor to dirl'erent delivery positions means responsive to the adjustment of the controller "for relatively shifting the cam follower and cams, and a roller tear the delivery end or the machine adapted to be rotated by an outgoing blank to actuate the cams.

13. A machine of the class described comprising ado detecting mechanism for detecting the grade oi sues class desc"'bed co1ul .5! we grade or ive blanl-zs oil: stock according to thickness, a movable distributm' for delivering the blanks into different positions corresponding to their respective grades, at relatively adjustable cam and cam follower one of which has stepped surfaces adapted to move the distributor to its different delivery positions, setting inechanisn'i re sponsive to the detecting mechanism adapted relatively to adjust said cam and cam tollower, and a roller fixed to sa'd cam ai'lapteil to be engaged rotated by a blank passing; through the machine to actuate the cam and distributor.

l-fl. A machine oi the class described comprising grade detecting mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable istributor for delivering the blanks into dii'lerent positions corresponding to their respective grades, a relatively adjustable cam and earn fol-lower one of which has stepped surfaces ,ise

adapted to move the distributor to its different delivery positions, settin m chanism responsive to the detecting mechanism adapted relatively to adjust cam and cam tollower, a normally inachve roller liked to sair cam and adapted to be engaged and re by a blank pa ii n the machine to actuate the cam and dist ibuter end yielding means adapted to restore said roller and cams to normal position after each opcrati 15. A machine of the class described prising inechanisn :tor detectin. the or i. successive blanks oi stool: widi reference their thin spots,'amovable di, delivering the blanks into differ t positions according to their respective grades, and positive means verned by said grade detect inp; mechanism ior movii l' to the position correspondino' to ti 0 tern'rined by the detecting l'lGClltlllli-L means adapted positively tributor at the end of its moven'iei'it to its se eral adjusted positions.

16. A machine oi? tile class cescribed coirprisingmechanismford e d successive their thin spotc', a movable i livering; the blanks into i according to their respective gositive ineaus Vern-ed bv tectiig inechan'sin for moving f -e dictributor to the position corresponding to the racle determined by the detecting inechan'sm, means adapted positively to arrest the distributor at the end of its nioveniei t to its.

iualiiig to their respec tive z'radcs, setting mechanism responsive c a no; mechanism and means governed by the setting mechanism to move the distributor in accordance with said grade detection, and means autor; atieally adjustable by the setting inecha in proportionately to the inovcn'ient of tire distributor for positively a resting the distributor at the d oi? its n'iovements to its several adjusted posit-ions,

18. A machine of the class described comprising grade detecting mechanism for detecting the grade cl successive blanks of stock according;' to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions corresponding to their respective grades and means automatically adjustable proportionately to the movement of the distributor for positively arresting the distributor at the end of its movements to its several adjusted positions.

the blanks into dillter-v 19. A machine of the class described comprising grade detecting mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions corresponding to their respective grades, means automatically adjustable proportionately to the movement of the distributor for positively arresting the distributor at the end of its movements to its several adjusted positions and means to prevent rebound of the distributor when the distributor is so arrested. I

20. A machine of the class described comprising grade detecting mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions corresponding to their respective grades, a normally inoperative stop automatically adjustable proportionately to the movement of the distributor for positively arresting the distributor at the end of its movements to its several adjusted positions and means controlledby the passage of the blank for moving said stop into operative position.

21. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to their thin spots, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions according to their respective grades, means controlled by the passage of the blank through the machine to move the distributor to its starting position, and means controlled by the passage of the blank for thereafter moving the distributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mechanism.

22. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to their thin spots, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions according to their respective grades, means controlled by the passage of the blank through the machine to move the distributor to its starting position, means controlled by the passage of the blank for thereafter moving the distributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mechanism and means automatically adjustable proportionately to the latter movement of the distributor for positively arresting the distributor at the end of its said movement.

23. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detectingthe grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to their thin spots, a movable distributor for deliverin the blanks into different positions according to their respective grades, means I through the machine to move the distributor to its starting position, means controlled by the passage of the blank for thereafter moving the distributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mechanism, means automatically adjustable proportionately to the latter movement of the distributor for positively arresting the distributor at the end of its said movement and ratchet and latch mechanism to prevent rebound of the distributor, said ratchet and latch being held disengaged until the distributor has been moved to its starting position, and engaged while the distributor is moved to delivery position.

24. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to their thin spots, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions according to their respective grades, a sliding bar to actuate said distributor, means controlled by the passage of the blank through the machine to move said bar and distributor to their starting position, and positive means controlled by the passage of the blank for thereafter moving the bar and distributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mechanism.

25. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock with reference to their thin spots, a movable distributor for delivering the blanks into different positions according to their respective grades, a sliding bar to actuate said distributor, means controlled by the passage of the blank for moving the bar and distributor to the position corresponding to the grade determined by the detecting mechanism, and an adjustable stop arm responsive to the detecting mechanism for engaging the sliding bar and positively arresting the distributor at the end of its movement to its several adjusted positions.

26. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for detecting the grade of successive blanks of stock according to thickness, a movable distributor, setting mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism including a slide bar for governing the extent of movement to be imparted to the dis tributor, a series of cams of different eccen- LEANDER A. COGSWELL.

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